§ MR. EWARTwished to ask a question of the noble Lord the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, with respect to the affairs of the River Plate, to which, on a former occasion, the noble Viscount had not given as unambiguous a reply as could have been desired by the parties interested. He wished, first, to ask him whether the Government entertained a hope of effecting a settlement of these affairs; secondly, whether the reception of our new envoy in Buenos Ayres had been such as to justify the hope of a favourable settlement; and, thirdly, what was the present state of the negotiations with respect to these affairs?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONsaid, that it would occupy some time to detail with exactness the present state of these negotiations. Briefly, however, he might state that a proposition had been made by the English and French Governments, which had not been accepted, and that it remained for the French Government to determine whether they would make any fresh proposals. Mr. Southern had not yet been received officially; but he had been privately received with all possible cordiality, and he might say with distinction. Mr. Southern had been received by General Rosas, and there was reason to believe that in a short time he would be permitted to present his credentials. Negotiations were pending, and he saw no reason why a satisfactory arrangement should not shortly be come to.