160 Chapter 2
140 Brazil/200 United Kingdom
MID#1622
Dispute Number: 1622
Date(s): October 30, 1826 to November 22, 1826
Participants: 200 United Kingdom/140 Brazil
Outcome (and Settlement): Yield by side B (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Britain was instrumental in securing independence for Brazil. Accord-
ingly, Great Britain went to great lengths to impose its will on Brazil. One such
important issue for the British was abolishing the Brazilian slave trade, which Great
Britain had grown to detest on moral and economic grounds. The issue had been dis-
cussed between the British and the Brazilians, but no satisfactory conclusion had been
reached by early 1826. On October 30, 1826, Charles Gordon, minister plenipotentiary
to the court of Brazil, took charge of the issue and held a conference with two Brazil-
ian commissioners. In no uncertain terms, Gordon informed the two that the previous
agreements that suppressed the Brazilian slave trade on January 22, 1815, and July
28, 1817, held force. Both agreements were between Great Britain and Portugal and,
in Charles Gordon’s view, were inherited by Brazil when they became independent.
Brazil’s policy was to defer the issue to its slow-moving assembly; Gordon articulated
the English policy that pushing a slave trade bill through Brazil’s legislature was a
moot point. Gordon reminded Brazil that Britain had trade agreements with Portugal
and her African colonies and would use those to prevent Brazil from engaging in
the slave trade. Gordon informed the Brazilian commissioners that resistance would
be futile. There’s some confusion as to whether or not Gordon really “threatened”
the Brazilian commissioners as such. Nevertheless, the Brazilians interpreted it as a
threat. After some attempts to delay the process, Brazil caved on November 22, 1826.
The Brazilians relented to a three-year time limit to count from the date of ratification
of the agreement. The treaty was signed the next day.
Coding changes: End Date changed from October 30, 1826.
MID#1740
Dispute Number: 1740
Date(s): July 15, 1839 to September 1, 1842
Participants: 200 United Kingdom/140 Brazil
Outcome (and Settlement): Yield by side B (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: The year 1838 marks the first British mission to Pirara, a disputed area
that, at the time, Britain wanted to colonize and British missionaries, namely Thomas
Youd, thought was ripe for missionary work. Robert Hermann Schomburgk, a Ger-
man geographer, was employed by the Royal Geography Society of London to explore
the area. Meanwhile, Thomas Youd had arrived in the area to spread the gospel; he
also raised the Union Jack and claimed the territory in May 1838. Both soon met and
discussed opening lines of communication. Brazil learned of these discussions and