HL Deb 22 March 1861 vol 162 cc206-8
THE MARQUESS OF CLANRICARDE

asked, the noble Lord the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he would state to the House the Terms or the purport of the Convention concluded some time since at Vera Cruz with the Government of Mexico, providing for the appropriation of certain Customs Revenues of that Country, to meet the Demands of British holders of Mexican Bonds? He was not about to enter into a history of the complication which had surrounded the Mexican Bonds or the financial condition of Mexico for some years past. Their Lordships were aware that soon after the formation of Mexico as a separate Government, that country found it necessary, as most Governments, whether old or new, did, to borrow money. British capitalists, large and small, embarked in these loans. However, it appeared that the Mexican Government was not as punctual as might have been desired in the payment of the interest. Ten or more years ago an agent proceeded to that country on the part of the bondholders, and concluded an arrangement by which it was promised that a certain proportion of the revenue arising, from the customs dues of the ports of Vera Cruz and Tampico should be appropriated for the liquidation of the Mexican debt; but in consequence of the civil wars and commotions in that country of late years there had been an irregularity in carrying out that arrangement. There had been two parties striving for the Government of the country, the one under Miramon, and the other under Juarez. The latter party was now the established and governing Power, and they had entered into a convention with the British officers, by which they bound themselves to allot these revenues to the payment of the dividends on the Mexican Bonds. The party of Miramon pursued a different course. They committed burglary, and robbed the British Consulate of funds lodged there for transmission to this country. A question upon the subject was lately asked of the noble Lord the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. His answer was not very clearly understood, and the parties concerned wished to know more clearly than they did what was their position; what engagements the Mexican Government had really entered into with the British Government; what were the views of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the Convention, and how far they could hold out expectations that it would be duly observed

LORD WODEHOUSE

was understood to say that the account which the noble Marquess had given of the Convention which had been entered into between Captain Dunlop and Captain Aldham and the Constitutional Government of Mexico, presided over by Juarez, was in most respects correct. This debt was contracted many years ago; and besides this debt there were certain claims known as conventional claims—claims settled by convention between the British Government and the Government of Mexico-—whereby an assignment was made by the latter Government of certain customs revenues to meet them. Owing to the state into which Mexico had been plunged this engagement had not been punctually fulfilled, and Captain Dunlop, in the year 1859, concluded an agreement providing for the more punctual payment of those claims. That agreement was that 25 per cent of the customs' duties accruing at Tampico and at Vera Cruz should be paid to the bondholders, and 16 per cent on account of the Convention claims. That agreement was observed for some time; but in the following year, in consequence of the continuance of the disturbed state of Mexico, the payments were interrupted. Captain Aldham, who had succeeded Captain Dunlop, then remonstrated with the Mexican Government, and the result was a fresh agreement, whereby the stipulated payments were resumed by President Juarez, from the 1st of January last, with an addition of 10 per cent to meet the arrears which had accrued. Both Captain Dunlop and Captain Aldham deserved great credit for the manner in which they had conducted the negotiations with the Mexican Government. With regard to the robbery by the late Mexican Government of the property of the bondholders, and which amounted to 660,000 Mexican dollars, he would observe that that Government, which represented the church party, and the head of which was Miramon, had been upset. The present and Constitutional Government, presided over by President Juarez, had been pressed by the British Consul to restore this money, and by the last accounts he was using every possible effort to effect the restitution. But, however well disposed the Constitutional Government might be—and he thought that they were well disposed—to satisfy the just claims made upon them, they might not be able immediately to produce 660,000 dollars. Of course they were not at all relieved from the obligation, but it was possible that some delay would take place. However that might be, the Government had sent out instructions to insist in the strongest manner upon the restitution of the money. They would continue to insist upon it; and he hoped that their efforts would be attended with success, for a more flagrant case of robbery could not be imagined. There was also a further sum of 400,000 dollars which had been abstracted by a Constitutional General—Degollado—the immediate restitution of which the Government had also claimed. Sir Charles "Wyke would proceed out by the next mail, and his instructions were to take every possible step to obtain satisfaction for all these claims, and, by some general arrangement, to place them all on a better footing. In a short time he should be able to lay on the table papers which would show the nature of the agreement entered into between the Mexican Government and the British Captains Aldham and Dunlop.

House adjourned at a quarter past Six o'clock, to Tuesday, the 9th of April next, half-past Four o'clock.