The Press.
London, England, 1857-02-21 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

sanctioned by the spirit and the letter of the treaty?
We cannot poisibly admit that such was the inten-
tion of her Britannic Majesty's Government, or of any
of the powers which signed the treaty.
Under this persuasion we have not hesitated to
appeal frankly to their decision from the instant
when the divergence of opinions which arose be-
tween the Commissioners surveying the frontier put
an obstacle to the completion of their work. This is
the place to remove an inamirate appreciation,
which 1 regret to find in the despatch of Lord Cla-
rendon. Without either recrimination or bitterness,
I shall again set forth the facts in their entire truth.
The principal Secretary of State says that " if the
English squadron had not re-entered the Black Sea,
and the Austrian troops did not continue to occupy
the Principalities, Russia, from her non-execution of
her engagements, would be at this moment the sole
power keeping possession of a territory which she
was bound, conformably to the treaty, to evacuate."
To point this assertion, Lord Clarendon affirms that
Russia, in claiming what she is not authorised to
possess, by the terms of Article 20, has hindered to
this day the settlement of the boundaries of the
frontier.
Let us examine with reflection end calmness
whether this argument has any foundation.
First of all, it starts from a rresumption which is
wanting in proof. Does Russia claim more than the
treaty adjudges to her? Has the question been
settled by the Cabinets which signed ? It has not.
It will form the object of the conferences which are
about to open. Which power was it that first
insisted on the necessity of such a meeting ? Russia.
IVhich powers opposed the judgment to which the
Imperial Cabinet has appealed? England and
Austria.

This being the case, whose fault was the unfor-
tunate delay which has retarded for three months the
completion of the work of delimitation ? Let us recal
the dates. On the 18th (30th) of August, the Commis-
sioners•surveyors, having ended three quarters of
their work, have concluded a preliminary convention
which left in suspense only the resolution of two
questions. To this effect they solicited the decision
of their Courts. The opinions put forth by the com-
missioners were contradictory. The Government o:
her Britannic Majesty could Lot alone be the judge
of them. The treaty was the work of all the con-
tracting parties. It is to them that it belongs to
decide in the last resort. So long as this decision
shall not have been given the question of right
remains intact. Certainly, there may be doubt
respecting it ; but there is no infraction of the treaty
as far as regards Articles 20 and 21. That is s::
:rite that the Imperial Cabinet has spontaneously
offered to give over to the Mcldavian authorities the
territory where the marking of the boundary is
already finished, and to proceed with this cession
immediately, even before the final record (acte) is
signed.
If Russia, for her part, has shown so much fidelity
and scrupulousness in conforming to her engage-
ments, has the Government of her Britannic Ma
je-ty fulfilled its own engagements with the same
accuracy ? Has the convention relative to the closing
of the Straits been observed as an ancient rula of the
Ottoman empire so long as the Porte is at peace ?
Has the principle of the neutralisation of the Black
Sea consecrated by the Treaty of Paris been put in
force

The evidence of facts proves the contrary.
This same truth is applicable to the occupation of
the Principalities by the Austrian troops. The
engagements contracted in the bosom of the Con-
gress do not justify it.
In the interest of peace, and out of respect for a
European arrangement which Russia herself has
guaranteed, we thought that it was of importance to
put an end to so many motives of disagreement
which had supervened to our keen regret between
the powers who had united together to accomplish
the salutary work of a general pacification. It
is with this purpose, that, by the order of the Empe.
ror, I have devoted all my efforts to accelerate the
moment when the plenipotentiaries of all the Cabi
nets should find themselves reunited at Paris. This
result is on the eve of being accomplished. We
regard it as a new mark of respect paid to the autho-
rity of the public law of Europe, and at the same
time as the addition of one guarantee the more to
that system of concert and general agreement of
which the principle has been sanctioned by the acts
of the Congress of I'aris.
The determination to which the Cabinets have now
come, to give their assent to this reunion, is equally
honourable for al!, reassuring for Europe, and des-
tined to become a new pledge of reconciliation
between the powers who alike have it at heart to
efface the traces of their dissension by an auspicious
return to a mutual accord.

I invite you, M. le Comte, to express these senti-
ments to the principal Secretary of State, by reading
to him, and leaving with him a copy of, this
despatch.—lteceive, &c.,
(Signed) GOBTSCUANOFFI

SATURDAY,

routVings in 9ariianttnt.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—BfoNn►r.
THE PERSIAN WAR.
The Earl of CLARENDON :
As my noble friend behind me (Lord Albemarle) bfis
a notice on the paper in reference to Persia, I venture to
appeal to him to have the goodness to put it off for a short
time, as at the present moment negotiations are pending
in Paris upon that subject; and only this very morning I
received a communication which leads me to hope that
those negotiations will be brought to a successful issue.
I hope therefore my noble friend will not consider me ask-
ing too much in begging of him to defer his motion.
The Earl of ALLEIIARLE at once withdrew his
motion.