LORD JOHN HAYsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the attention of Government has been called to the reported sale of Iron-clads by the Government of the United States to South American Governments who are now in a state of war; if this be true, whether such an act is consistent with the principles of neutrality laid down by this Country and by the United States; and, whether he will lay upon the Table of the House any Papers connected with the reported sale of such vessels?
LORD STANLEYsaid, in reply, that he had received no official information respecting the alleged sale of Iron-clads by the United States' Government to the South American Governments, and therefore he was not in a position to express any opinion upon the subject.