The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-05-12
The Debate on tho Eastern Question I'm
the House Of Commons.

LONDON, May I0.-In the House OF Com
mons this afternoon Hon. Robert Rourke,
under-secretarv for the Foreign Depart
mcnt, In reply to a question, said no steps
have been taken to send a naval force to the
Danube. Such step would lead to much
INSTRUMENTATION. and possibly serious re-
suits. He said he had no information about
the state OF the Black-Sea blockade, and no
demonstrations had been made about its
issufficicncv. In reply TO aquestion by Mr..
Wait. he said England had asked the Porte
for further extension OF time for the entry
to and clearance Of vessels from blockaded
norts. The Eastern debate was then re-
ncwcd.
Mr.. Forster said he was happy to think
that il would not he so easy TO DRIFT into
war ut the close OF the present debate AZ it
might have been previously. 1t could not
cmbarrass the Government to pass the pres
cnt resolutions. as the Government had
already made declarations Of similar pur-
port.
Mr. ForSter's speech was a criticism OF
Earl Derbv's reply to Prince GortScha TX off.
He said some OF the arguments therein,
though conclusive, were based upon false
assumptions. The whole tendency Of the
reply was dangerous. 1t was very strong
statement 10 say that Russia had broken
the treaty OF Paris by the step she had
taken. II the Government thought that
to declare war instead OF leaving the
Question to European mediation was
violation of that treaty they should have
told Russia so beforehand. Whether
Russia was hlamaG1e depended very much
whether the European concert by which
matters were to be arranged was real. lie
denied that that concert was anything more
than sham, denied that England had the
right to prevent Russia from attacking
Egypt and secuted the idea that Russia de-
sired to capture ConStantinoplc. lie could
not have voted for the third and fourth re-
solutions if Mr.. Gladstone had maintained
them, but before the outbreak OF the present
war would have supported a declaration in
favor OF European pressure and coercion.
lie believed the majority OF the House
favored neutrality rs far rs is consistent
with British interests. and said that the best
way to protect those interests was to be ready
TO offer mediation at the first opportunity.
Mr.. Chaplin declared that Russia to great
| extent was responsible for the events which
| occurred last year in Bulgaria, and said that
care should be taken To prevent Russia from
setting her foot in Constantinoplc Or inter-
icring with the road 10 India, even if it was
necessary to sweep the Mediterranean to
Sccurefhc object.
SIR Robert Peel, citing the ease OF Poland,
ridicuIcd the injunction OF the name OF
Russia with civil or religious liberty. He
hoped the Government would not bulge an
inch from the position they had taken. He
did not fear war. but hoped it would be
avoided under the able management OF the
Government. The debate was adjourned.
During the debate Mr.. Courtney Cad
vancrd LibcraN, member for LlskearG. adj
vocatcd the ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF Turkey Ivy
force OF arms and an alliance with Russia
for that purpose.
The Conservatives cried NO" and the
I.ihrralS chCCreQ.