§ MR. DUNCAN (Barrow-in-Furness)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government is in telegraphic communication with the British Minister at Santiago, and the Commander of the 1393 British Squadron on the coast of Chili; whether he will state what the latest information is which has been received by the Government with regard to the course of the Revolution in Chili; and whether there is any truth in the report recently published that the British and other Foreign Ministers at Santiago have threatened to withdraw from the country; and, if that report be true, and the threat be carried into execution, what protection would be available to British subjects in Chili in the absence of the British Minister?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir J. FERGUSSON, Manchester, N. E.)The latest telegram from the Admiral in command of the Squadron was received from Callao viâ Lima on the 23rd inst. He was about to start for Coquimbo. He reported that telegraphic communication from thence with Chili was interrupted, but he would, of course, have means of sending back messages to Callao, where he has left a vessel to bring messages from home if necessary. H.M.S. Champion had brought news that Valparaiso and Iquique were blockaded, and that there had been firing between the ships and the shore on the 18th. The latest telegrams from Her Majesty's Minister at Santiago were received on the 18th and 19th. At that time he did not apprehend bombardments nor serious injury to general commerce. No report whatever has been received of any threat on his part or that of the other foreign Representatives to withdraw. Inquiries will be made of Her Majesty's Minister. We have no reason to believe that either the Government or the insurrectionists have any hostility to Englishmen or other foreigners.