The debate in the Commons on the Address was very
flat. Colonel Moray, the mover, made an ordinary speech, and Mr. Corry read a sort of pamphlet, so acrimonious that Lord Hartington rebuked him for a violation of the usual under- standing ; but the debate itself was of little interest. Lord Hartington animadverted on the duration of this Parliament, and declared that, in his judgment, strong reasons existed for an early appeal to the country, promised that when it came he would again enter upon foreign policy, asked for information about Greece, alluded to the Khoja: affair at Constantinople, denounced the guarantee to the Turkish Government, quoting descriptions of the wretchedness of Turkey, and declared that when the guarantee was repudiated Cyprus must be restored. [He should have added, or purchased for Greece.] He advocateZ encouragement to the growing nationalities in the Balkans, and reliance upon Europe, and not upon ourselves, to repress dangerous ambitions ; refused to enter on the race of military armaments, but would not oppose the extension of the Navy. As regards South Africa, he would restore the Transvaal, as having been taken under false information. He denied that it was possible to influence Afghanistan or carry out any policy there, if it were broken up into chieftainships, and demanded explanations of the proclamation threatening the execution of soldiers in arms against us. Finally, he suggested more assistance to Ireland through municipal bodies, and condemned the reluctance of the Government to enter upon home legislation.
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