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 facto 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.

'u 16, 1853.