The EARL of HAYRROWBYsaid, it would be in the recollection of their Lordships that a short time ago he called attention to the condition of affairs in the River Plate; and upon that occasion the noble Marquess the President of the Council gave an assurance that he had every reason to expect, from the information which he had received, that affairs in that part of the world would be arranged upon a satisfactory basis. Two or three days ago he saw an account in the public papers of some arrangements having been concluded between the English Minister, the French Admiral in that river, and General Rosas, which had been sent home for the purpose of receiving the sanction of the English and French Governments. Of course intelligence of this nature excited the liveliest anxiety upon the part of all persons interested in the question, to know whether the information thus published was correct. If the arrangement referred to was one which Her Majesty's Government was prepared to sanction, they could, of course, have no difficulty in giving that information as early as possible to the parties concerned. Upon the other hand, if that arrangement was not satisfactory to Her Majesty's Government, of course those parties would be inclined to consider that this was only another of those instances, repeated through a long series of years, by which General Rosas had succeeded in evading any decided step towards recognising the independence of the Banda Oriental, in the hope, by protracting it, he should make it impossible, but that, in the long run, that country would not fall into his hands.
§ The MARQUESS of LANSDOWNEsaid, he was afraid the only information he could give the noble Earl upon the subject was, that the anticipations he had formerly expressed as to a speedy settlement, were likely to be confirmed. The negotiations, however, had not arrived at that point at which it would be convenient to make 781 them the subject of a special communication to the House; but he had very little doubt of their arriving at a satisfactory conclusion. The negotiations were still pending, and, until they had closed, the papers could not be produced. He had, however, to express a confident hope that arrangements would be made for a settlement of the question upon a basis satisfactory to the people of this country, and for a continuance of the intercourse between this country and those States.
§ The EARL of ABERDEENobserved, that the statement of the noble Marquess was calculated to afford no little satisfaction. If, as appeared to be understood, the basis of the arrangement which had taken place was that carried out from this country by Mr. Hood some years ago, before he (the Earl of Aberdeen) left office, he was bound to say he thought it was all which could possibly be required. But he had heard that to that proposal certain modifications had been attached. These modifications might be of little importance, or they might be of great importance, and he was bound to say he had not heard of any apprehensions being entertained with respect to them. As to matters of diplomatic punctilio with such a State as Buenos Ayres, they could be of very little importance; but he would impress upon Her Majesty's Government, that be the modifications what they might, that the independence of the republic of the State of Monte Video was the only condition to which we could attach any degree of real importance. That State was created and its independence guaranteed under British mediation; and we were bound to look to the preservation of its independence, seeing that it was indispensable to the very existence of our commerce in those waters. Whatever, therefore, the conditions might be, or whatever changes might have been made in the proposed convention sent from this country two or three years ago, he hoped the essential independence of this State would be secured. If so, any modifications in the arrangement would, in his opinion, be of very little importance.
§ The MARQUESS of LANSDOWNEsaid, that any arrangement would be upon the foundation referred to by the noble Earl; but what qualifications the basis might have received, it was not possible for him to say at present; but he might confidently state it was not probable that the modifications would depart from the basis which had been laid down in any material respect.