§ SIR CHARLES RUSSELLasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Her Majesty's Government has received any information that the Chilian Fleet has destroyed the jetties and landing stages and seized the launches engaged in loading guano from Peru to England, by which act the loading of over 100 vessels, chiefly English, lying ready to load and actually loading with guano, has been interrupted and the exportation of guano stopped, to the injury, not only of the bondholders, but of the agricultural and shipping interests of this country; and, whether the Government are prepared to take any, and what, steps for the protection of British interests, and also with reference to the damage which has already occurred?
§ MR. BOURKEUnofficial information on this subject has reached Her Majesty's Government. It seems to me to be practically of the same character as that mentioned in the Question which my hon. and gallant Friend has put to mo. All I can say upon the subject at present is that it has received within the last 48 hours the serious attention of Her Majesty's Government, and they have already taken those steps which they think advisable for the protection of British interests and British property.