§ 1. Mr. Liddallasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received a satisfactory reply from the Brazilian Government as a result of his recent protest against the maltreatment of the Leopoldina Railway, in view of the fact that British investors were invited to place their savings at the disposal of the Brazilian public by supplying them with means of transport?
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Viscount Cranborne)My hon. Friend is, I think, under a misapprehension. My right hon. Friend has received no request from the company that any protest should be made on their behalf, and none has, therefore, been 172 made. My hon. Friend will, however, have seen reports to the effect that the President of Brazil has asked Congress for authorisation to grant a subvention to the Leopoldina Railway Company with a view to facilitating the payment of debenture interest up to date. My hon. Friend will, no doubt, agree that such a grant would go far to meet the difficulties from which the company has suffered in the past.