The Press.
London, England, 1854-06-24 00:00:00

SATURDAY,

, .
pouringlike a deluge over the states and kingdoms of the
world. My lords, I feel strongly on this subject, and I
believe that if this barbarous nation—this enemy of all
progress except that which tends to strengthen and conso-
lidate its own power—which punishes education as a crime
—should once succeed in establishing itself in the heart of
Europe, it would be the greatest calamity that could befal
the bantam race. (Sustained! cheering.)"

The Earl of CLARENDON remarked upon the irre.
gularity of a discussion founded upon a State paper
of which English politicians had no official cogni-
sance, and when many even of their lordships learnt
it probably for the first time. Dismissing the memo-
randum as possessing in reality much less importance
than had been assigned to it, the noble earl addressed
himself to the question of the Austrian alliance:—

"After the. philippic which my noble friend has pro•
nounced against confidence,' I am almost afraid to yen-
tore on a declaration of my confidence in Austria. But I
think 1 am justified in saying that we should look at Aua.
tria as an independent power, carrying out her own policy,
having some internal dangers to apprehend and man;
German difficulties to contend with, and that, under these
circumstances, full allowance is not made for her difficult
position. I know that it has been said that Austria has
not moved with that vigour and rapidity which was called
for by our intervention and by the possible necessity of
the case. But I would only call upon your lordships to
place yourselves in the position of Austria, and to remem•
her that up to the close of the year 1853 she did not believe
in the possibility of a war. She trusted to the assurances
and to the friendly feelings of Russia. She believed that
her wishes and her interests would not be disregarded by
Russia, and that the Emperor of Russia would not turn a
deaf ear to her entreaties. She did not think that the Em.
peror of Russia would abandon his conservative character,
and be himself the disturber of the peace of Europe."
Enumerating other tokens of Austrian sincerity in the
contest against Russia, and remarking that she had
placed troops at the disposal of the Porte for repress.
ing the insurrection among the Montenegrins, had
sent ships to aid in putting down the Greek
rebellion, and was raising her army to 300,000 men,
the Foreign Secretary proceeded to pronounce his
conviction that Austria had no intention of concluding
peace upon the terms apprehended by Lord Lynd-
hurst, and which he further declared would prove
utterly unacceptable to England and France :
"Nor can I believe that after the knowledge which
Austria has acquired of Russian policy, and after the ex•
perience she has had of Russian friendship—that after the
vast expense she has incurred, and the great risks towhick
she might be exposed—l cannot believe that alie would be
so wanting to her interest and to her dignity as to conclude
such a peace as that to which the noble and learned lord
has adverted, which could be nothing but a short, hollow,
truce, and to which England could not be a party---(load
cheers)—a peace which could attbrd Austria no guarantee
for the future, but would leave her entirely at the mercy
of Russia, and leave Europe for ever afterwards subject to
the pernicious influence and oppressive policy of that
power. My noble and learned friend has asked what were
the terms which would be proposed for effecting a peace
with Russia. My lords, I cannot possibly say, any more
than my noble and learned friend, upon what terms peace
can be mode. That must depend upon the chances and
the contingencies of war. And indeed, my lords, if I did
know upon what terms we alone would be prepared to make
peace—if ( was prepared to say that we would accept no
other terms than those which the noble and learned lord
himself would accede to—l assure your lordships it would
be the most imprudent course I could possibly take. But
this we know, that the policy of Russia and the power she
has hitherto possessed of carrying it out have been and are
dangerous to the peace and well-being of Europe, and that
both are adverse to the cause of progress and of eivilisaticn
And we also know that the object and interest of Europe
must be to curtail that power and to check that policy. We
know that the means of doing it are now so great and
effectual, and that the opportunity is so wonderfully favour-
able, that if we were now to neglect it we ahonld- in vain
hope for its return. (Cheers.) All Europe is not to be
disturbed, great interests are not to be injured, the people
are not to have fresh burdens imposed upon them, great
social and commercial relations are not to be abruptly torn
asunder, and all the greatest powers of Europe are nut to
be united in arms for an insignificant result. I
think yon must agree that repression will only postpone
the danger, and that safety can alone be found in measures
which shall prevent its recurrence?'
The close of this speech of the noble earl was followed
by cheers not less enthusiastic than those which had
arisen at the utterance of every sentiment which spoke
of vigour and determination in prosecuting the war.
The Earf of DERBY briefly analysed the phraseology
of the " memorandum," and declared that Lord
Clarendon's explanations had not removed the un-
favourable interpretation which Lord Lyndhurst had
given it. He still believed that, according to that
agreement, the co-operation of Austria and Prussia
with the two Western powers would cease if the prin-
cipalities were even evacuated and the territorial
limits of Turkey restored. Nay more, if England and
France chose to urge the war to further results, the
Austrian and I'russian alliance might be trans-
ferred to the Emperor Nicholas. Passing on to the
English side of the question, he expressed his sincere
pleasure in hearing the determination announced by
the Foreign Secretary as to the prosecution and
objects of the war
" It bad been very satisfactory to him to hear the noble
earl state again that as we were now embarked in this wa.