The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-05 00:00:00

the .convention then concluded, said he should be glad to
hear what part the Envoy of England had taken in those
conferences. The Chancellor of the Exchequer told the
house that there was complete identity between the views of
France and England on this subject ; but the Emperor in
his late speech spoke of the convention in the most condem-
natory terms. It was clear that the Government knew as
little of the real views of France as they did of the wishes
of the Principalities, for the election of one Hospodar for
the two had given the greatest satisfaction to the people of
both. He hoped to hear from the Under-Secretary some
intimation of the policy which the Government intended to

pursue under these circumstances.
Mr. FITZGERALD was quite sure that the house and
the hon. gentleman himself must feel that it was impossible
for him, on the part of the Government, to enter into a
lengthened consideration of this very important question.
(Hear, hear.) It was his duty last year to state the views
which, her Majesty's Government entertained with refer-
ence to the union of the Principalities. Since that time a
Conference of the European Powers assembled at Paris, and
day after day and week after weea the attention of the most
able diplomatists in Europe was directed to this question,
and their labours resulted in what must be deemed a solemn
act on the part of the European Powers. The hon. gentle-
man had stated that in his opinion the election of Couza as
Hospodar of both the Principalities was not contrary to
the letter or the spirit of the convention signed by the Con-
ference of Paris. He (Mr. Fitzgerald) would not venture
to offer any opinion on that subject, but this at least he
would say, that such an election as that was not contem-
plated by those who formed the Conference at Pai aris.
Neither would he venture to enter into the question raised
by the hon. gentleman as to the intentions with which this
election had been carried out in the Principalities th,
at the
or i
probable results. But this at least was clear,
Power which was most seriously interested in the election
—namely, Turkey—thought that it was contrary both to
the letter and the spirit of the convention, and had invited
those who with her were parties to the Conference at Paris
to meet in Paris and consider the very serious state of
affairs at present existing in the Principalities. The Eu-
ropean Powers had accordingly agreed to meet in Paris to
consider what best was to be done. The hon. gentle-
man said that before the Conference met her Majesty's Go-
vernment ought to state what were the views entertained
by them on the subject, and what was the course they in-
tended to adopt ; but he (Mr. Fitzgerald) thought the house
would admit that her Majesty's Government would be
wanting in respect to those European Powers that had been
invited to assemble at Paris to consider what was best to be
done un.der the difficult state of circumstances that had
arisen if they were publicly, prematurely, and indiscreetly
to state what were their views upon the subject. (Hear.)
He thought, therefore, that, having thus shortly stated the
grounds on which he asked the house not to enter into a
consideration of this very important question, he should
best fulfil his duty by declining to say anything more upon