The Sun.
London, England, 1871-02-11 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.--FRIDAY.

The SPEAKER took the chair at a quarter before four
o'clock. The attendance of members was not very nume-

roue,

Petitions were presented by Mr. Baines, from Leeds
in favour of a reorganisation of the army, and the aboli
tion of the purchase system ; by Mr. Charley, in favour
of the prohibition of the sale of intoxicating liquors on
Sunday ; by Mr. Gilpin, in favour of the legalisation of
the marriage with deceased wife's sister : by Mr.
Taylor, for the opening of museums on Sunday, and by
the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex from the Corpora.
tion of the city of London. •
THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAR.
Viscount ENFIELD laid on the table further correspon-
dence relative to the Franco-German war.
THE ENGLISH CONSUL AT PARIS.
Mr. JULIAN GOLDSMID gave notice that next Monday
he will ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs whether the English Consul at Paris was absent
from his post during the siege of Paris with the knowledge
of the Government, and if so upon what grounds.
IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.
An HoN. MEMBER gave notice that on an early day he
would move for leave to bring in a bill for the abolition
of imprisonment for debt.
TURNPIKE TOLLS.
Mr. WHALLEY gave notice of his intention to ask the
Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it
was his intention to bring in a bill for continuing turnpike
trusts when the present Acts have expired.
THE INCOME TAX RETURNS.
An Hort. MEMBER gave notice of his intention to ask
the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he was aware of
the fact that on the 9th June notices were issued to
employers, calling upon them to furnish the income
earned by all persons in their employ.
DEAF AND DUMB CHILDREN.
Mr. WHEELHOUSE said on Monday he should ask for
leave to bring in a bill to provide for the education
of deaf and dumb children.
CONVEN AL
TIT AND MONASTIC
• • UTIONS.
Mr. NEWDEGATE e notice that on the 14th he will
move for a select committee to inquire into conventual and
monastic institutions. (A laugh.)
NEW WRIT.
On the motion of Mr. NOEL, a new writ was ordered to
be issued for the county of Westmoreland, in the room of
Earl Bective.
THE PROTECTION ON INFANT LIFE.
Mr. CHARLEY, who had given notice of his intention to
ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department,
whether it was the intention of her Majesty's Govern-
ment to introduce a bill, early this session, for the protec-
tion of infant life, postponed his question, by permission of
the Home Secretary, till Thursday next.
PRINCE GORTSCHAICOFF'S CIRCULAR.
Sir CHARLES DILKE inquired of the Under Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs whether the papers relating to
the Conference, which are to be laid upon the table, would
contain all communications received by Her Majesty's
Government in reference to the proposed action on the
part of other Powers consequent upon the circular note of
Prince Gortschakoff.
Viscount ENFIELD assured the 'hon. member and the
House, that all papers in connection with the question to
which his words referred, which could be made public
without determent to the public interest, would be
included among the papers to be presented. (cheers).
THE NEW COURTS OF JUSTICE.
Mr. G. GREGORY asked the First Commissioner of
Works what was the cause of the delay in commencing the
building of the New Courts of Justice.
Mr. AYRTON explained what had been done with regard
to the law courts, and said that after the sanction of
Parliament had been given for a site, at• a cost of
three quarters of a million, and an outlay for the building
to a similar amount, the plans were greatly elaborated,
and the total proposed cost was estimated at £3,250,000:
The result was that the plans were sent back in order
to ue brought within the wishes of the House, and a
delay necessarily took place. The plans had now been
prepared with reference to the original feelings expressed
in the House, and would be carried out without unneces-
sary delay. He added that the buildings which would be
erected would be more useful to the public service than
they would have been had the more elaborate designs been
carried out.
THE SAFE CONDUCT TO M. JULES FAVRE.
Mr. AIIBERON HERBERT asked the First Lord of the
Treasury whether it was the case that the Prussian
authorities, at the instance of the English Government,
promised a safe conduct to a French Plenipotentiary, to
attend the Conference, and, after having done so, refused
to grant the safe conduct ; and if such had been the case,
what course had been taken by her Majesty's Govern-
ment ?

Mr. GLADSTONE said that as the question had been
raised, and as there was perhaps a notion abroad that
there had been something like a breach of faith, he would
endeavour to give a fair view of the circumstances. In the
first place, a request was made on the 27th November
that a safe conduct might be given to M. Jules Favre to
pass through the Prussian lines and attend the Conference.
When that request was made it was forwarded by Earl
Granville, through the kind intervention of Count
Bernstorff, the Prussian Ambassador, to Count Bis-
marck, whose answer was that a safe conduct was at M.
Jules Favre's disposal, but that it was to be sent for, the
reason for that being that a German flag of truce had been
fired upon by the French. Whether that was an erro-
neous supposition or nothe could not say, but that was the
reason assigned for requiring the safe conduot to be sent
for. The safe conduct was not sent for, but on the 13th
January M. Jules Favre applied himself to Count Bis-
marck for it. The answer was that the application should
then be made to the military authorities of the German
army ; and as late as the 18th January Mr. Odo Russell
wrote to Lord Granville, stating that no difficulty had been
raised on the part of the German military authorities
and that the French Minister had only to apply in order
to receive the safe conduct. But on the 22nd January,
when the bombardment of Paais had begun, the military
authorities of the German army declared that no one
could be allowed to enter or leave Paris during the period
of the bomdardment ; and that, no doubt, was the circum-
stance which had been construed by some into a belief
that there had been an abrupt refusal on the part
of the Germans of that which had been previously
conceded. On the day succeeding that on which the
German authorities came to that conclusion, M. Favre
wrote to state that there were various reasons which would
prevent him from absenting himself from Paris during so
critical a time. Lord Granville had made every endeavour
to secure the presence of the French representative at the
Conference. (Cheers.)
THE GOVERNMENT LICENSING BILL.
Mr. CROSS asked the Secretary of State for the Home
Dep.artment when it was his intention to bring forward
his bill on the licensing of houses for the sale of intcod-
eating liquors.
Mr. BRUCE was unable to state at the present moment,
but assured the hon. member that a bill would be brought
forward when an opportunity offered.
THE GOVERN M ENT
OF AND THE REVICTUAL-
LING PARIS.

Mr. BROWN inquired of the Secretary of the Admiralty
whether he was in a condition to give any information as
to what assistance had been rendered by her Majesty's
Government from available stores, in the revictualling of
Paris,
Mr. BAXTER said the stock of provisions at present was
so large that 2,500 tons, of the value of £50,000, could be
spared for Paris, without the slightest inconvenience to
the service. (Hear). In anticipation of a sudden demand,
large quantities of flour, biscuits, salt pork, and essence
of beef, had been held in readiness for shipment at a mo-
ment's
notice, and two vessels had been dispatched from
Deptfort and Devonport, for Havre, on the receipt of a
notice from Paris. (Hear, hear).
The Speaker then read Her Majesty's reply to the
humble Address of the House of Commons,