The Press. — London, England, 1856-11-29 00:00:00

1140 THE WEEK. AN eminent savant and diplomatist of Prussia, in a recently published work, expressed his conviction that the progress of the principle of Association was one of the most striking features of this age. This principle appears to be advancing not only within the bounds of particular communities, but among nations. The great inventions of our time are favorable to closer international inter course, and the statesmen for their age are they who favour the spread of this principle, and not they who endeavour to retard it. The present political attitude of this country contrasts singularly with the commercial principles it professes and its commercial interests. There are, besides Great Britain, five first-rate Powers in the world. Commercial ties connect us most closely with the United States; yet friendly relations between the two countries have been in terrupted by the dismissal of the British Minister from Washington, and no attempt seems yet to have been made to compose the differ ence, and to place the two countries on their former footing of amity. The election of Mr. BUCHANAN renders it highly expedient that a British Minister should be resident at Washington, since Mr. BUCHANAN has always held principles of policy the practical applica tion of which must be watched by this country ; not, indeed, with jealousy or suspicion, but with serious regard. It would appear that though concessions have been made by our Government with regard to the Bay Islands, which have been given up to Honduras, yet that no satisfactory negotiation has taken place with re spect to the fulfilment of the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty, and the securing the neutrality of that part of Central America which is necessary to preserve the passage between the two oceans open to the commerce of all the world. The last accounts from this region report the continued progress made by General WALKER. He seems to have established himself firmly in Nicaragua, and has sent a representative from his Government to the Cabinet of Mr. BUCHANAN. The disturbed state of the actual isthmus renders the whole question of increasing urgency, and the time for European action upon it—with a view to settle an independent Government, able to maintain its rights and preserve order—for the region of the isthmus would seem to be at hand. For this purpose it is indispen sable that France and England should act closely together. Of the other four Powers, our relations with France have lately cooled. The attacks of some English newspapers on the French Government—resulting, not from the independent action of the press, which would be unimportant, but from a knowledge that the French Government was not disposed to support the tone which Lord PALMERSTON's Administration thought proper to adopt towards Russia— has produced, and in Paris continues to produce, an uneasy feeling. Our accounts from that capital this week assure us that the mischief continues to work, and the really independent press of England—that press which is entirely free from Ministerial influence—is entreated to assist in preserving the cordiality of the alliance unimpaired—a desire which we are assured is near to the heart of the Emperor of the FRENCH. With a third of the great Powers—Russia—the attitude of our Government is one of restless hostility. The general character of John Bull is heartiness. He does not love to retain grudges. If he has a quarrel he loves to fight it out, and then honestly shake hands with his opponent, and resume terms of good neigbouihood. This has not been the course of our policy towards Russia. Our Adminis tration, since the close of the war, seems to have been intent on keeping the old sore open, and the most monstrous stories have been circulated of the efforts of Russia to evade compliance with the terms of the Treaty of Paris. This week wo observe tin a very respectable journal (the Home News), having an (extensive circulation throughout India, the following paragraph, intended for the edification of its readers : The restless and wide•spread agencies put into activity by Russia in the hope of producing a rupture, or creating a misunderstanding between the Wester► Powers, have become a subject of daily discussion in the English newspapers. There is no affectation of reserve upon a subject which so deeply concerns the future tranquillity of the civilised world. Many persons known to be employed on these insidious missions are pointed out by name, and the scene and nature of their labours plainly described. Amongst them is no less a personage than the Dowager Empress of Russia, who has taken up her residence in Italy, for the purpose, it is alleged, of exasperating the feud between the Italians and Austria, artfully applying her groat wealth and perscnal influence to the promotion of dissensions likely to lead to European convulsions. Two Russian Grand Duchesses have also been traced perambulating Germany. One of these, the Grand Duchess Helena, a neice of the King of Wurtemburg, has taken up her residence at Breslau, a convenient centre of machinations commanding Vienna, Dresden, Leipsic, Hanover, and Hamburg. The other, the Grand Duchess Alexandra, the wife of the Grand Duke Constantine, is at Berlin, from whence she can with ease spread her intrigues over Baden, Brussels, and Paris. It appears too bad, because some Princesses of the Imperial family of Russia should please to winter in Italy, or travel through Germany, that sinister political designs should be attributed to them by our press, or that they should be pointed out as political spies of Russia, charged with immense wealth to spread Russian influence. It is quite certain, that if this tone continues to be used by our Ministerial press, and to be favoured b) any considerable portion of our public, the Treaty of Paris can be little more than a hollow truce, so far as England and Russia are concerned. On the antagonism between the Governments of England and France, in their policy towards Russia, it is needless to remark. Of the other two Powers, Prussia and Austria, our relations with the former are scarcely cordial. The necessities of Lord PALMERSTON'S I ___ THE PRESS. SATURDAY, disturbing policy seem to have led him to cultivate close relations with the Court of Vienna lately. ft is a strange spectacle to witness Adminietrations which have had in recent years such sharp and acri monious passages of arms, even temporarily drawn together, by what seems to them for the moment• a common interest. _ _ ..- Spain is the most considerable of the second-rate Powers, and her Government seems intent on showing how well it remembers, and how deeply it resents, the interference of Lord PALMERSTON with it on a former occasion. General NARVAEZ is not the man to forget the orders from England to favour an insurrection against his Govern ment. If it be true that GONzALEs BRAVO is appointed to this country, the nomination would seem to he intended as a slight to our Adminis tration, since no man could be more unacceptable to it. With the next of the second-rate Powers, the Two Sicilies, ourt relations are still more uneasy. It is to be hoped that Mr. MORRIS, MOORE will not think it necessary to pay a visit to Naples. Should l►e do so, an occasion for a petty (pal rel might soon be found. The next of the second-rate Powers, Sardinia, seems to have lost all confidence in our Administration, though it had deserved so well, and had expected so much from it. According to general report, Lord PALMERSTON s Administration insisted that in the event of the Paris Conference being renewed Sardinia should be excluded, as her voice might be favorable to Russia. This is scarcely credible. But it is not to be doubted that Sardinia engaged with the Allies in the war from a confident expectation that the Western Powers would support her pre tensions in Italy against those of Austria. It is no wonder that she should feel bitterly aggrieved at the turn affairs have taken, and at the growing intimacy of the relations between the Courts of Vienna and St. James. ..... The aspect of our foreign relations is not, it must be confessed, very encouraging at a time when it is expected that the Paris Con ference is about to assemble, notwithstanding the strong opposition of the English Government. It will he curious to mark the position which our representative will fill in the assembled Council. Sir J. OUTRAM has left England to take the command of the expedition destined for the Persian Gulf. Though organised in India, this expedition is in reality directed by the Queen's Government. It will probably be the commencement of hostilities on an extended scale, as, should Persia refuse to yield, a war with that kingdom must be the result. The course of all wars is too well known to admit the supposition that the operation of our forces will be confined to retaining possession of the places they may seize in the Persian Gulf. Their position will soon be turned into a base of operations, from which an army will be organised to march upon Ispahan, or some considerable Persian town. In its com mencement, at least, this affair resembles the expedition organised for the conquest of Affghanistan. Then, as now, it was held by Lord PALMERSTON'S admirers that it was necessary to prevent the growth of Russian influence in Central Asia; and if this plea is to hold good, the country must prepare for a virtual contest with Russia in the heart of the Persian kingdom, or in the yet more remote wilds of Inde pendent Tartary. The expedition has not yet attracted much notice from our public,—a circumstance attributable to the responsibility of the first step in the war being thrown upon the Indian Government. But from the facts of the case, and from our terrible Affghan experi ence, it is necessary that the country should be emphatically advised of the Duke of WELLINGTON'S warning against it being supposed that we could engage in " a little war !" Prussia is threatened with a double embarrassment. The police of Berlin have had the audacity to arrest no less a person than Mr. MORRIS MOORE, who has lost no time in making the most of his griev ance by a most vehement remonstrance to Lord BLOOMFIELD, and pub lishing the whole of his correspondence in the Times. It appears that the Procureur du Roi before whom Mr. MORRIS MOORE was brought attempted to console him for an unintentional mistake by saying that he had himself been once subject to arrest in London. Our gallant countryman refused to accept this assurance as any consolation for his wrong. He insisted on it that he was not a gentleman; he totally repu diated the notion that he shouldconduct himself as oue, and has drawn an appalling catalogue of the hardships ho suffered during his four teen hours' confinement. There was only a dirty sofa for him to lie down on, and no washhand-basin in which to perform his accustomed ablution. So far we have only Mr. MORRIS MOORE'S version of the matter. A correspondent friendly to him hints that he was in communication with some of the sus pected politicians of Berlin. But Mr. MooRE states that his arrest was due to much higher influences. Dr. WAAOEN is mentioned by name, and there is a person behind Dr. WAAOEN partly hinted at, though we do not think it proper to piece out the vagaries of Nil-. MOORE'S imagination by any reference of our own. The truth probably is that the arrest was made through one of those mistakes by which every person visiting a foreign country is liable to he tempo rarily inconvenienced. An apology is, perhaps, due to Mr. Mortars MOORE for the error, and there the matter must end. The Neachat, 1 business is more serious. By the Congress of Vienna in 181 the suzerainty of the King of PRUSSIA over Neufchatel was distinctly recognised. In the revolutionary troubles of 1848 that suzerainty was annulled by the canon of Neufchatel, expelling the office of the King from power. The Government of Prussia protested, but no collision ensued. The King, it is to be presumed, in vindication of his rights of suzerainty, now demands the release of the persons who are at present confined in the canton for their late attempt to restore the Royal authority. The Government of the canton has positively re fused to accede to the demand, and the attitude of the two countries