HL Deb 01 June 1843 vol 69 cc1223-4
The Marquess of Londonderry

had a question to put to his noble Friend, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, on a subject that interested a great body of persons, and who had urged him to make an application to his noble Friend. A convention had been entered into between the Spanish and British Governments relative to the Spanish Auxiliary Legion, and according to that all the instalments due to that legion had been paid but one. In the correspondence which took place in May, 1840, it would be found that her Catholic Majesty's government had agreed that a compensation should be made to the legion on account of the delay that had occurred in the payment, and the terms of that compensation were to be determined by her Majesty's Government and that of her Catholic Majesty. Six months had now elapsed since the time that that compensation ought to have been paid. The questions he had to ask of his noble Friend were, whether there was a prospect of the compensation being paid, and also whether he intended to press the Spanish government for that payment?

The Earl of Aberdeen

said, the state of the case was this. The instalments due to the British Auxiliary Legion had all been paid; but in consequence of the delay the Spanish government had agreed to make compensation. It was the proposal of the Spanish commissioners. It was said that, taking into consideration the delay, an extraordinary compensation should be made, the terms of which payment were to be settled in concert with her Majesty's government. As it was naturally to be expected, her Majesty's Government were anxious as to the amount of that compensation. The Spanish government made a proposal that the sum of 3 per cent, should be paid on the arrears up to a certain period, the 1st of June, 1840. Her British Majesty's Government thought that the officers and men of the Legion should have compensation at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum. Her Majesty's Ministers at Madrid was instructed to press for that amount of compensation, and the matter was now under discussion between the two Governments.

The Marquess of Londonderry

observed that nothing could be more satisfactory than the answer of his noble Friend.

Subject at an end.