The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-02 00:00:00

existing law of the land, and: as to whom the British
Government might take steps. But it was not like other
subsequent communications fro Yt the Governments of
Russia, Austria, and Prussia, or Ole Germanic Confedera-
tion-an application to do more tha a the law would enable
the Government to do.-(Hear.) I think it right and just
to the French Government to explain the nature and intent
of that communication. Now, Sic, when these representa-
tions were made to me I stated that the French Go-
vernment had at different tin ies possessed powers
granted by Alien Acts, 'but than; these powers never
went to the object to which they wished the action of
the British Government to the directed-(Hear, hear)-
that England took care of her own. tranquillity. and never
pretended to look after that of oth'sr countries-( Hear, hear)
-that they would look after their omen interest, and that the
pee/er given by former Alien Acts: would be this-that the
Government was enabled to send, out of the country any
foreigners whose presence in the emuntry was dangerousli -
to
this country, and detrimental to its internal tranquillity-..
(Hear, hear)-and that
it was in vain for them to ask us to
do that which not only the present. law did not enable us to
do, but to diseuable us to do that, fur which no further Act
• could he asked from Parliament, a rid no Parliament would
consent to give.-( Hear.) But. Sir, I took the liberty of
stating, further, that I thought there was great exaggeration
Sir, there is
of the dangers which could arise to, any foreign
....c.ortry from
the 'presern!o' here of any' foreign
.which opinion
goes so far
nothin, it seems to
.roe, upon
any
from welch they have
beyond fact as in the idea that refugees can,
which
con-
siderable mnehief in the country
By exciting discontent
other incentive 3 to insurrection. The
fled. Why, how are they to do it?
through letters or
effect of a cause depends not only on the cause itself, but
very much on the condition. of the thing on which that
cause is to operate. a slight
.spark may blow up
powder magazine; while a blazuig torch Will burn out
harmless on a turnpike-road.-(Oheers and laughter.) If
a country be in a state ofinternal, or suppressed discontent,
slight indications may augment it, and produce an explo-
sion; but if the country be well governed, and if the people
be satisfied and contented, little 'proclamations and commu-
nications which may be received from refugees will be as
harmless as waste paper.-(11( tar, hear.) I endeavoured
with great deference to impress that idea on foreign Govern-
ments, who then represented that perhaps these refugees
might send money 1 Why, good, heavens, Sir l-the money
which these unhappy refugees have, who are living in
lodgings in back alleys, many of them even of the lowest
class, and can hardly pay for their subsistence-(Hear, hear)
-is there any danger likely to arise to foreign Governments
from money sent by such persons?-(Hear, hear, and a
laugh.) Then, Sir, I was told, " .See, here are notes issued
by Mazzini, for 50 francs each, in return for money depo-
sited, and to be repaid when an Italian Unitive Republic
shall be established."- (Laughter.) Why, Sir, I did not
think that danger from this source was very imminent.-
(Hear, hear.) Then, again, it was said that a banker had
received an application from soma of those parties to open an
account with him. But, Sir, up to that time not a farthing
had been paid to that account. • (Laughter.) Then it was
said that if money could not be went arms might go. And no
doubt one did hear of some 200 muskets destined for these
purposes. But how are the refugees to get arms (in any
formidable quantity) unless they can get money?-(Hear.)
And I do not think that notes payable on such an eventuality
as I have described are likely to send arms in quantities at
all considerable into foreign countries.- (Hear, hear, and a
laugh.) Besides, the arms are articles which it is ex-
tremely difficult to smuggle; and any country is, of coarse,
bound to look after its own interests, and to give orders to
prevent the arms from being imported.-( Hear, hear.)
Well, then, if their letters will not produce revolution; if
their money is not forthcoming; and if their arms are next
to nothing, it is said they may send men. But the moment
any foreigner begins to enrol men in this country for the
purpose of military occupations in another, we have a law to
prevent those practices.-(Hear.) They cannot be concealed;
you are enabled by the law (a law which nu doubt the Go-
vernment would execute) to put down such proceedings
against a friendly power..-(Hear, hear.) And, Sir, I felt it
my duty to point out to those foreign Governments that al-
though it was not entirely unnatural, considering the dif-
ferent
organization of continental countries from ours, that
they should feel these apprehensions, that, besides our not
being able to relieve them, there was not so much foundation
for them as they appeared to imagine; and that, however,
there had been granted (as was stated in 1848) a consider-
able number of passports by the British consuls or diplomatic
agents to persons not British subjects, I thought it was right
to do so. It was done in a time of great commotion in
Europe; and the passports were given to persons of all states
-to Royalists of France, Republicans at Rome, and Hunga-
rians in the east of Europe; to every man, in fact, who was
eying from imminent danger, and wishing to withdraw him-
self from that country in which his presence might create
disturbance-( Hear, hear)-and they were assisted by the
British Government, not only as an act of great charity to
the individuals themselves., but as contributing much to the
tranquillity of the countries in which it was dune. - (Hear,
hear.) As to Rome, for instance, a case much commented
upon, especially by continental governments, the British
consul there, and the French consul gave passports which
enabled two thousand men to quit Rome, who, if they had
remained there, must either have been' a source of great
disturbance, or must have been supported by the charity of
the city, and the authorities of Rome not only desired that it
should be done, but urged the consuls to assist them in get-
ting rid of these persona, although it was afterwards
made a frequent subject of reproach, especially to the consul
of this country. it was an act done not upon his own respon-
sibility, but on the desire of the authorities; it was perfectly
justifiable, and I felt it my duty to approve of it.-(Cheery
from the Liberals.) At the same time, it is true that the
Austrian Government might think that some of the pass-
ports might get into other hands, or that some persons
to whom they were given might seek to return under
cover of them. I was not disposed to find fault with the
Austrian Government for establishing, with regard to
passports, this general regulation, that foreigners wish-
ing to enter into the Austrian dominions should
have passports granted by the authorities of their own
countries' countersigned by some representative of the
Austrian Government.- (Hear, hear.) I think that every
Government is entitled to make such regulations as to the
admission of foreigners as it may think consistent with its
own security, if those regulations are liberally enforced
without vexatious severity; and I think that other coun-
tries are bound to acquiesce in them.-(Hear.) There was
an attempt made indeed to compel the British Government
to establish in regard to our passports those picturesque de-
scriptions which some of the foreign passports contain-(A
laugh)-a delineation of the features or figure which the
in-
dividual who bears a passport may boast of-(Laughter) -
but I declined to follow that example, and said that,
although it was imagined that we were fond of sitting for our
portraits it was to painters, and not to passport-drawers; and
so, Sir, I did not comply with the wishes of foreign govern-
ments in this respect. But, Sir, it appears from the papers
which have been laid before the House that there was at one
time a determined intention, on the part especially of the
Austrian Government, to retaliate on British travellers with
undue severity in regard to passports of admission into
Austrian territories-to retaliate on the British Govern-
ment for not doing that which foreign Governments must
know it cannot do by law, and never could get a law to
enable it to do.-(Hear, hear.) Now, Sir, I think that was
a perfectly proper thing for mention in this House.-; Hear,
hear.) I think my Hon. Friend was right in calling the se-
rious attention of Parliament to a menace which I think it
was so unbecoming a foreign Government to make, and as
unfitting for the British Government to receive. Sir, upon
this subject, there are parts of these papers, especially the
conclusion, on which I would make a few remarks. I am
alluding to that amicable and .Arcadian dialogue-( Laughter)
-which has passed, it appears, between the Austrian Go-
vernment and the present Ministry since their accession to
olice.-(" Hear, hear," and laughter from the Liberals.)
Sir, it is delightful and worthy of Virgil to see the beautiful
compliments and amiable feelings interchanged between the
two parties.- (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Sir, I must say I
could not read those dispatches without a smile.-
Meer, hear.) And there were circumstances which took
Place when the present Government was formed which did
not l a
diminish in my mind the disposition to smile.-( Hear,
nd laughter.) I allude to the joy which the Austrian
Sir, it
Governmentcoun expressed at the total change of men and of
wwhich then took place.-(Hear, hear, and laughter.)
No 4:every amusing, many things considered. [The
and the ii°outlet, as he said these words, laughed heartily,
But there ee se cordially participated in his merriment.]
Which
was, Istl:pother point which struck me as to a word
for diving into thnk, written hastily ; and without opportunity,
depths of Rymer and consulting our an-
cient treaties. e Though I have great respect for Austria, and
do not wish to undervelue the utility of her alliance to Eng-
tleanadt_or, to_ detract from the antiquity of that alliance (exe
farteetgs, t think, as far back as 1689 -I cannot carry it
ee-(Hear)--ae
alipp",Tralthher te the application of the words " oldest ally" inadvertently from the pen of the Government
sive, with pi:ailing
I think that that we had a treaty, offensive and defen-
be eel as earl yas the year 1378.-(Hear.) And be, Portugal canwegyer ancient an alliance with Austria may
that hers extends so far back as that
early enod, and 4:7
an alliance defensive, Only
vras there a treaty binding us to
seir, force to Portugal to assist her in the
acted upon by
nut in two years afterwards it was
war with Castilla.
sure that we should not pass
by our early and faithtul 4:1111
laugh)-and althongh Austrira the
Court of Portugal-(A
ehas been very valuable to us,
of
the instances, independent of
yet on many occasions, from
the iLuAustrian Government, it
the will and inclinations
ee of the last war coin-
was at different times in
I; and laughter rnerenits she had under-
Ursine the Liberals.)
taken. to break away Elora the engage
-(sarcastic chee
Now then, Sir, I think that Chet
r_egard to the
Speech
in
Right Hon.
ttintent:cvhwicahs
PePi
nts
resolutioni
the Pa
tai
points
Gentleman the Secretary. for the Rome
not quite so satiefactory
especially the resolution of my Hon. Friend
upon the disposition of the Govternment. The
my Hon. Friend points distinctly (I mayo almost say exciu!
sively) to the intentions of foreign Gvneernments, and
the
reply of the Right Hon. Gentleman tells
on whatd. are the me
tentions of the British Government, and a different point
to accept the state-
ment the first referring to English travellers, the other to foreign
refugees. Still, however, lam willing -
now there is a
ment of the Right Host. Gentleman,
.even more largely than
the words of it appear to go, believing that
to
Sarcastic cheers
Government which appears, in the opinion Of Austria, -
sympathise more fully with her principles-(
from the Opposition) - than the late Administration did. Aa
it appears that now, at least, amicable relations have
been restored which we were told had not existed in the
preceding five years (I can say this more freely now because
it appears now that it dates not from December but from
February)-as it appears that now there is such a friendly
feeling-such a mutual confidence established between the
English and Austrian Governments-(Sarcastic cheers and
tlaughter)-so that there is now no danger for British
ravellers in Austrian dominions. I venture to "suggest
° lele" Honourable Friend ( Sir. Milnes) that he may.
and, therefore
tptipkosetshiies
bringingdiscussion has sufficiently accomplished his
th4eit' his motion forward-( Hear, hear)-
view to the Government think it better, with a
must be the test
.considerations, of which the Government
adopted, -if le ejaelddges' that this resolution should note be
meet as a rebuke fo be considered by the Austrian Govern-
that it would render offences that have ceased to exist, and
the two Governments ess satisfactory the relations between
Bh
that if the Government anti suggest to my Hon. Friend
e motionb tte to
presume,m ovethe o
of course,
previous
question than to agree to th
that they would not attemt ontocegative it, since it con-
tains a statement which no n deny),-if they should
think fit to move the previous on, I should really
recommend to my Hon. Friend noittioesgttoho a division, but
(Chveeery proper and
acquiesce in that mode of disposing ot
useful motion he has brought forward. -
Sir J. WALSH hoped that the Hon, lelemberrs,to) r Ponte-
fract would adopt the suggestion of the NobleHe
was sorry that the motion had been brought Lord.forwa
was not nso
had only caused speeches and a discussion which veouldaps it
regard to
duce irritation and interrupt the friendly relations existircg-
between this country and foreign nations. He
certain that foreign countries had not some grounds for the
demands they had so perseveringly pressed with
refugees. As the state of things abroad was now more seta
tied, perhaps that was the reason that these demands'evere
not so strongly pressed,, and he rejoiced to see that a subject
which might have afforded reasoriaele grounds for a case of
war with England bad bran c.,,usidered by foreign powers
with reference to the laws of England and public opinion
here, and they had not pressed demands which might have
Pr9T9cl jac°llYeilieu; 19 P. N 9 ringlialwan vivuld refuge an