Mr. Thompson to Mr. Olney .
Petropolis , July 30, 1895 . (Received Aug. 26.)
Sir: Referring to my telegrams to you of the 19th and 28th instant, wherein I briefly reported the occupation of the island of Trinidad by a British force, I have the honor to give the following information, gathered from the correspondence between this Government and the British minister:
The island of Trinidad lies 651 geographical miles off the coast of Brazil, in latitude 20° 31ʹ south and longitude 13° 47ʹ 57" east of the Rio de Janeiro meridian. It was discovered by the Portuguese in 1501, visited by the British in 1700, and again in 1775. In 1781, during the war between Great Britain and Spain, it was occupied by the British as a base for operations against the commerce of Spain with her River Plate colonies. This occupation led to serious protest on the part of Spain to Portugal, and the Vice-King of Brazil was directed to send an expedition to retake the island. The British having in the meantime retired, a Portuguese military post was then established there and measures taken to maintain regular communication. This post was kept up until 1795.
The island ceased to be Portuguese with the independence of Brazil, and in 1825 the Brazilian corvette Itaparica visited there for the purpose of an examination into the usefulness of the island. For the same purpose it was again visited by the D. Isabel in 1856, the Bahiana in 1871, the Nictheroy in 1871 and 1884, and lastly by the Penedo in 1894. In January or February of this year the British cruiser Baracuta landed a small force on the island and raised the British flag. No information was received of this act until publication in the Bio News of the 17th instant of an extract from the London Financial News.
Protest was immediately made by the minister for foreign affairs, who receives the instances which I have given above as evidence of occupation and acts of sovereignty, as well as the circular from the minister of justice of July 11, 1891, directing use of the island as a penitentiary, and the decree 9334 of November 24, 1884, conceding to a Brazilian citizen the right to mine, establish salt works, etc., on it.
The British minister, after reporting these facts to Lord Salisbury, replies “that possession of the island in question was first taken by Great Britain in the year 1700. No evidence was then found of Portuguese possession and no protest was made by Portugal. In the opinion, therefore, of the Marquis of Salisbury there can not be any Brazilian title superior to that of Great Britain. When Her Majesty’s Government resumed possession of that island and Martin Vaz, in January last, no trace of foreign occupation was found, and as Trinidad is required as a telegraph station Her Majesty’s Government can not consent to waive her rights to it.”
The minister for foreign affairs replies to this note, transmitting copies of the documents relating to Brazil’s title, submitting them with the hope that the British claim will be abandoned. The matter now awaits the consideration of the British minister for foreign affairs.
The island is arid, and of little value except as a cable station, which undoubtedly was the motive for its occupation. The last Brazilian budget provided for the purchase of the cable lines of the Western and Brazilian Telegraph Company, and in order to secure a landing place for an opposition English company it is stated the island was seized.
Considerable excitement was created, but the moderation and caution [Page 65] of the Government has prevented any serious outbreak. It is generally understood and hoped that the British claim will be abandoned in due time, and I anticipate that the question will be satisfactorily and speedily settled.
I have, etc.,