Star.
London, England, 1817-03-20 00:00:00

SPAIN AND SOUTH ASISKICA.

Mr. BROUGHAM, pursuant to his notice, rose
to move for the production of certain P;spers con.
netted with a Treaty between Portugal and Spain.
As he was in the dark as to the nature of the facts,
he might have occasion to request some information
from she other side of the House to guide his motion.
All that be at present knew, was, that about seven
or eight montbe ago an Expedition, partly by land
and partly by sea, was fitted out at Rio Janeiro,
which, when fully equipped, proceeded toward: the
Spanish settlement of Monte Video, in the neighbour-
hood of which the naval and military part of the
expedition united, and proceeded to hostile move-
ments against that settlement. These movements
ended in the Portuguese force taking up a strong
position in the neighbourhood of Monte Video, and
by the latest accounts from that quarter it appeared
—not, indeed, that this force bad taken possession of
that fortress, for in that he hoped they would not
succeed—but that Monte Video was in a state of siege
or blockade. The purpose for which that armament
bad been fitted out was, no doubt, to take possession
of that settlement; and, it this were true, one or two
considerations must arise. Viewing Monte Video As
a Spaoish settlement, bow happened it that hostilities
were going on between these Powers in that quarter
alone f But viewing it as a settlement not in the
possession of Spain, but one to which the Govern-
ment of that kingdom laid claim, if it was considered
as one of those which the Noble Lord, in an official
document, bad, in his opinion, very improperly call-
ed the Revoked Colonies, but which ought more cor-
rectly to be called the Independent part of south
America, that part of it which was engaged in a
struggle for its success, in which almost every one io
Europe put up prayers ; in Lbw view he was equally
1 at a loss to account for the proceedings to which he

lauded, Ens it was strange that an expedition should
be fitted out against it without the concurrence of
the Spanish Government. lf, on the other hand,
there was any treaty by which that Settlement Was
leaded, was it not extraordinary, in the first place,
that the House had not heard any thing of such a
I treaty ? and, in the second place, was it not evident
that such a treaty must have been executed with the
connivance of our agents there ? Mitt shal Beresford,
One of the most distinguished ornaments of our mill.
Lary prates:ion, was, as it appeated. also Commander
in Chief of the whole Portuguese Forces at the very
tins* when this Expedition was fitted. If, therefore
(as one would suppose must have been the case),
Lotd Beresford knew of any such treaty, it was very
strange that the House should now be without infor-
mation on the subject. The House had some right
to know, even if a convention had been made to cede
that Settlement, whether theee was any equivalent to
Spain. It was said that the equivalent WAS the ab-
stinence on the part of Portugal to claim the restora-
tion of Olivenza, which it had been settled at the
Congress should be restored. It had been surmised
that Olivenza was to remain to Spain, while Portugal
was to have Monte Video in lieu of it. If this country
was a party to the Treaty of Vienna by which the
restoration of Olivenza was stipulated, and it another
Treaty was made elsewhere relating to that place, it
Was a necessary consequence, that whatever was done
in contravention to the Treaty to which we were
parties, should be stated. The principal reason why
he brought forward this motion, was to give our
Government an opportunity of explaining the con.
duct of our Agents (civil or military) in this trans.
action ; and he was sure that nothing would be more
satisfactory to the House and to the country, than to
find that the proceeding in question, on the part of
Poittigal, was in no way sanctioned by the British
Government. He then moved—That there be laid
before the House a Copy of any Treaty between
Portugal and Spain, relative to the restoration of
Olivenza. and of any Correspondence relative to any
such Treaty.
Lord CASTLEREAGH said, he did not think
that the Honourable Getaleman meant to press his
motion, for if it.should be agreed to, the return to it
must be in the negative, because he (Lord Caste.
reagh) was not in possession of any such treaty. lie
had no difficulty in stating that the lit itish Govern.
went was no party, direct or indirect, to the course
of policy pursued by Spain towards her colonies. The
conduct which this country billowed with reference
to these disputes, was adhering to a system of strict
neutrality, and not (that which the Honourable Gen-
tleman seemed to recommend) to assist the colonies
against the native country, which would be in direct
contravention to the Treaties between Great BritAin
and Spain. When Marshal Beresford was employed
in the service of another power, so long as he was not
recalled front that service by this country, the cape•
city in which he acted as in the service of that power
must not be confused with his character of a Blitish
subject. His conduct must be considered as directed by
the Portuguese Government, in whose service he was
now acting. There were many other British Officers
in the service of Portugal, whose situation was quite
analogous to that of Marshal Beresfurd. The Crown
undoubtedly might, when it pleased, recal all those
of its subjects in any foreign service. But as Mar-
shal Beresford was now situated, it would be suppo-
sing him guilty of an absolute breach of trust to as-
4unie that he communicated to this country the Coun-
cils of the Government in whose service he was em-
ployed. Having already said, that the TetUrtt to this
motion, if it were agreed to, must be in the negative,
he must at the same time deny that it was competent
for Coivernment to lay before Parliament any Treaty
between other Powers of which it might have a know.
ledge. Yet he might state, generally, that there was
nothing which cook* indicate the existence of such a
Treaty as that which the Honourable Gentleman
alluded to. Beyond this, he must decline entering
into any discussion upon the present question. The
House must be aware that the events iu the River
Plate, as they might involve interests of the most
important nature, affecting the European dominions
of Portugal, must be considered not as a mere South
American question, but as an European question. He
therefore, did not think that lie was at liberty to enter
into any further statement of the facts, even if they
might be in his possession. He had disclosed the main
fact, that Great Britain was no patty in any shape to
the intentions or acts of the Crown of Portugal in the
transaction in question. He would repeat, that he
had no reason to suppose that there was any such
Treaty in existence as that alluded to by the Honour-
able Gentleman.

Mr. BROUGHAM explained. that he did not
speak with reference to the proceedings of the Curt
at Lisbon, but of the Court at Rio Janeiro.
Lord CASTLEREAGH desired to be under-
stood as saying, that passing events gave a negative
to the supposition of the Honourable Gentleman as
to the existence of any such Treaty.
Mr. BROUGHAM.—There was just one thing
more as to which he begged some information from
the Noble Lord. It was said that nothing was done
by the British Government to give room for the sup.
position that it espoused the one cause more than the
other—that the system acted on was one of perfect
neutrality ; that Marshal Beresford's acts are merely
those of an Officer in the service of Portugal, and do
not in any way cc:41411)4 the British Government; that
not only Marshal Beresford but many other British
Officers in the Portuguese service are in the same
situation. So far it was all very well. But if any
nun.ber of our Officers or men should engage on the
side of the colonies, was it to be understood from the
Noble Lord that no umbrage would be taken, but
that the scales of neutrality would be equally and
scrupulously poised between the two Powers ? He
would ask whether it had not been prohibited by the
British Government to afford any assistance to the
insurgents, by Furnishing them with arms ? He would
ask whether the transportation of arms from Trinidad
to the Spanish Main had not been prohibited under
the severest penalties-.ender pain of confiscation,
fine, and imprisonment
Lord CASTEREAGH—The Honourable Gen.
denim' seemed to argue the question es• if British
Officers were now serving against the Colonies. This
WAS not the fact. He did not believe that there was
a single British Officer in the Portuguese army who
WAS 1101 WOW in Portugal, with the exception of Mar
ohal Berestord. As to the other case put by the tip.
nourable Gentleman, he felt that we were acting a

part strittly netttrii At' tile same time; it was tfi be
considered that, on the one side, there were nes nt
alliance with our Government ; while, on the er
side, there were none ; therefore he could itiq w
the Honourable Gentleman to carry his ;•ar :ffe! so
far as to pass over such a consideration. tts t
niched, certainly, if steps were taken to sigmas ot.e cif
11 the parties carrying on hostillties be
I used expressly for the annoyance of the olhei ~any,
that would be a breach of neutrality. He not
be expected to say any thing that would look idte
countenancing British Officers to serve on tie side•
of the insurgents, when there were note such serving
against them.
Mr. BROUGHAM—As to Marshal Beresiord, it
might be true, that he was not serving Jgainst t!‘e
insurgents ; but was it true that that Wl,l had
been engaged in superintending the embat
organization of the force ulitch proceeded a.,2,•:tis:
Monte Video?

Mr. LAMB said, that there seemed t 3 he a 57,,1ng,.
anomaly in the situAtion of Lord Bereshtte. It tvzs
true that he was an Officer in the sett/ice at the ails
of ronugal, but at the same time he tt as still a Br
tish Officer, and would not th,:ie inoceedings in
whidt he acted be considered as .t nctiontd by the
tish Government ?

Lord CASTE RE -IGH—The ‘l. e ,•!r
feat), recognized by all the European Pone' s, rha: t'.e
subject of one Crown might by. eitiphsyed in up•
vice of another, as long as fit W recalled.
Mr. LAMB —" Is it wise to act on a pi*u.
ciple in this case I"
' Mr. PONSONBY rose, in the 11:4[ place •tl sk A
question. He had beard that in the Amer..:.,. C.,0
gccss, a Bill was in progress throuLth the Hie., c;'
pre,cntat:ves, the olajeet tit which was I. ohs .
`the President a discretionary power as to tht: ?los it
of ships and allowing them to sail wt etc y
it be ng understood u ith a view t t aILw h
teed to the assistance of the Spanish it
Sauils America. In the accounts of t:.e d.
which had taken place un this Pell, he SA • that
Member its the cow se of his sp:ech mentioned that
the Spanish Ambassador bad lined cred to pr. vets: ihe
piogress at the Bill, and that the represantatit.ta 21.1
it iii.• ns:rances of that Ambassador had been see aided
by the lieiglish Minister in the United Shuts. He
iheieture wished to know whether thece amt., in (Act,
any foundation as to any interference in that case on
the part of our Ambassador to the United States ?

Lord CA ST LE ft EA G H.— A, far as he knew he
bad reason to think that the imam es oi the
can Government were taken solely on their own view
a, to what they thought the best line of policy in such
a case. and uninfluenced by Ole interference of any
other Power.

Mr. PONSONBY said, he must allow that de
Noble Lord had dianaged to elude his question. He
now wished to call the attention of the House to a
Trey), which bad been concluded ben-ern his M,.-
jesty and King Ferdinand VII. some time since. la
the first part of the Treaty to ye:4e' he aihe'ed, it
was stipulated, that. if Spun should Sligceed its reco-
vering her South Ame!jean Colonies, no natioo
was to have any advantage over Great Britain in tl.r
commercial intercourse with these Colonies. To th 3
Treaty there were appended three additional articles,
and it was to the third of these that lie now solicited
the attention of the House. The Noble Lord had
' just stated that our situation with relation to the con-
test between Spain and her Colonies was a situation
of strict neutrality. If this neutrality was strict, he
would not complain. He would not by any means
say that the British Government ought nth:tally to
interfere ; but the House had a right to demand that
the neutrality should be stricte—that no countenance
should be afforded to Old Spain as against the Colo-
nies—and it there has been ally such countenance
afforded, it must be a breach of duty. Yet in this
Treaty he found these words:—" His Britannic Ma-
jesty being anxious that the troubles and disturbances
in South America should cease, and that the subjects
of these provinces should return to their allegiance,
will prevent the giving of arms to the insurgents."—
What right had Spain to ask for snore than neutra-
lity ? and what folly (meaning au disrespect by the
word)—what folly was it in the British Government
to make such a stipulation, which was as much as
saying that Spain would be assisted in every way ex-
cept by open torte? This Treaty was signed by
Henry Wellesley, on the part of the British GOVC:C-
meat, in 1511. He therefore gave notice, that .gin
the 2Sd of April he would move for a copy of t!!':
Instructions to Sir Henry Wellesley, under
thought himself authorized to sign that Treaty.
• Lord CASTLEREAGH observed, that it e:sc
very extraordinary that the Right Hon. Grritlent.in
had not sooner brought his view of this questica
tore the the House, considering that the Treaty to which
he referred had been laid on the table of the Flow.c
two years ago. The true meaning of neutrality rr-
tainly was, not to assist either party by force to Ly
furnishing arms.
Mr. PONSONBY said, it was perfectly true tf:t
the Treaty was laid on the table of the House cr.
16th of March, 1S15; but it was equally tree th:,,
he (Mr. Ponsonby) never heard of it till Thursday
last. No Address of Thanks had been weed on
The House House had done nothing to saucti.m it, and de
Treaty was as open fur the discussion of the 1-1c1:c
as on the day on which it was first presented.
Mr. BROUGHAM (having withdrawn hismet'oei
asked whether any step bad been taktn oh the :Art
of Spain to fulfil the stipulations of that Tteaty as : •
the Abolition of the Slave Trade ? Al!hough two
or three years were now past since they were entere.t
into, he thought it was high time that something was
done to fulfil them. The tact was, that since 0:6
signature of that Treaty, 20,000 Slaves had, is
year, been imported into Cuba, and 10,000 hat been
, imported to the various Portec,tiese Settlements.--
He wished to know if there wete any corresrer,
I dente now going on with these Powers rthetee to
I the Abolition ?
Lord CASTLEREAGH said, te had already
, stated that this question was under the &Ll:era:lee
of the other Powers in Europe.
kYESIPTIPN ow WAHEHOU:ES ERI:4 WININJW-TAX.
I Mr. LUSI-LINGTON moved for leave to e, •erCc
the tide of the Bill for repealing the Dutiesonc.uts
I Warehouser, with Odices or Dwelling-houses attach'4
to them. Ile repeated the expiatiation givee by h''
night Honuut able Friend (the Chaecellor of the El-
( chequer) early in the evening, that the objer• t tf
i I new Dill would be to eceeupt from the wr43,4

t!e tat those places that it was out of doors con.
,:ied would be affected by it, and not to impose
,ew tax whatever. His object was to exempt
,t.h offices or dwelling-houses connected with ware-
!, 4;es, for the sole purpose% of trade.
t.ord COCHRANE WAS glad to And that the ob-

•"•OUS construction lately put upon this tax was

. _
!y to he abrogated. A great plain had prevailed
over th,.l Metropolis on this stibjett, lest counting-
!louses Adjoining warehouses wcellil give operation to
t!.e t:kx.

. _
M. LUSHINGTON was aware that a different
,-7.ns:ructi-n hid been put in Scotian,' and England
.ipan the Act. The object of the ner Bill would be
u remove all doubts on that point.
After .t few words from Lord COCURANO and Mr.
usetuici ran, the Acts of the 43J and 49th of the
ring, were ordered to be referred to a Committee.

lON prevented a Return of the fh-awbacks
r :xstiocr ripened. and several Accounts relative to the Dunes
C rot as klce. an.. the quantity imported.—Ordtrul to 1k
ra:dr, and .o be printed.

Vt. I.th;IIING FOR wished to correct a misrepresentation'
witst lie had said on a list min evening, relative to the Du-
. „on Ri:e. What he had then stated was, that on all Rice Ito.
re! f om America the Dudes would be suptuded tiU the sth
I, ieia. aid on Rice Imported from other quarters, the
, rimed t.r susprn,ted till the end of the year isis.
e va% ei . tore. bill was read it third time and passed._

%tr. I.Vt;()NI pftsented a l'etl•ion from certain Agrieelte-
i s and Woll-oraplers, praylog that all a..tl tional Duty might
on the int p ott a.hai ut Foreign Ws:W.—Road, and
trd to lie on toe toh:r.

.. mooed 1.-ave to bring in a Rill, to
. toitwes of the Pea,:e at the Qtitrrer se-sat o:5, to ascertain
::e Face to be taken by ClJrke auJ oib:r Officers of the
. .

:it stated, that :le t;litaineti Irav • t,) bring in dm dill,
.:: hot intend to move the secouki Ter•iing of it till after Vac
rusehhig Cusrtrr 3essio:),.
.1 It N, words *rum Mr. Ova wcm anj another member.
f:AC Mn ion VIAI to, and the Bid brought in and read a
ir,t riot.. t: was ordered t 3 br rea: a second time Oil the .1 tit h
11.1 90 11C ranted.— I he other Orden o: the Day were
L.:en :ie }louse adjourned.

11,1,; 11,Vii.NING STAR.

LONDON.

THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 1817.
minor , !OM:II'MS DAY AT Ilia WE O'CLOCK s
Wallet-4 shut-4.4en0. Ace. 70,14
per ern:. 4m-3 per Crest. NuvY, 9911
iutiNiv: au. IN. ISunrie Si 3.1 pr