The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-22 00:00:00

THE CONFERENCE.

The Earl of CARNARVON, before their lordships ad-
journed, wished to ask the Foreign Secretary a question of
some importance relative to the conference. Their lordships
were aware that the meeting of the conference bad been fixed
for yesterday, and their lordships were aware that the re-
presentatives of the minor German states, and of Austria
and Prussia, failed to attend, and consequently one day was
lost; and a day was of much moment at a time like the
present. The conference, be understood, had been post-
poned until next Monday; and their lordships would re-
member that this was not the first postponement. The °oh-
ferenee was originally to have been held on the 11th, but it
was postponed until the 20th, and now it was again post-
poned until Monday. It was most distinctly understood
that one of the first steps of the conference would be to order
an armistice, and that a suspension of hostilities would take
place ; but he was sorry to say that there were reasons
which, it was very easy to understand, might induce the
Austrian, and especially the Prussian Government, to de-
sire to see delay in the armistice being carried into effect.
This was a matter which ought not to be lost sight of. The
question which he wished to put was whether, in the event
of any further postponement of the conference, any steps
would be taken to secure at once such an armistice as would
cause a suspension of hostilities, and to avoid an indefinite
postponement of the conference accompanied with a con-
tinuation of hostilities in Denmark. He had seen it stated

in the newspapers that there was an intention on the part
of the Prussian Government to forward their troops into
Jutland. He had also seen it stated—he hoped not on good
authority, but it had appeared in some of the German
papers—that there was an intention, by means of the occu-
pation of Jutland, to make Denmark pay the expenses of
the war. Under these circumstances he wished to put his
question as to the probability of there being an armistice.
Earl RUSSELL, who was very indistinctly heard, was
understood to say—With regard to the meeting of the con-
ference I have to state that the German Confederation,
having appointed Baron Von Beust as their representative,
and he holding the offices of President of the Council,
Home Minister, and Foreign Minister of Saxony, it would
be necessary for bim to make arrangements with respect to
performing the duties of those offices during his absence ;
he could not, therefore, be in London until Monday next.
The plenipotentiaries attended yesterday and found that the
representatives of Austria and Prussia had received strict
instructions not to attend the conference until the repre-
sentative of the Diet was in attendance. Under these cir-
cumstances I must decline to enter into the question which
the noble earl has put. (Hear, hear.) I must say further
that when the conference meets, which I trust will be on
Monday next, they will take the whole matter into their
serious consideration. _

The Earl of MALMESBURY—I am quite sure that
is best to treat the matter with all discretion under the cir•
because the conference now stands adjourned. I think that
curnstances about to take Place—l say about to take place,
the noble earl is right in the answer he gave in reference to
an armistice, but I must say on my own part, that I hope
that the noble earl and the Government will be on their
guard against a repetition of these postponements. (Hear,
hear.) It is impossible not to see the obvious consequences
of future postponements ; it is evident to every one that the
parties to meet in the conference may make use of these
postponements to come before the conference in a different
position to that in which they are at this moment. I there-
fore trust the noble earl and her Majesty's Government will
employ themselves in noting most accurately
what excuses
may be made for a further postponement ; because in this
instance, looking in the distance, and at what I know my-
self has been the course taken by the gentleman to whom
the noble earl has alluded, I confess I am extremely sus-
picions as to the excuse made on this occasion being sincere
Lord STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFE said it was satis-
factory to observe that both sides of the house recognised
the importance of avoiding discussion under present cir-
cumstances. He had no reason to doubt that her Majesty's
Government had already in mind the observations made by
the noble earl on the ether side. At the same time it ap-
peared to him great value attached to what had fallen from
his noble friend. It was satisfactory to those who observed
what was passing that the attention of both sides of the
house was directed to the proper disposition of this confe-
rence. He felt he was justified in those observations by
what was occurring. It seemed to him impossible for an,
one to read the accounts of what had transpired with regard
to Sonderborg, and to the continuance of those hostilities
which were being carried out in a murderous spirit, and
likewise with regard to the apparent intention of extending
those hostilities to the other principal fortress of Denmark
and throughout Jutland, without recognising the great im-
portance that attached to the spirit in which the conference
assembled. He trusted that the progress of the conference
would be accelerated, and that its proceedings would be
brought to a happy end. (Hear, hear.)
Earl RUSSELL said that the noble earl opposite was
to quitew h justified tt ihfie ne dc
oinnf
es
raeyi
cneg he had a right to ask a question, as
would begin. But with regard to
his observations generally, it was just to all parties to re-
member, that when Austria and Prussia had declared their
willingness to enter the conference, and when that proposi-
tion was made by him to Denmark, the answer he received
tune t consider the whole subject. He,
c the answer would not be pressed
o
was that there was so much excitement at the time at Copen-
uh angt
theythatil h
that
me:
ruer court Imo
therefore, did not press it for a fortnight. At the expira-
tion of that time ho communicated the answer of Denmark
to
on
sor part.fßerlin and Vienna, and no objection was
taken h
te
their

ROUSE OF COMNIONS—Last Evening,
The SPEAKER took the hair at four o'clock.
NEW MEMBER.

Mr, CHILDERS, junior Lord of the Admiralty, took the
oaths and his seat on his r°-election for Pontefract,
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The following bills were read a third time and passed :
Halifax and Junction Railway, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Canal and North Staffordflair° Railway Companies, Pon-
typridd Water, Salisbury Ind Yeovil Railway, and Sudden
Bridge and Bury Roads.

SUBSIDY TO ROYAL MAIL STEAM COMPANY.
Mr. CAVE asked the &eretary to the Treasury whether
the West India colonies save been called upon by the
Treasury to contribute th( sum of £37,654 for the present
year towards the subsidy so the Royal Mail Steam Packet
Company ; and, if so, whether the consent of those colonies
had been previously obtained; and, whether he would lay
upon the table of the hone the cagy of a letter from him.
SOU to Sir Frolorick Repro, together with the copy of a

letter from the Postmaster General enclosed therein on the
subject.
Mr. PEEL said that notice had been given to the proper
parties in the colonies that it was expected they would
contribute half towards the expenses in question.