§ SIR T. SUTHERLAND (Greenock)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of 1347 State for Foreign Affairs whether steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Representative in Rio de Janeiro to forward the unloading of British vessels in that port; and if any further measures can be taken in this direction so as to mitigate the serious loss which shipowners are sustaining owing to the prolonged detention of their vessels?
§ SIR E. GREYI can add nothing to statements which have previously been made to the effect that Her Majesty's Minister and the senior naval officer have been doing their utmost to give all the assistance to British commerce that is possible in the midst of a civil conflict such as exists at Rio. Captain Bang, however, reports that the firing of the Government and insurgent forces at each other takes place at uncertain periods and at various portions of the shore, and that this constitutes a danger against which it is often impossible to protect those who attempt to land cargoes. It would not be possible for the British Representatives at Rio to take any further measures without infringing the principle of strict neutrality, from winch it would not be proper for Her Majesty's Government to depart.