The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-11 00:00:00

.MPERIAL PARLIAMENT,

HOUSE OF LORDS—YESTERDAY.
Th© LORD CIIANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
At five o'clock.
THE WAR IN AMERICA.

The Earl of DE RBY said hehad given notice in writing to 1
the noble earl opposite to ask a question relative to the state 1
of affairs in a distant part of the world. Their lordships were 1
aware of the unfortunate outbreak that had taken place be-
tween the Northern and Southern States. He knew that the
question of belligerent rights was now under the considera-
tion of the law officers of the Crown, and therefore he should
not touch upon that portion of the subject. It was ascer-
tained that letters of marque or sanction for private,ering
had been issued by the Southern 'tates. Now, this state
of things would place the British traders in a very dan-
gerous position by such a proceeding on. the part of the
Northern and Southern States. He underitood
that a proclamation was about to be issued on the
part of the Government with respect to belligerent rights,
and as he looked upon privateering as a sort of sea poach-
ing, he thought it was highly important that British sea-
men who might be attracted to join in such a perilous course
should know the exact position in which they stood. It
was right they should know in the most unmistakeable
manner on what footing they stood by proclamation of the
Government. They should be informed that they would
lose all their natural rights, and that their blood would be
upon their own heads, as this country would not interfere
in any way to save them. The question he wished to
ask was, whether, in the proclamation that was about to be
issued on the subject of belligerent rights, distinct instruc-
tions would be given of the risk British seamen would
incur by going in any privateering ships, and that the Go-
vernment could not in any wayinterfere for their protee-

tion?
said, with regard to the question
Earl GRANVILLE
whether the Government intended to issue a proclamation
warning her Majesty's subjects to preserve that neutrality
which it was the desire of the country to maintain in re-
spect of the struggle in America, it was the intention of.the
Government to issue such proclamation in accordance with
precedents of former times.
Lord BROUGHAM expressed his regret at the state of
things that existed in America, and agreed in the necessity
of issuing such a prods... Hon as that referred to.
The Earl of HARDWICKE denied that iniralecriag
was to be regarded as piracy. If properly conducted it
stood in a very different position.
The matter then dropped.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Leeds, Bradford, and Halifax Junction Railway,
Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (Bootle Branches) were
read a second time.
The Whitworth Vale Gas, Western Super-Mare Gas,
Forth and Clyde Junction Railway, Exeter and Exmouth
Railway, Witney Railway, and Kendall Fell Bills were
read a third time and passed.
PASSENGERS (AUSTRALIAN COLONIES) BILL.
This bill was read a second time.
LEASES, &C., BY INCUMBENTS RESTRICTION
BILL.

The report of amendments on this bill was brought up
and received.

AFFAIRS OF SYRIA.

Lord STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFE rose, pursuant
to notice, to move-1. That :this house would view with
deep regret any circumstance leading to a continuance,
however brief, of the occupation of Syria by foreign troops
beyond the sth of June next ensuing, the period now fixed
for their complete withdrawal by the convention agreed to
at Paris on the 15th of March; 2. That the house considers
the late calamitous events in Syria as not to be attributed
to causes exclusively local, but also and chiefly to the gene-
ral state of the Turkish empire, more especially in point of
revenue and administration ; 3. That the house is deeply
impressed with the urgency of obtaining from the Ottoman
Porte a prompt adoption and strict enforcement of such
measures as may best afford in the spirit of the Sultan's
hatti-humayoun of 1856 a reliable security against the re-
currence from any cause whatever of these sanguinary con-
flicts. The noble lord said the subject which he was about
to bring under the notice of their lordships was so little re-
commended by any simplicity in its character that he should
have shrunk from trespassing on the indulgence of the
house if he had not borne in mind the importance of the
national interests at stake. The resolutions which he pro-
posed were, he thought, of a character not calculated to
raise any difference of opinion, and still less to cause any
division among their lordships as to their adoption. He
thought that it would be advantageous, concurrently
with the discussion which had taken place in the other
house of Parliament, that the subject should also be dis-
cussed in that house, in order that the Government might
have the full advantage of being supported in their policy
by the approval of both houses ; and ho could see no cause
for apprehension abroad arising out of such a discussion,
while, as far as this country was concerned, such discussion
must be beneficial, by diffusing a knowledge of the interests
involved and the principles by which the policy of Parlia-
ment and the Government were guided. It could not be
said either that the discussion was premature. It was now
six weeks since the correspondence on the subject had been
laid on the table by the Foreign Office. It was not his in-
tention to refer to that correspondence in detail, bat he
might say that it was impossible to read it without seeing
that the policy of this country had been ably sustained,
that those entrusted with the duty of carrying it out had
ably and faithfully performed their duties, and that this
was the case especially with the commissioner appointed to
act jointly with the representatives of France and Turkey,
who, though comparatively inexperienced in diplomacy, had
not only ably promoted the great interests of humanity, but
also the character and the policy of this country, in a way
which reflected the highest honour upon himself. (Hear.)
The question itself was one of great complexity, and
which presented circumstances of great difficulty and deli-
, cacy to deal with. The occupation of Syria by foreign
troops involved questions of the gravest importance. At
the time that France offered to send troops to Syria he
felt, with the Government, that the time for their remain-
ing there should be limited to the shortest possible period.
. . .

Since then it had been found by the Government that it

was advisable that the period should be still further ex-
tended.
It would be a matter for deep regret, if it should,
from any cause, be still further extended. He could not
doubt that the French Government was sincerely desirous
of carrying out the last convention, and had no pecuniary
interest in prolonging the occupation ; but still it was

possible to conceive that circumstances might arise to in-
duce them to desire a further extension of the period,
and it was desirable that our Government should be
supported by Parliament in its determination to insist
upon the striet fulfilment of the last arrangement. It
really did not appear that the continuance of the French
troops was necessary for the restoration or maintenance
of tranquillity in Syria. Their presence had been con-
fined to a small portion of the country, and it had had
the effect of exeiting the Christian tribes. He would put
it to the house if any army of a foreign Power should be
placed in this position? It was right, therefore, for this
House to aid the Government in carrying out the arrange-
ments made, and also in taking such steps in connection
therewith as would ensure the tranquillity of the Turkish
Empire, which, by treaty, we had undertaken to glut-
rantee. It was no slight tuair we had thus undertaken,
but it was one which policy and good faith alike for-
bade ns shrinking from. Long before such treaty obliga-
tions became binding upon us this country had taken a
deep interest in Turkish affairs. Within the last century
we had six or seven times sent an army to aid in main-
taining the integtity of the Turkish Empire. This could
not, therefore, be considered a light question, and at a
time when, not only Europe—the whole of Europe—but
America, was in so uneasy a condition, it was more than
ever our duty to guard against any possible circumstances
that tend to weaken that empire, or to lead to disputes in
connection with its affairs. It was of importance that they
should take a right view of the causes of the disturbances
in Syria. No doubt many of these causes were local in
their nature and operation ; but in addition to that, it
might be truly said that the more influential and actively
moving causes were of a general character. The corruption
which unhappily pervaded the administration was one great
cause. The army, which was on paper 150,000 strong, did
not in reality number more than 50,000 or 60,000 and
another cause was the embarrassed state of the finances.
What the Turkish Empire required was an army adequate
to the defence of the country and the maintenance of its
internal tranquillity. Mlle"
somefor remedy
appliedcounetr
yto
doto
these things it would be impossible.e bo
Government had en-
r this
justice to the engagements into which
tete&
They should endeavour to induce Turkey to exevt
her own energies and to carry out those reforms which the
Government of Turkey had admitted to be necessary.
There was a difficulty in bringing the Syrian question to
an issue from causes with which the Porte had to deal. He
thought it was a subject of regret that more persevering
efforts had not been made to keep ;the T
progress of reform. It to
bim that
ts eathstiswday inthe
progress
not a
fanciful or speculative subject, and one which could be post-
seemed
post-
poned. It was a question which
must be dealt with, or
events might result which would come
upon this country
with surprise, as within tha last 84 months other events
had occur red of which no man had the least anticipation.
It might happen at no at, tan. f
period that Ittinisters would
be compelled to call upon l'a'ment to enable them to
Turks 2
carry out the engagements of this countytowards
Nothing was more :necessary than that these ens.. ent
should bo maintained which were essential to the mainte-
nance of the balance of power in Europe. He trusted
their lordships would consider the resolutions in the spirit
in which they had been framed. He should be sorry it
their discussLn should throw any obstacle or difficulty in
the way, as he bad frankly stated the motives which had
induced him to bring the resolution forward. Ho had
touched upon most of the points which he thought bore
upon the subject. He had overcome his reluctance to
address their lordships from a strict sense of duty arising
from the experience and the knowledge he possessed of
Turkish affairs. The noble lord concluded by moving his
resolutions.

•
Lord WODEHOUSE was sure their lordships bad lis-
tened with much attention to the speech of his noble friend
who was so well acquainted with Turkish affairs. There
was much in the resolutions in which he agreed, but at the
same time he did not think it would be adyieable at the