Between boats and telegrams: the crisis of diplomatic asylum after the end of the Brazilian Naval Revolt (1894)

Abstract

The Brazilian Naval Revolt ended on March 13th of 1894 with the diplomatic asylum of more than five hundred fighters in two Portuguese warships. This episode originated a contest between Brazil and Portugal based on different interpretations of the international law of that time. While the negotiation was happening both corvettes went away from Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires, where a new boat would be rented to take the asylees until Portuguese territory. The Portuguese commanders, following political instructions, have denied to the refugees the right to disembark to complete the quarantine time at Martin Garcia’s lazaretto. The discontent with the overcrowding, the fear of some epidemic on board, plus the Portuguese government's discordance to allow the disembark, were the main reasons to refugee's flee and a diplomatic contest between Portugal and Argentina. Later on, both Portuguese corvettes went to Montevideo where a similar process ended with a large escape of asylees. The Brazilian government, extremely disturbed with the escapes, decided to break the international relations with Portugal. All the process was followed by the intense telegram's exchange between diplomats, warships commanders and foreign ministers.

Keywords

• Revolta da Armada
• Asilo Diplomático
• Navios de Guerra
• Quarentena
• Telegramas.