Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1863-06-24 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

WITH BRAZIL. He charged the Secretary for Foreign Affairs with not I having made due allowance for the state of the Brazils, with having been unduly influenced by his subordinates, with having used arbitrary and imperious language to the Brazilian Government, and lastly, with having resorted to reprisals which were both impolitic and illegal. The noble Earl reviewed all the facts of the case, and complained strongly of the conduct of Mr. Christie and Mr. Verrekar. Earl RUSSELL said, the only principle on which the government had acted was that it was the duty of foreign I governments to protect the subjects of aaother state within their jurisdiction. He was quite ready to admit the commercial importance of the Brazils, but not to admit that it was sufficient to debar her Majesty's government to act as it had always done, and ask for reparation for a wrong that had been committed. Since 1831, there had been 21 eases in which France, 22 in which Great Britain, and 23 in which the United States of America had resorted to force to obtain reparation. He recapitulated the facts of the wreck of the ' Prince of Wales,' especially commending the conduct of Mr. Verrekar, who repaired to the spot, and finding most suspicious signs that the crew had been murdered, he asked for an inquest, which was refused by the commeroial judge who was present. After some delay an inquest was held over four bodies, but there were six others not accounted for. Pretexts, the most frivolous, were alleged for these, which the noble Earl might believe, but he (Earl Russell) did not. Some of the plunder of the vessel was found concealed in the house of the chief official, and if the plunder had been the work of inhabitants of the coast the officials were accomplices and sheltered them. This was what her Majesty's Government complained of, more especially as the Brazilian Government would not take any steps, or protect the cargo of the wrecked ves• sol. If her Majesty's Government had done otherwise it would have neglected its clear and imperative duty. He denied that his despatches were imperious, or at all liable to that charge, until after a long and tedious delay of more than twelve months he found his representations were trifled with. He contended that Mr. Christie had acted in strict conformity with his instructions, and it was not until after the reprisals, that the Brazilian government would consent to refer it to the arbitration of the King of the Belgians, but when this had been done it was highly unbecoming in the noble Earl to try and damage the British case, which he (Earl Russell) was quite content to leave to the consideration of that able and impartial sovereign, without further commen:, and he denied that he had acted with an undue desire to vindicate " Civis Romanus," rights of British subjects, although he might refer to the declaration of Oliver Cromwell, that "he would make the name of an Englishman respected" (Hear, hear). This was a thing not to be ashamed of. He also denied that he had acted towards Brazils as he dared not have done to a strong power. Weak powers were apt to rely on the impunity of their weakness when a strong power felt the responsibility of provoking a war, and as the United States did L in the case of the Trent,' a strong power could in the consciousness of its strength and power, act fairly and justly. In conclusion he said there was no objection to give papers. After a few words from Lord Licrraaroa, the subject ; I dropped. BUSsIAN