MR. H. BERKELEYsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affaire, Whether Her Majesty's Government recognize a Notification issued by Senor Martin, Minister Plenipotentiary to this Court from the Granadian Confederation, better known as the Republic of New Granada, Which announces a blockade of the Ports of Rio Hache, Santa Martha, Sa-vanilla,' Carthagena, and Zapote; and What Government does Her Majesty's Government recognize in the so-called Granadian Confederation?
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLsaid, the question was one of great importance. The Government of New Granada had announced, not a blockade, but that certain ports of New Granada were to be closed. Now, the opinion of Her Majesty's Government, after taking legal advice upon the question, was that it was perfectly 1646 competent to a Government of a country in a state of tranquillity to say which ports should be open to trade and which should be closed. But in the event of insurrection or civil war in that country it was not competent for its Government to close ports which were de facto in the hands of the insurgents; and that such a proceeding would be an invasion of the international law relating to blockade. Admiral Milne, acting under the advice of Her Majesty's Government, had ordered the commanders of Her Majesty's ships not to recognize the closing of those ports. He would answer the other portion of the hon. Gentleman's inquiry upon another day.