§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the House any information as to the progress of the civil war in Brazil; and what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken for the protection of British interests at Rio de Janeiro?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EOREIGN AEEAIRS (Sir E. GREY,) Northumberland, BerwickHer Majesty's Government have no further information than what has appeared in the newspapers as to the progress of events. They have not heard from Her Majesty's Minister anything to confirm the report which appears to-day, that a bombardment of Rio de Janeiro is imminent. But it is, unfortunately, true that circumstances might at any time occur to bring on such a measure, notwithstanding all the efforts of the Foreign Representatives and naval officers to prevent it. The senior British Naval officer on the South East Coast of America is at Rio with H.M.S. Sirius, and two smaller vessels. France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, and the United States also have now vessels of war there. Her Majesty's Minister and the senior naval officer are in constant communication with one another, and are acting in concert with the Representatives and naval officers of other powers for the protection of the lives and property of foreigners. They have, from time to time, been furnished with instructions as to the course to be pursued in regard to the several ques- 1555 tions which have arisen. Some cases, of course, occur which have to be dealt with at once, and in regard to which no special instructions can be sent.
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTMay I ask whether, in view of the great number of British residents now in considerable danger, the Government will, through their envoy at Rio, apply to the leaders of the contending forces, asking that a definite period may be fixed within which foreign non-combatants may have an opportunity of withdrawing from the sphere of the bombardment?
§ * SIR E. GREYI cannot say more than that Her Majesty's Representative and the Naval Commanders will continue to take, as they have for the past many weeks taken, every measure possible to prevent disastrous consequences.