The Express.
London, England, 1861-02-13 00:00:00

THE ARMY ESTIMATES.

Mr. A. H. RARING brought itpthearaiy estimate.,
which were laid ea the table.
AFFAIRS OF MEXICO AND AMERICA.

Mr. BRISTOW asked the Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs what measures bad been taken, or were in contain-
' plation, to protect British interests in Mexico.
Mr. A. MILLS also inquired of the noble lord whether
the disputes concerning the respective rights of Great
Britain and America in the Straits of St. Juan de Fuca
under the Ashburton treaty had been adjusted. Also
whether any correspondence had passed between her
Majesty's government and that of the United States, on the
case of the fugitive slave Anderson, as affected by the pro-
vision, of the earn, treaty.
Lord J. P.I7SSELL said he had to state that there was
great difficulty in taking measures for the protection of
British subjects in Mexico, owing to the contorts of the two
parties struggling for supreme power in that state. Earls
party reined to think that the best means of carrying on
the war was by robbery committed on foreigners
(laughter)—aed consequently instances of robbery were
very frequeni One instance had occurred in which our
consul claimed the restoration of 4011,000 dollars, but in
adjusting the claim a dispute arta, whether the money was
actually intended for British owners, or whether it
was intended for claimants of other nations. The
judge of the district through which the money
was paring said it must be sequestered for a
time in order to maks inquiry. A more recent
robbery was of a most shameful description, namely,
that which had occurred in the city of Mexico
itself by the government of General Miramon. Her Ma-
jesty's government gave immediate orders that the restora-
tion of the money should be required, and satisfaction ob-
tined. The lion. gentleman would see that with regard
to the application of any force there would be considerable
difficulty, because reprisals against property on the coast I
would not be agaiest General Miramon. Of course, to
carry war into the capital of Mexico itself would be • I
measure of extreme danger, which her Majesty I
's govern-
meat did not contemplate, but very soon after that intelli-
genes was received they sent orders to Mr. Mathews that he
should immediately communicate with President Juarez,
and if he should be ready to acknowledge that his
government was responsible for all those losses which bad
occurred to British subjects, in that case this country
would recognise the government of President Juares. But
before the despatches reached General Miramon bad been
overturned and the city of Mexico bad fallen into the hands
of President Juares, who derived his title from a constitu-
tion which was adopted when Commonfort was president of
the republic, and he was called upon to acknowledge the
obligations of the rate to foreigners, and the greater part of
the country was now in possession of what was called the
constitutional party, and if order should be restored in
Mexico, that rich country, with its great resources, they
had every reason to believe, would again flourish, and its
trade, so long interrupted, be reestablished. He should
mention also that the agents of the British government had
succeeded in obtaining payment from the customs of 40
per cent., and an additional 10 per mat. would
be added for the purpose of paying the bond-
holders. The henourable gentleman opposite (Mr. Mills)
had asked whether the dispute respecting the rights of
Great Britain and America under the Ashburton Treaty had
been adjusted. The disputes did not arias under that treaty,

but under the Oregon Treaty. The claims had not been ad.
plated, but there bad been an agreement fur a temporary
occupation by General Scott of San Juan. A proposition
had been made by the British government to the American
government, which being conceived in a fair spirit, he
trusted would be received by the latter; but America had
recently been naturally occupied with her own internal
affairs to such an extent as to preclude the possibility of
the proposition receiving immediate consideration. When
the answer was received he (Lord J. Russell) would take
are that the houseshould be informed of it. With regard
to the last question, there hrd been .no other correspon-
dence but the demand by the American government for the
delivering up of Anderson.