§ MR. MACAULAYsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it he true that 19 the Brazilian Government, since his declaration made in February, that Her Majesty's Government had from the beginning accepted the proposed mediation or good offices of the King of Portugal, have now signified their acceptance; whether the King of Portugal adheres to his offer, and whether it is an offer of mediation or good offices; whether any Communication has been received by Her Majesty's Government from that of Brazil in reply to the following passage in Earl Russell's Despatch of June 6, 1863, on suspending diplomatic relations:—
Her Majesty's Government hope that the Government of Brazil will, in its future intercourse with Great Britain, through whatever channel that intercourse may be carried on, act with that courtesy which is usual between Governments; and also that the Brazilian Government will, without further delay, frankly enter into the communication of their views as to the means by which a settlement of the long pending claims may best be arrived at.And whether there is any objection to present to Parliament the Correspondence about British Claims on Brazil, as the Brazilian Government have laid the Correspondence before the Brazilian Legislature, and statements founded on that publication have appeared in England?
§ MR. LAYARDreplied, that the Government had not received any official communication announcing that the Emperor of Brazil had accepted the mediation offered by the King of Portugal, but he had seen it stated in the newspapers that the Emperor of Brazil had announced his intention of accepting that mediation. The impression of the Portuguese Minister at this Court was, that a satisfactory communication would shortly be made to Her Majesty's Government on the subject. He believed the offer was one of mediation, not of good offices. Since the suspension of relations, no communication had taken place between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Brazil, and consequently no reply had been received to the despatch of Earl Russell. He (Mr. Layard) thought it would be better not to produce any of the Correspondence at present, as there was reasonable ground for hoping that relations would be speedily resumed between the two Governments.