§ MR. DE LISLE (Leicestershire, Loughborough)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have received reports of the prospects of British subjects emigrating to Brazil, and have they taken any steps to make known to the public the true state of the case?
§ SIR J. FERGUSSONHer Majesty's Government are informed that inducements are being held out to people in this country to emigrate to Brazil, and 333 are reported to have sailed between the 1st of January and the 21st inst. I am informed by the Emigration Information Office that constant inquiries are being made about free emigration to the southern districts of Brazil. We are not in possession of trustworthy information as to the prospects of British immigrants in those provinces. Last month Her Majesty's Minister was directed to report upon the subject, and some days ago a telegram, was sent to hasten his reply. As regards the districts north of Rio, we are informed that they are very unsuitable for British immigrants, whether agricultural labourers or artisans, who would probably experience disappointment and endless sufferings. A few domestic servants might find employment with European families, but their number must be inconsiderable. It should be understood that the British Consuls cannot give relief in money to distressed immigrants, and that in cases of dispute with their employers they will be dealt with according to local laws, which will be very different to those to which they have been accustomed. All the information possessed by the Foreign Office has been sent to the Board of Trade and Emigrants' Inquiry Office, by whom cautionary notices have been inserted in the newspapers; but I shall be glad if my hon. Friend's question may be the means of inducing all persons to make full inquiry before emigrating to Brazil, whether as farmers or labourers.