§ MR. WOOTTON ISAACSON (Tower Hamlets, Stepney)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, with reference to the following question which was placed on the Paper on August 30th, 1887,
Whether his attention has been drawn to a new Chilian Nitrate Loan for £1,113,781 which has been negotiated with the firm of Messrs, Rothschild, and is to be issued on the 1st of next month. And whether, taking into consideration 732 that the nitrate deposits of Tarapaca, hypothecated for this loan, have already, by a decree of the Executive Government of Peru, dated 11th July 1871, been specially and absolutely hypothecated for the Loan of 1872 for £3,600,000, the Government will draw the attention of the Chilian Government and Messrs. Rothschild to this fact, with the view that the claims of the creditors on the revenues of Tarapaca will be recognized to the fullest extent warranted by justice and International Law,and which was withdrawn on the understanding that the Chilian Government intended to recognize the claims of the creditors on the revenues of Tarapaca, whether the Chilian Government intend to carry out their promise; and when?
§ *SIR J. FERGUSSONHer Majesty's Governnment are not aware of any such understanding as is mentioned by the hon. Member—namely, that the Chilian Government intended to recognize the claims of the Peruvian creditors on the revenues of Tarapaca. What Her Majesty's Government understood was that the Chilian Government were prepared to negotiate for the settlement of those claims, and communications have passed between the two Governments on the subject, but they have not led as yet to any practical result.