The Sun.
London, England, 1870-08-06 00:00:00

THE SECRET TREATY.

Sir G. JENKINSON asked the First Lord of the Treasury
' whether, in view of the proposed Secret Treaty between
France and Prussia, the existence of which had been sub-
, stantially admittad by both those Powers,,and considering
that the independence of the Kingdom of Belgium had
been guaranteed by Great Britain, in conjunction' with
other Powers, he would state for the information of the
House whether, in the event of any attempt being made
by either of the belligerent Powers to carry out
the provisions of that proposed Secret Treaty,
so as to interfere with the independence of the kingdom of
Belgium, her Majesty's Government would take imme-
diate and effectual steps to enforce the Treaty of 1831,
and whether they had taken any, and if so what steps, and
with what result, to secure the co-operation of the other
Powers who were parties( with Great Britain to the Treaty
'of 1831, and especially as to the twenty-fifth article of
that treaty.
Sir JoHN GRAY begged at the same time to put the
question which he had privately given notice of, namely,
whether or not it was true that the second article of the
Treaty of 1839 declared the Treaty of 1831 not to be obli-
gatory upon the five contracting parties. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. GLADSTONE : There is no doubt whatever that the
treaty of 1831, to which the hon. baronet's question refers,
has passed entirely out of existence. (Hear, hear.) The treaty
of 1839 is that under which the relations of the contract-
ing powers as to Belgium arc at present regulated. With
respect to the question of my hon. friend I think he will
almost have anticipated my answer. (Cheers.) It would
be impossible for me to state either the acts or the in-
tentions of the Government in a matter of this very grave
character in answer to a question. (Cheers.) I stated to
the House upon a former evening, and it has
been stated in the other House with somewhat
more fulness since, that the Government have taken into
consideration the whole state of the case in relation to the
circumstances growing out of the projected treaty, as it is
called, and that they have adopted steps which appear to
them best calculated to establish confidence and security.
I am afraid I cannot at this moment add anything to that
statement. (Cheers.) I hope it will serve to shew the
House that the Government are sensible of the gravity of
the case. We shall be most desirous of communicating
information to the Houses of Parliament at the very

earliest moment, and I have the hope that we shall be
able to communicate such information in an authentic
manner within a day or two, before the separation of Par-

liament,

. Subsequently, on the order for going in committee on
the Appropriation Bill,
Sir G. JENKINSON said he feared that the member for
Kilkenny would create a very erroneous impreSsion both
in that House and abroad if it were supposed that the
statement were allowed to be made and uncontradieted
that the Treaty of 1831 was entirely abrogated,
and therefore that there was no duty incumbent upon
this country to stand by that Treaty in defending
Belgium. He feared it would do great injury. He
wished to know whether he was in order in bringing the
matter forward.

The Speaker replied that the hon. baronet could only
speak on matters connected with the bill.

Sir GEORGE JENKINSON said he should be sorry to move
an adjournment, as the the member for Kilkenny had sug-
gested to him, but the point raised was a most important
one. A statement had been made in another place, and
he had hoped that it would have been confirmed in that
House. He trusted that it would not be allowed to go
forth that they did not intend to defend Belgium. (Cries
of " Order.")
Mr. GLADSTONE : Perhaps I may just state that no
such statement has been made. Certainly not by
myself.

Sir GEORGE JENKINSON : By the member for Kilkenny.
(Loud cries of " Order."

EXPORTATION OF HORSES.

Sir HARRY VERNEY asked the First Lord of the
Treasery whether, considering that the present large
exportation of horses would raise the price of horses to
ourselves beyond the usual amount, and that it may cause
embarrassment to us in case it should become desirable to
increase our cavalry, artillery, and transport corps, her
Majesty's Government would take into their consideration
the propriety of stopping that exportation.
Mr. GLADSTONE, in reply, said that her Majesty's
Government had no intention of interfering with the ex-
portation of horses. (Hear, hear.) They did not believe,
except in a state of circumstances of the very gravest
kind indeed, they would be justified in interfering. He
could not help thinking that his hon. friend had to a certain
extent been misled by the rumours which were abroad. He
did not know what the total number of horses in this
country was; but they certainly must be counted by mil-
lions. Since the Ist July, 1870, this great demand for
horses had occurred, and up to the present time the total
exportation of horses from the United Kingdom was
1,288. (Laughter.)