The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-01-07 00:00:00

THE TRADE TO THE RIVER PLATE.

We have great pleasure in laying the following do-
cuments before our readers :

TO THE RIGHT HON. VISCOUNT PALMERSTON,
HER MAJESTY'S PRINCIPAL SECRETARY OF STATE FOR
FOREIGN AFFAIRS, &c. &C. &C.
_ _ _ -

The Memorial of the undersigned British Merchants
and Shipowners, and others interested in the
trade to the River Plate, respectfully sets forth,
That their trade with Buenos Ayres has been completely
suspended, during a period of nearly two years, by the block-
ade of that port by a French squadron, which has already
caused them very great loss, and threatens by its continuance

to be most ruinous to British interests:'
That a very large amount of British capital is invested in
this trade, which is one of great importance to British com-
mercial and manufacturing industry ; and that the amount of
British capital now locked up in Buenos Ayres is nut less
than from a million to a million and a half sterling.
That the amount is chiefly invested in the produce of the
country, which, from its perishable nature, has undergone,
and is undergoing, great deterioration, and that the expense
of preserving the same from entire destruction is estimated
at not less than £20,000 monthly.
That a further large amount of British capital, invested in
British manufactures, estimated at not less than one million
sterling, has been interrupted in its transit from Great Britain
to Buenos Ayres, and the greater part deposited for many
months in Monte Video, thereby incurring a very heavy loss
consequent on lapse of time, deterioration of quality from in-
sufficient means of storage, and heavy expenses, besides loss
of interest; and that the said goods are quite unsuitable in
their character and assortments for any other market.
- That your memorialists had hitherto been buoyed up with
the hope, that the mediation and interference of her Ma-
jesty's government would have been effectual in terminating
the blockade in question, by negociation or otherwise, but
they now fear, from the latest intelligence, that they must
abandon such hopes, all negociation having hitherto proved
fruitless ; and the proceedings of the French, in the River
Plate, having assumed a more decided character of a deter-
mination not only to enforce the blockade in the most rigor-
ous and vexatious manner, but to aim at a permanent occu-
pation of territory, which compromises the independence of
the States adjoining the River Plate, and threatens the com-
plete extinction of British trade in that important river.
That your Memorialists feel convinced, that any procrasti-
nation in the settlement of this question increases the
difficulty of a satisfactory arrangement, and that to allow
the French to pursue, unchecked, a system of warfare
against the independence of these States, by underhand in-
trigues, and open interference in the internal disputes of
these new States, and by openly assisting with an armed
force on land any partisan whom they can engage in their
cause, is fraught with imminent danger to the independence
of those States, and to British interests.
That as a proof of this it is only necessary to advert to
the recent attack upon and capture of the Island of Martin
Garcia by a French force, under the French flag, though
avowedly as the allies of some native partisan. And it is the
painful duty of your Memorialists now to state, that a
French armed force did, on the 19th day of September, land
at Monte Video, and proceeded to entrench themselves and
to occupy that town, under colour of being the allies of the
then President of the State, but in reality to take part in the
civil war by which his authority was threatened.
That your Memorialists respectfully submit, that should
the validity of such a pretext for the occupation of the terri-
tory of Monte Video be admitted, it is evident that it may
be used to retain possession of Monte Video, so long as the
French may support any partisan of theirs in the nominal
government of that place. And that to allow European
nations to interfere in the civil broils of that country, and,
under the name of allies, to occupy the strongholds, its
most palpable outrage on their independence, and a violation
of all international law.
That your memorialists are deeply apprehensive for the
safety of the very large amount of British property, now
lying at Monte Video, in consequence of this occupation by
a French crarrison, seeing that in case the town is besieged
by the national party inimical to the French, and taken by
assault, it may be treated as belonging to an enemy, and sub-
jected to plunder ; and your memorialists may, in such case,
have no claim or redress from the government of the coun-
try for the property in the stores of the nominal government,
which, as already said, cannot be less than £1,000,000, and
therefore, they must entreat your lordship will take such
steps as may be necessary to afford suitnble protection to
that property, by directing an adequate force to be sent to
the Plato, to guard and watch over the interests of the sub-
jects of Great Britain.
That your memorialists are led to believe, when the treaty
of peace was made between the Emperor of Brazil and the
United Piovinces of the River Plate, in 1828, that the in-

terference and presence of her Britannic Majesty's then
government as mediator in that treaty, did guarantee the due
observance of that clause in the said treaty, by which the
contracting parties stipulated for the complete independence
of the state of Monte Video, and the free and unobstructed
navigation of the waters of the said state, and they would
beg respectfully to call the attention of your lordships to that
part of the said treaty. And they humbly submit, that such
independence of Monte Video, and the navigation of its
waters, are now virtually at an end, through the French oc-
cupation of the said town and port.
Your lordship's memorialists have further to state, that two
American vessels entered one of the ports of the blockaded
state, with cargoes which they discharged, re-loaded and
again sailed, when they were taken possession of and carried
to Monte Video, where the American Commodore interfered,
insisted upon the vessels and cargoes being given up, and
both vessels and their cargoes were given up accordingly.
With these facts before them, your lordship's memorialists
are most anxious to be informed, what prospect there may
be of a termination to this most prejudicial and destructive
interruption to their trade, and would most respectfully ask,
" If any negociations are now pending with the French and
Buenos Ayrean Governments, and what are likely to be the
results of such negociations, if any are so pending but if all
negociations are broken off, and that the only hope of a re-
newal of commercial intercourse with Buenos Ayres, rests
upon the dilatory proceedings by blockade, or upon the un-
certainty of such military operations as the French have
adopted.
Your lordship's memorialists would then strongly, but re-
spectfully urge, that every influence be used with,the French
governments, to inducepermislion to be given to British sub-
jects-to bring away from Buenos Ayres such property as shall
be satisfactorily proved belongs to them ; but, should this
reasonable request be refused, it will be evident that the ob-
ject of the French is covertly, and under the shield of inter-
national law,' to harass and annoy British merchants and ship-
owners, injure ;and distress British manufacturers, curtail
-British,!ennimeree, depress British energy, and generally to
ruin Britiih interests ; and convinced as your lordship's me-
morialists will then be of the ground that exists for making
these allegations, strengthened as they are by many occur-
rences of recent date of unprovoked insult on the part of the
French, in various parts of the world, your lordship's memo-
rialists would then earnestly entreat, that the subject of the
present memorial may be laid before your lordship's honour-
able colleagues in office, whose wisdom, they confidently
hope, will devise such measures as will be supported, in case
of need, by the British parliament and the British people,
which shall put an effectual stop to a course of proceeding
by the French, in the River Plate, which is vitally injurious
to British subjects engaged in that trade, and which, if not
timely arrested, threaten the permanent occupation of both
Monte Video and Buenos Ayres, whereby British commerce
in these ports would be annihilated, British subjects ruined,
and British interests and British confidence become the sa-
crifice to French intrigue, French injustice, and French
ambition.
And your lordship's memorialists will ever pray.

REPORT OF THE DEPUTATION.
Liverpool, 10th December, 1839.
On Saturday, the 7th instant, Lord Palmerston received
your deputation to a conference.
Your deputation, accompanied by Mr. Cresswell, M.P.,
urged strongly on his lordship the various points touched on
in your memorial; more especially your deputation pressed
on his lordship's attention and consideration the following
points :—First, that her Majesty's government should use
their influence with that of France, in order, if possible, to
obtain for the subjects of Great Britain permission to send
vessels in ballast into Buenos Ayres, and bring away the
property now there belonging to British subjects. To this
his lordship replied by reading an opinion by the law-officer
of the crowe, that it would be inexpedient for her Majesty's
government to ask such a boon. Your deputation then urged
on his lordship their opinion that the law-officer had taken
a false view of the subject, and whirl, on explanation by your
deputation, his lordship appeared to think he had ; and then
stated to your deputation, that if they would state in writing
on what grounds they conceived such an application could
justly be made, he would again submit the subject to the
consideration of the law-officer of the crown, and, if he
thought the government could with propriety make the
application, it should be done ; but that in all such matters
as that of blockade, the government arc obliged to be guided
by the opinion of the law-officers of the crown. The depu-
tation did in consequence draw up the following statement,
and sent it to Mr. Cresswell, who has promised to present it
to Lord Palmerston, with a note, as to the legal bearing of
the question, from himself :
" London, 9th December, 1839.
" My Lord,—The deputation who on Saturday last had
the honour of presenting to your lordship a memorial from
merchants, shipowners, and others, of Liverpool, interested
in the trade to the River Plate, praying, among other mat-
ters, that the influence of her Majesty's government might
be used to induce the government of France to grant per-
mission to British subjects to bring away such property as
belongs to them, would now, in support of that prayer, fur-

ther observe,—
" That the produce now existing at Buenos Ayres either
did so exist at the time the blockade of that port was so de-
clared, or has since been received in exchange for manufac-
tured goods which, at the period of the blockade, were held
by British houses.
" That the French admiral commanding the blockading
squadron aid allow a certain time for neutral subjects to
carry away their property, and, at their request, granted an
extension of such time ' • hut, owing to the few vessels then
in the port, and none being allowed to enter, a very small
proportion of such property was, or could be, carried away.
" That, in now asking permission for vessels to enter
Buenos Ayres in ballast to bring away produce, they are not
deviating from the principle upon which a certain time was
originally granted, but merely asking the renewal or exten-
sion of the same principle over a larger space of time,
whereby the injury to neutrals may be diminished : and it
may here be observed, that during the blockade of Mexico,
British subjects were permitted to carry away bullion, the
almost only return from that country for manufactures ;
whilst the application of the same principle to the trade of
Buenos Ayres would justify a permission being given to
bring away hides, hair, &c., such articles being the only
returns from Buenos Ayres.
" That, if permission were now to be granted to British
subjects to bring away their property from Buenos Ayres, it
is maintained that, so far from causing any delay in the at-
tainment of the objects sought by France through the means
of blockade, it would, on the contrary, accelerate it ; for, so
long as a large amount of neutral property remains at Buenos
Ayres, the Governor Rosas is buoyed up with a firm convic-
tion that neutral nations, and especially Great Britain, will,
for the interest of their own subjects, use their influence with
France to effect a reconciliation upon terms favourable for
Buenos Ayres ; but once permit their property to be brought
away, and the inhabitants of Buenos Ayres would thereby
be deprived of the receipt of almost £20,000 monthly for
storage, labour, &c., in preserving such produce ; which, in
the present state of Buenos Ayres, would be so much felt as
to strengthen the disposition which there exists for the re-
establishment of peace with France.
" In again bringing this subject under your lordship's
notice, the gentlemen forming the deputation have the ho-
nour to subscribe themselves, with the greatest respect, your
lordship's most obliged and most humble servants,
(Signed) " GEORGP. BELEY:
" A. C. DUNLOP.
" JAMES TYREE."
In reply to the question of your deputation as to whether
any negociations were going on or not between this govern-
ment and that of France on the subject of the blockade, his
lordship stated that there arc such negociations going on,
but at the same time said, that as the result of these negoci-
ations depended on other parties than his own government,
he could not form any decided opinion as to the likelihood
of the result of these negociations; that while he would not
like to hold out such hopes as might lead you to enter into
operations which might turn out unfavourable, and thereby
cause you to blame him, at the same time he would not say
what might discourage your entering into such operations as
might turn out profitable ; and that, having so premised it,
he might however say, he did think that scow there was more
chance of a speedy arrangement than he had hitherto teen.