§ Mr. KINGasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received official information concerning the recent revolution in Ecuador; whether, by a Memorandum to which the British Consul was a party, guarantees of liberty were assured to civilians and the military who had taken part in the revolutionary movement; whether these guarantees were observed; whether General Alfaro, Señor Corral, and other eminent persons were, in defiance of the promise of freedom, put to death under barbarous 2039 circumstances; and what action has been, or will be, taken by His Majesty's Government?
§ Sir E. GREYThe facts are generally as stated, but the action of His Majesty's Consul in endeavouring, with the co-operation of his colleagues, to assist the two parties to arrive at a settlement was not taken in consequence of instructions from me but out of good will and at the request of certain prominent citizens. No British subjects appear to have been involved in this matter, but though, as I have recently explained to the House, the internal affairs of foreign countries do not afford ground for interference by His Majesty's Government, I see no reason whatever in this case to disapprove the action of the Consul, who is a prominent resident of Guayaquil and not a member of the salaried service.