§ MR. ANDERSONasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Signor Guzman Blanco, the Governor of Venezuela, has been for some time levying a duty of thirty per cent. in addition to ordinary duties on goods imported from British Colonies; whether this differential duty against Great Britain is not in contravention of the Treaty of 1825, confirmed by the Convention of 1834; and, if so, what steps Her Majesty's Government has taken to secure the fulfilment of Treaty 188 obligations, through the violation of which the trade of Trinidad is being seriously prejudiced; whether certain vessels were seized in the Maturin River on the allegation of trying to evade that duty, one of the vessels being sunk, and some of the crew imprisoned; whether this has continued for several months, without any steps being taken for the protection of these British subjects; and, whether anything is now being done to obtain redress?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEHer Majesty's Government are of opinion that the duties in question are in violation of the Treaty of 1825. Negotiations for a settlement are in progress; but there has been a certain delay owing to there being no Representative in this country. With regard to the seizure of British vessels in the Maturin River, and the imprisonment of their crews upon a charge of smuggling, Her Majesty's Minister at Caracas reported that he had lost no time in addressing a representation on the subject to the Venezuelan Government, and a further despatch is expected from him in the course of next week.