CO129-003 - Foreign Office - 1843 — Page 377

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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 ...