The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-14 00:00:00

SUPPLY-WAR WITH CHINA.

The house went into committee of supply.
Upon the vote of £148,896, on account of the advances
made by the Indian Government for the expedition to
China,

Lord J. MA VNERS asked when it had been intimated
that that sum was due to the Indian Government, and that
they would expect payment during the present financial
year.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
apparent anomalies in the accounts were owing to the mode
in which those accounts had been kept, but there would
never be that confusion again he hoped, The payments to
the Indian Government were allowances in an open account.
The British Government had large claims against the In-
dian Government for the expenses of the Indian war. He
would make inquiry, and endeavour to give the necessary
information promptly.

Mr. BRIGHT asked what was the amount of force we
had in China. Some time ago he had been informed that
it was 10,000, but subsequently he had been told that it
was to be 20,000 men. He believed that for any purpose of
the English Government, however unjust, 10,000 men was
quite sufficient, and he should be glad to hear who ordered
the additional number.

Sir H. WILLOUGHBY said the observations made by
the hon. member for Birmingham led him to the conclusion
that bills would be run up, which that house would as usual
have to pay. He understood there was no account with the
Indian Government till '49, and that was 11 years ago.
There was already an account running up with the Indian
Government cf two millions for the present war, and as
sensible men they ought to require a balance-sheet to be
laid on the table before they agreed to the present war.
Mr. ROEBUCK said the hon. baronet (Sir H. Wil-
loughby) wanted to have a balance-sheet. Now, he
(Mr. Roebuck) wanted to know what advantage Govern-
ment intended to confer upon the country by such an
expenditure of blood and treasure as would be made in
this war. He remembered on the occasion of the former
war, hearing the present Chancellor of the Exchequer make
a most able speech denouncing that unjust war, but the right
hon, gentleman had changed his position, and hence he had
changed his opinions—(hear, hear, from the Opposition)—
and he now came forward to justify a course which he had
formerly denounced. (Renewed cheers from the Opposi-
tion.) The speech of the right hon. gentleman lo which he
had alluded was still ringing in his ears, and little did he
think at the time that he should now find him .one of the
most eloquent advocates of the present war. On the former
occasion the right hon. gentleman did not cover up kis
meaning with a multitude of words. No ; he was then plain
—was succinct, and very effective. (Hear, hear.) That
speech told upon the country, and he (Mr. Roebuck) had
only to go to the quiver of the right hon. gentleman to find
an arrow fitted for the present occasion. The hon. and
learned gentleman concluded by denouncing the vast
amount of immorality which was involved in the present

war.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he fe
no difficulty whatever. (Derisive cheers and laughter.
He repeated, he felt no difficulty in replying to the hon.
and learned gentleman, who had asked him how he could
denounce the former war, and yet be the advocate of the
present war. His answer was that the present war was
entirely different from the last war. Now, it might be,
that the war in 1857 was right, and that the war in 1860
was wrong. It might be that the war in 1860 was right,
and the war in 1857 was wrong; or it might be that they
were both wrong. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) That was
but the choice of alternatives. As to the present war, he
had never spoken of it but with regret and lamentation.
The present Government had only undertaken it from a
sense of public duty. The policy of the Government with
respect to the war had not been challenged in that house.
The house had generally acquiesced in the- war. It was
for the interests of the country to send a considerable
force to China, but at the same time it was made the
bearer of terms as moderate as possible under the circum-
stances. He did not attempt to gloss the evil, or to
hide the cost of it. The hon. member for Portsmouth wished
to know what were the monthly disbursements of the war;
but that it was impossible to tell, Any correct account of
the expenses of a war in China, with its base in India, was
impossible. The whole matter was full of uncertainty. The
amount of drafts on the home chest might be- given, but
but that would be but a most imperfect estimate. Various
considerable items of the last war remained unadjusted, but
he did not think that any large sums remained to be ac-
counted for.
Lord J. NIANNERS wished to know the real objects of
the war. The right hon. gentleman assumed, that the house
had sanctioned the war. 110 demurred to that statement.
The war was commenced not only without the knowledge of
Parliament, but before they assembled, and that was really
the first opportunity of testing the ppinion of the house on the conduct of the war, and the only mode was by bringing
before Ulm, gi4antie bill, which had been already incur.