The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1871-07-01
England and Ameriea-The English Gov
eminent and the Civil War.

Tn the uonse of LoS darch 2lst, the fol-
lowing remarks were made ernlng the attltude
of the Government during the strife IN the Unlted
States Lord Houghton said that, notwlthstand-
ing the great events which had occurred since the
American war. there was hardly any decislon OF
the British Government which had more historloai
Importance than the determination, In the crisis
of the American rebellion, not to recognize the
Southern Confederacy. He had no doubt that
that decision was come to on grounds OF large
policy. a poIicy broad enough to overcome all
personal opinions and preJudlces, nut IL was
urObable. indeed almost certain, that 1t was not
arrived at without weighing the position OF the
question in the minds Of other European Govern
Inents. He believed it was admitted that one
great European power was decidedly In favor OF
recognition, and that the British Cabinet came TO
a decision counter to the opinion ana desire Vi
that mower. Now, a rumor had lately been
spread in that great country on the otner slde Oh
the Atlantic, with which we were at present Gu
gagged in such interesting negotiations, 10 the
effect that the British Government was fully IN
clined to recognize the South, and was diverted
from that purpose by the influence and expressly
avowed opinion of another great power, which
assumed, perhaps somewhat ostentatlously, 10 De
the chief friend of America in Europe. That
rumor has been widely spread in the United
States, and the name of a distinguished diploma
list, the Russian Minister at Washington, had
been mixed up with the story, he having, 1t was
alleged, stated that the rumor was correct. de
had gwen his noble friend Earl Granville) sufh-
cient notice of his question to enable him to reler
to cotemparary documents at the Foreign Othce,
SO as fully to inform himself whether there was
any Intervention by the Russian Government to
influence the decision of the British Cabinet. He
had brought the matter forward because it such
an opinion extended itself it might seriously
injure impending negotiations with the United
States. 1t was important that that country should
understand the real motive f our conduct during
it's great struggle, and that it should do Justice to
the course taken by the British cabinet of that
time with regard4to its interests. He would ask
his noble friend whether the rumOr that the
Russian Minister had made such a statement was
correct, and if not, whether he could throw any
light on the matter.
Earl Granville-The rumor to which my noble
friend has alluded has certainly reached me, but
| trust, like many other rumors, it is unfounded,
for any such statement would be founded on a
misrepresentation of the facts. AS to the facts, |
can speak with authority, for L had the honor of
being u member of Lord Palmerston's Cabinet,
and [ have communicated not only with Mr..
Gladstone and Mr.. Cardwell, who were also
members of it, but with Lord Russell, and l am
speaking in the presence of the Lord Privy Seal
discount Halifax and the noble Duke behind
me, (Somerset) who are also cognlzant of the
facts. There IS no record in the Foreign Office of
any influence LAYING been used in this matter by
the Russian Government, and, moreover. 1t was
not required, as no proposal was ever entertained
by Lord PalmGston's Cabinet for the recognition
of the Confederate States.
The Duke of Somerset-As a member of Lord
Palmerston's Cabinet, L can perfectly confirm the
statement OF my noble friend. Being at the time
at the Admiralty, and therefore at the head of the
navy, any such proposal as this would have at
tracted my serDus attention at the time, and |
could not possibly have forgotten it. | am certain
that no such proposal was ever made.