The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-07-22

upon the table hope the House will permit me to
make short explanation, which is, think rem
dered necessary by the somewhat abrupt contra.
dicton which was given the other day by the right
honorable Secretary for India (Sir c. WOODY to
statement which then made (Hear) then
asked whether there would he any objection to lay
on the table communication made on behalf Of
her Majesty's government giving advice to the
Courts OF Germany as to the course they should
pursue with reference to the war now raging in
Italy. | referred to this communication as one
which l might fairly impute to the government
upon the authority of the right honorable Secretary
of State for India; but that right honorable gentle
man with, think, more yiyacity than courtesy az
once exclaimed, az never said anything OF the
kind" Now of course, ! am bound to accept the
disclaimer of the right honorable gentleman; out
deem it due to myself that should state tue
grounds upon which, as I think fairly aud Justly,
was led to attribute that statement 70 JUG risnt
honorable gentleman. On referring to the report
in the Times newspaper of the right honorable gen.
fIeman's speech to his constituents at Halifax,
find these words attributed to him.
We have recent accounts that In large portion OF
Germany strong spirit prevails by which they seem dis
posed almost engage in hostiliiies hope and trust
that their good sense aided BY the adcce wsica zoe
sin t,,a since came to poosr, viii induce them TO
abstain nom hostilities.
Clear, hear) The right honorable gentleman fur
ther said-
believe that in the enieRvor okeep Germany out OF
the shall be consulting the best interests Of the
country.
Now, find that report is identical in the Daily
Gle and other morning newspapers OF the following
day. Even if this were ALL should be entitled to
attribute TO the right honorable gentleman the an
nouncement that advice had been given by her
Majesty's government as to the course which should
be pursued by the German Powers with regard to
the war in Italy. find however, that the right
honorable gentleman's speech has apparently led
not only me but others into error, for that speech
was thus commented upon In the leading article OF
the Times
We learn from Sir Wood that our Foreign Minister has
pruss 10 4am all
nitons, expostustons AID warnings which SO s,gnAy
failed Of their effect wben addressed by Lerd Aalmcsbury
TO France Austria and SARDINIA.
As far as ] was concerned the case does not even
rest here; for the speech of the right honorable
gentleman had attracted the notice of my noble
friend Lord Malmesbury, and he thought il his duty
to make some observations with reference to il in
another place. where he expressed his fear lest this
oficious giving of advice should be found to preju
dice our position of neutrality (cheers)-and might
therefore impose unnecessary responsibility upon
the government of this country find that, in an
swer to the observations of my noble friend one of
the colleagues of the right honorable gentleman,
the Duke of Newcastle, said that although he had
not been able to read the report of the right
honorable baronet's speech, he had no doubt
of the accuracy of that report, aud he further
said that the despatch alluded to by the right
honorable gentleman would not bear the
construction to which Lord Malmesbury seemed to
apprehend it was open. Now, when | found
identical report in all the morning newspapers at
tributng to the right honorable gentleman state
to the Powers of Germany with erence to the
course to be pursued with regard to the war in
Italy-when found that that language was under
stood in the same sense by public writer's, and that
a noble duke-the colleague of the right honorable
genteman-eXpresslys stated that the language held
by the right honorable gentleman referred to des
patch of which that noble duke was cognzant, /
think perfectly entitled to attribute these SEN
timents to the right honorable gentlemen (hear,
hear); and while entirely accept his disclaimer I
cannot but think he has been somewhat preciptate
in stating so decidedly that he not only had not
said whatI attributed to him. but that lie never said
anything Of the kind. Now, with reference to the
question wish to put to the noble lord the Secretary
for Foreign Affairs, beg to assure him that my eX-
perience ofthe department over which he presides is
far too recent TO permit me to press him to pro-
duce any papers which he may think it desirable
for the public interest to WITHHOLD but must say,
at the same time, that think the paper TO which
refer does not come within that category / do not
ask for portion of any correspondence, or for
anything hdping reference to pending feg0tid-
tons, but we have had circular from the govern.
ment of Russia expressing their views with regard
to the present position Of Germany-we have had
circular addressed TO the various French Minis
tiers by NJ. Waewski-- and | think this country and
Parliament should be in possession Of the most
thentc records of the opinions of our own govern
ment upon the same subject. think it is not only
desirable that we should be in possession of the
views of her Majestys government upon this sub
ect, but that it is also very necessary that this
House should know the language in which these
views have been expressed. 1t may be that that
language is udcious; it may be that it is concilia-
tory; it may be that it is all this House could
desire; but, on the other hand, it may be such as
is calculated to irritate and to wound the sus-
capabilities of those to whom is addressed How
ever guarded statesmen may be in writing their
dispatches, it is not always that public man is
successful in attaining the object he has in view.
A very remarkable instance of that occurs to my
mind, because, on q former occasion, when the
noble lord O4ord J. RusselD held the seals of the
Foreign Office he addressed q rer'y important des
patch 10 The Court Of Russia. The laudable OBJ
ject of that despatch no one doubted bit, laudabIe
as ecds its OBJECT, II only pared the aoay for the
outbreak ofhostitities, and encouraged The En,pe-
ror of Russia in the pursuit Of those
designs and The adoption Of those n.ea-
sures achich afterlcdrds rendered a acdr
6eta1een Russia and this country ineritable
1t is therefore desirable that we should know not
only what the policy of the government is, but
what are the exact terms and phrases in which
they have conveyed that policy to foreign govern
ments. If, under present circumstances, and es-
pecially after the news which has just been re-
ceived the noble lord thinks it better that the des
patch should not now be produced will say
nothing further. But shall now conclude with
asking whether there is any objection to lay on the
table the despatch alluded to by the right honora
BILE member for Halifax on the occasion to which
have referred Clear, hear.)
Sir G. WooD (who was indistinct,y heard) was
understood to say-Sir, may be permitted before
the noble lord rises, to offer few words in expla
nation of what did say at Halifax, and of why I
made the answer that did yesterday to which the
honorable gentleman has adverted.. understood
the honorable member yesterday to ask for the pro-
duction of despatch which stated had been ad-
dressed to the different Courts of Germany urging
on them an adherence to a course of firm neutrai-
ty in the present war; and in reference to that as
sertion, speaking perhaps with little warmth, l
remarked that had said nothing of that kind.
What occurred at Halifax this: many persons
there were very much interested in the trade of
the Continent, and, apprehending that their bust
expressed great alarm at report which they had
heard, that Prussia was on the point of
taking an active part in this struggle. On the
other hand, large number of people were also
apprehensve lest the preparations going on in this
country should render the maintenance of our neu.
trality much more difficult. In the first place i
told them that the present government were not
more likely than the last to abandon the policy of
neutrality, and assured them that the naval and
military preparations which have been for some
time in progress were not intended, as believed