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Lord Stanley will perceive that the Lucen's Advocate is of opinion that the Provisions of the Treaty of 1661. between the English and Portuguese frowns apply Macao, and that Portugal would be entitled in pursuance of that Treaty
to call
upon
in
this Country to assist the defence of the Establishments
to
in that place against Chinese aggression, Lord Aberdeen, however, apprehend that in claiming assistance under a Treaty of defensive Alliance, it is incumbent
on the claiming party
to shew that
the attack which it apprehends, or from which it suffers, has not been
provoked
provoked by any proceedings of its own ; and that in the specific case of Macao, Portugal
would have to shew not
only
that Her Authorities at Macao had
given no positive provocation to the Government of China, but also that they had not violated any conditions on which that Government had permitted them to occupy
that
settlement. Lord Aberdeen is of
Her Majesty's
opinion that Her
Government could not leave to the
British Authorities in China, the
power to decide on the validity of
the allegations which might be adduced by Portugal in support
of ...