§ MR. HORSFALLsaid, he begged to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether Her Majesty's Government was aware of the fact of the Venezuelan Government, or persons in the name of that Government, having taken possession of the Island of Ayes, which was surveyed by the British Government in 1849; and if so, whether it is intended to take any measures for the recovery of the island, and for the preservation to this country of the supply of guano which abounds there?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONsaid, that in the year 1849 some officers in the British service examined the island in question, and had reason to think that there was a supply of guano upon it, but it was doubtful. In December last, Her Majesty's Government was informed that some Americans had ascertained that there was guano on the island, and that some arrangement had been entered into between these American adventurers and the Government of Venezuela, granting and securing to that American undertaking the exclusive right to take guano for a certain number of years. A question arose as to whether this island could be claimed by Great Britain, as having been an unoccupied island, and whether England, by right of first occupation, could claim sovereignty over it. On consulting the Law Officers of the Crown, it appeared from the statement of facts that Great Britain could not properly assert any claim of sovereignty over that island; but as soon as that was ascertained, instructions were sent to the British consul at Caraccas to require from the Government of Venezuela that British subjects should have the same privileges and facilities for obtaining guano from that island as should be afforded to the subjects of any other country.