§ MR. FINNIEsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If any information has been received at the Foreign Office from Rio de Janeiro, confirmatory of the report that the crew of the "Mary Hamilton" have been acquitted; and, if he will lay upon the Table any Papers in relation to this subject which may have passed between the Brazilian Government and the Foreign Office?
MR. OTWAYsaid, in answering the Question of the hon. Gentleman, he would at the same time answer a similar Question given Notice of by the hon. Member for Greenock (Mr. Grieve). Information had been received at the Foreign Office confirmatory of the report that the crew of the Mary Hamilton had been acquitted on their second trial, and he had no objection to lay on the Table the Papers which had passed between Her Majesty's Government and the authorities in Brazil. In reply to the Question of the hon. Member for Greenock, whether, after a detention in prison of nearly 18 months by the Brazilian authorities, the British Government would endeavour to obtain for those men, who had thus been declared innocent, adequate compensation, he had to say that the Government had been informed that the proceedings in the Brazilian Courts had been entirely in conformity with Brazilian law; but the long detention of these men was a matter which had attracted the attention and sympathy of Her Majesty's Government, and representations, merely of a friendly character, would be made, recommending their case to the favourable consideration of the Brazilian Government.