The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-01 00:00:00

NEGOCIATIONS FOR PEACE,

THE important question of the progress of the
war, and the attempts which are said to be made to
bring about renewed negotiations for peace, remain
much in the same state, We hear of the movements
of special ambassadors between the northern Courts,

[JANUARY 1, 1856

and the discussion of such questions may serve
some degree to relieve the dullness of the seasou.
when the armies are inactive in winter quarters, and
little else is stirring either at home or abroad out e,
.1
which to manufacture any items for " latest intelhi
Bence." We cannot, however, attach much weight
to these movements of the German Courts, inasratlen,
as neither of them are principals in the contest, an
°
it makes little difference what views may be elite!'
tained by Austria and Prussia so long as Russia
shrouds herself in obstinate adherence to her aggres.
sive policy, and makes no sign but that of deternup°'
tion to prolong the struggle. It will not do for
England and France to stoop from the diginfiea
position which they have won by the conquest of
Sebastopol, and, as humble suppliants for terms which
they have a right to dictate, wait until the craven
governments of Germany have persuaded the CIA?
of Rusaia to listen to reason, and save his acre
from utter prostration. If Austria, by the cleverness
of diplomacy, can convince the Emperor ALELoinl
of the necessity which it would appear the defeat °
his armies has been unable to do, it may certB
serve to hasten an arrangement which must sooner
or later be entered into, but it ought not in any degree
to influence the proceedings of the Allies. Their duty
is to make every possible preparation for the neat
campaign, which may be opened not only In thde
Crimea but in Asia. The fall of Kars has impose
upon us new duties which ought not to be neglected;
and as Russia has thrown down the gauntlet 01
defiance at the very extremities of her empire,the challenge may be readily accepted as afford
ing, better opportunities for the Allies to aeceitra.
plish the main object in view. It would be f°ll.
to attempt an invasion of Russia after the example
NAPOLEON, who was severely punished for his rash'
ness. Our task is a much easier one, for Russia ls
rapidly exhausting her own resources ; and, should the
war be continued another summer with corresponding
activity on the part of the allies, she will have no alter'
native but to sue for those terms which she has se
scornfully rejected. Austria is now assuming the
position of the friend and adviser of Russia, and it is
only as such that her interference in the quarrel can
be viewed ; for it is, or ought to be, impossible that
England or France can recognise her as a represent°.
tive of their opinions. The object of the war is before
the world, depending, as Louis NAPOLEON has well
observed, upon public opinion for its ultimate success!
and for that verdict upon its justice and necessity
which has been generally pronounced. It would,
therefore, be a suicidal act to fritter away through
diplomatic trickery the advantages which have already
been gained at such enormous sacrifice. We have Do
great confidence in the stability or patriotism of Lord
PALMERSTON ; but his foreign policy has been osten-
sibly in support of constitutional government as
opposed to despotism : and we cannot, therefore,
believe that he would join in any scheme which would
fall short of a palpable diminution of the power and
influence of Russia among the nations of Europe.
The Western Powers have yet to gain that prestige
which tells with so much moral force on the people of
Asia. The integrity of the Persian frontier, as Well
as the independence of Turkey, may be achieved hi
the defeat of the Russians in that direction ; and, by s°
doing, an effectual bulwark be raised for the preserve'
tion of our Indian Empire.