The Press. — London, England, 1853-07-16 00:00:00

THE PRESS. 252 MEMORANDUM ON THE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTS OF ENGLAND AND FRANCE DURING THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE EARL OF DERBY. THE coup ditat which resulted in the Empire had just been ratified by the French nation when Lord DERBY acceded to office. A new and absolute Government therefore prevailed in France. Great alarm and anxiety were felt by the foreign Courts as to the policy of the French Emperor. His name, and his last act, indicated a violent course : it was generally credited that he would recur to war, and that his campaigns would commence either by the invasion of Savoy, or of Belgium. The Emperor Louis NAPOLEON was personally unknown to every foreign Minister except to the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Lord DERBY. Accident in early life had created a long acquaintance between his Majesty and the Earl of MALMESBURY, which had been cherished in adversity. Frequent and unreserved conversations, at limes when neither of them could reasonably expect to become public men, had convinced Lord MALMESBURY that a pacific policy would be the object of Louts NAPOLEON if ever called to an eminent position. As President of the Republic ho had invariably followed the lino which, in conversation, he had laid down as the one he should adopt. Acquainted with his unyielding character, and aware of his tenacity of purpose, Lord MAIM EMORY judged that the Prince would be consistent to the end, as he had been to the time of his election as Emperor. It was upon this judgment of the Prince's character, formed upon long personal observation, that the Government of Lord DERBY acted. Let us see with what fruit. The first difficulty which presented itself arose from the condition of Switzerland. A French army of 00,000 men was assembled on the Swiss frontier, and very angry notes had been interchanged between the two Governments ; France insisting on a present and future right of demanding the expulsion of certain odious individuals who had taken refuge in the Cantons. The advice of England was offered to both parties. It was at first refused by the French Emperor, but shortly atter it was requested by his Majesty. Under the influence of the English Ministry, France withdrew her indefensible claim to future rights of demand, while the present exigency was met by an asylum being furnished in this country to the then refugees. After this everything went smoothly. The French Emperor fre quently declared that his sole anxiety was, that England and France should be seen arm-in-arm over the world. These were not mere phrases. Arm in-arm, they went and opened the Parana and Paraguay. Arm-in-arm, they addressed the United States, and proposed a tripartite renunciation of Cuba. Arm-in-arm, they appeased the troubles of St. Domingo. One of the principal objects of the Cabinet of Lord DERBY was to support and raise the morale of the Ottoman empire. France was unfortunately represented, at that period, at Constantinople, by an injudicious man, who was constantly teasing and tormenting the Porte. Lord MALMESBURY succeeded in impressing on the French Government that it was our common interest to treat Turkey with indulgence, and to pass over petty offences, rather than play the game of Russia, in degrading her. The affair of the Tanzimat put the sincerity 14 LOUIS NAPOLEON and his goodwill to England to the test. The Tanzimat was most injudiciously pressed by the Sultan on his vassal, the Paella of EotreT ; and all Lord STRATFORD'S influence had failed in preventing this. The high and traditionary policy of France was to sustain the Paella, and make him independent of his Liege. This question, under ordinary circumstances, might have produced great difficulties. In the present instance they were removed by a direct appeal to the Emperor, who, agreeing with the English Government that the full maintenance of the Ottoman empire was a cardinal point of polities, waived all secondary considerations, and, throwing his influence into the scale, effected with England a satisfactory arrange ment. Some misapprehension has existed as to the interference last year of the French in the African regencies of Tripoli and Tunis. These incidents, however, when understood, would afford fresh proofs of the cordial and sincere relations which then subsisted between us and our neighbours. The French repaired to Tripoli to rescue some subjects of the frown of France who were imprisoned and illused. They gave a pre vious explanation of their purpose to the English Government, and when their object was obtained they retired. With regard to Tunis, France was desirous that, in the event of the death of the Dey of that Regency, the order of succession, which had lasted for 200 years, should not be interfered with. It was en ob ject to the French that there should be no disturbance on their frontiers. That was equally an European interest To prevent any misconception, Louts NAPOLEON requested the good offices of England in the matter, and begged us to advise the Sultan to anticipate, by his own will, an arrangement conducive to the maintenance of tranquillity SATURDAY, Those good offices were used, and this advice was tendered. The ob ject was entirely accomplished, and the Sultan, in order to maintain his suzerainte, notified to the Bey that, with reference to the succes sion, he wished the status quo to be continued. Several occasions had shown that the French Ambassador at Constantinople, M. de LATALETTE, was not well qualified fur his post. His intrigues, to advance some obsolete claims of French protection over the Latin Church in the Levant, were carried on without dexterity, and even with violence, and led immediately to the subse quent acts of Russia, ever on the watch for an opportunity to advance a long-matured scheme. The English Government never ceased to protest privately, and in a friendly spirit, against this policy. The Emperor of the FRENCH, at length convinced of the unfitness of M. de LAVALETTE, recalled him. His successor, M. de la COUR, made satis factory concessions on the subject of dispute. From the commencement of the Government of Lord DERBY, the English Cabinet was of opinion, formed on a knowledge of his senti ments and character, that Louis NAPOLEON would lose no time unne cessarily in assuming the Imperial title. This opinion was repeatedly stated to the Great Powers, and the reasons on which it was founded. The English Cabinet never concealed from them that, when the event arrived, they should follow the immutable policy of England, and recognise immediately the de f acto ruler of a country ; but the Government of Lord DERRY was desirous that the recognition should be unanimous, and, therefore, that the foreign Cabinets should be prepared. The foreign Cabinets doubted, delayed, and indulged in the invention of idle and evasive propositions ; and, when in November the event took place, they were surprised and unprepared. An unexpected difficulty, however, occurred in the recognition of the Emperor even by England. This arose from his assumption of the numeral 111., and from a report of the Smiths Consultum that this numeral inferred an unbroken succession since 1814. The English Cabinet looked upon this assumption as trite inadmissible, inasmuch as it made France ignore two other dynasties, and all their acts, as well as our own, since 1814. They stated to the French Government, there fore, that, unless they received a recorded and official interpretation in the contntry . sense, England would not recognise the new title. The French Minister objected, but the Emperor at once ordered him to give it, to the effect, that he fully recognised those dynasties, their acts and treaties, and that the numeral merely recorded an historical fact dear to the French people, and which he could not suppress. The re cognition by England immediately took place, but the Courts of Prussia and Austria waited six weeks for the consent of Russia, who eventually. with them, accepted the whole title, with our security annexed. The Emperor of RUSSIA offended the Emperor of the FRENCH by only calling him " friend" instead of " brother ' in the royal letter ; but to punish the cowardice of Austria and Prussia, when the Emperor of the FRENCH gave his first reception to the Diplomatic Body, he sum moned their ambassadors the very last, giving precedence even to the smallest German state. When the Government of Lord DERRY retired, and Lord Jon& Resist'. took the seals of the Foreign-office, the Emperor of the FRENCH commanded his ambassador to say to the English Secretary that not only was France on the best terms with Lngland, " teals hei etoit reconnaissant." Not three weeks after Sir JAMES GRAHAM and Sir CHARLES WOOD grossly insulted him on the hustings ! Slit BENJIE. A Purist bartered and a patriot sold For flimsy honour, not for solid gold ; )for flimsy honour—nay, for honour's shade The grad► eluding, now the price is paid. SUGGESTIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF MR. KEATING FLOW IN UPON U& Ir is suggested that if he is the Member for Reading he should reflect that he is not the member for speaking. It is suggested that his recent edition of certain " legends" may serve Mr. BROTHERTON to light his bedroom candle. - - -- • It is suggested that when he makes a second speech, to avoid parliamentary consequences, the House should be provided with some of " Keating's Cough Lozenges." It is suggested that whenever Sir BENJAMIN HALL performs the part of man-midwife to illegitimate scandals Mr. KEATING should gene rally assist in the capacity of dry nurse. It is suggested that he be entrusted with the mission to adminis ter a sedative speech to the Czar, and that he be instructed at the same time not to set fire to the Bosphorus. It is suggested that the next time he attempts to perform the Tipperary shuffle he should ascertain that he has a patient in the pre dicament he supposes ; also that he should not be at the trouble of lacing up his brogues till he is perfect in the step to be executed on the patient's body. It is suggested that it would benefit Mr. REATINO'S health, as well as his reputation, if he was always in bed and his candle out by twelve p.m. I