§ Sir Stratford Canningwished to ask a question relative to the present state of our trade at the important port of Buenos Ayres. The House was aware, that a blockade of that port was established about eighteen months ago by a French squadron, under the immediate command of the French Government, The effect of the blockade had been to suspend all trade in 1397 that quarter of the globe. It had afforded a most serious interruption to the commercial intercourse of all nations, and had been especially detrimental to the commerce of England. The trade of England with that port, amounted to no less than 1,000,000l. annually, and if the export returns were included, it would be 2,000,000l. It was most desirable that the anxiety of the commercial public should be set at rest, more especially as the last information was, that the blockade still continued. He begged to ask the noble Lord, whether there was any immediate prospect of the discontinuance of that blockade, and whether her Majesty's Government had taken any steps, by negotiation or otherwise, to effect that object. According to the answer he received from the noble Lord, he should decide whether he would bring the question before the House in a more distinct manner.
§ Viscount Palmerstonsaid, the last despatches received, stated that the blockade still continued. With regard to the other point, he would state, that her Majesty's Government were using their best endeavours, at Paris and Buenos Ayres, to bring about an amicable adjustment of the dispute between the two parties.
§ Sir Stratford Canningobserved, that the noble Lord had not expressed any opinion as to any immediate prospect of the blockade being discontinued. He hoped the noble Lord would inform the House, at least, of the general grounds and principles upon which the French Government founded its right to institute that blockade.
§ Viscount Palmerstondid not feel himself at liberty to express an opinion, either one way or the other. He could only repeat, that the Government were doing all in their power to bring about an amicable adjustment of the matter.
§ Sir Stratford Canninginquired whether the principal ground of misunderstanding was not a demand made by the French, that the French residents in Buenos Ayres should be put upon the same footing as those of the most favoured nation.
§ Viscount Palmerstonreplied, that that certainly was one of the demands made by the French.
§ Subject dropped.