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Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1815, 30 May 1874, Page 2

The South American Republics seem to be in danger of getting themselves into trouble with the British Government through the indiscretions and abuses of their officers. Our telegrams mention two cases in which British subjects, one of them a Consular officer, have been outraged. In the one case the captain of a British coasting steamer has been imprisoned because his vessel, capsized with a number of Chilian passengers ; and in the other, and by far the worst one, the British /Vice-Consul was nearly flogged to death by the commandant at St.! Jose in Guatemala. The British Minister at 'Valparaiso demanded the release of the captain of the steamer and an indemnity for - the outrage, and the Guatemalan authorities have frankly tendered full reparation for the inhuman treatment of the 'Vice-Consul^ and arrested the offender. It may be expected that the British Government will take steps to vindicate its honor and the liberty, of its subjects. Instances of this kind are rather frequent in the South American ports, and many of them have been passed over too lightly. With a Conservative Government in power we may hope ; .however, that the Civis ßomanus Suni of Lord Palmerston's day will not be longer an idle phrase with respect to British subjects wherever they may be.