HC Deb 21 March 1892 vol 2 cc1312-3
MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the circumstances connected with the landing at Liverpool last week from the steamer Liguria of a large number of returned emigrants from Brazil, who left their homes in England, Scotland, and Ireland about twelve months ago; has his attention been drawn to the complaints of these people as to their treatment in the Brazils, and to their statements as to having suffered from cold, hunger, sickness, and other privations; and whether, in view of the fact that large numbers of poor people have been induced to go to Brazil on the strength of representations made by Brazilian agents, the Foreign Office will make inquiries into the manner in which this system of emigration has been carried out?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. J. W. LOWTHER,) Cumberland, Penrith

My attention has been called from time to time to the sufferings and complaints of emigrants to Brazil, and inquiries have been made as to the manner in which the emigration has been carried out. So far as our information at present goes, it appears that many persons were induced to emigrate to Brazil by the dissemination of prospectuses issued by an office calling itself the Colonisation Office, which seems to have acted as the agent for the Brazilian Government. Inquiries are being made into the matter by Her Majesty's Consul General at Rio. A considerable number of persons were induced to emigrate from Bradford through the agency of a man named Naylor, who, as we have been informed, has recently left the country. I should like to take this opportunity of repeating the warning, given by the Postmaster General last year, as to the unsuitability of Brazil for British immigration, and draw attention to the numerous warnings which have been issued by the Emigrants' Information Office with respect to that country.

MR. FLYNN

I have to thank the Foreign Office for information in respect to a large number of my constituents sent to this place.