§ 7. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the claim made by the insurrectionary royalists of Portugal that a British cruiser has arrived at Oporto to prevent the Portuguese fleet bombarding the rebel town; whether any British cruiser has been sent to Oporto; and, if so, why this was done in view of the misunderstanding to which it might well give rise?
Mr. HARMSWORTHAll communication between Oporto and the South having been cut, at the request of British subjects in Lisbon, which received the support of His Majesty's Minister at Lisbon, H.M.S. "Liverpool" was instructed to call at Oporto on her homeward voyage from Gibraltar, in order to protect, if necessary, British persons and property. Explicit instructions were given to her commanding officer to take no part in political affairs. As the situation at Oporto was normal, H.M.S. "Liverpool" did not remain for more than a few hours, and proceeded to this country. The Portuguese Government are aware of the facts of the case.