The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-09 00:00:00

FOREIGN QUESTIO2O4.

The Times assures the Spanish government that if it
relies upon internal dissensions to paralyse the action of
Great Britain it will find itself woefully deceived. In the
Tornado cam English notiousof justice have been flagrantly
violated, and no one will be disposed to censure the deci•
sire course adopted by Lord Stanley in demanding the un-
conditional release of our countrymen ; but our right to
exact an indemnity for the condemnation of the vessel is
a different matter. No such reserve can be made in the
case of the Queea Victoria, which is an act of simple
piracy.
It is thought by the Dairy Nears that the recommen-
dation to the Porte of the tire Powers to consult the
Cretan Christiana as to the annexation of their country
with Greece cannot remain unfruitful. The adventurers
of Greece and Italy will take the registered wishes of the
Powers as an encouragement to enterprise and a presage
of success. The Cretans will receive irregular aid of all
kind■, and the Ottoman government will find its task in-
creasingly difficult, while the pecuniary resources which
were found insufficient during peace will not be adequate
to the additional charge of a wearisome and unproductive
war. At the same time it must be clearly understood
that if England is unable to join the other powers she
does not on that account oppose them, and it is satisfac-
tory to be able to feel sure that Lord Stanley has written
nothing that can be fairly taken as the basis of a hope
that, in a crisis which may determine its fate, the Turkish
government would have the support of. England.
The Star points out that through Belgium, which is
more or less affected by the fate of Luxemburg, Englund
may become more than an indifferent spectator in any
contest that may arise.

The Standard, anticipating the possible recourse to re-
prisals on Spain, hastens to add that reprisals do not ne-
cessarily involve hostilities. Unlike the prizes taken in
actual war, the property thus acquired in no sense becomes
the property of thy nation. It is taken simply in satisfac-
tim f the cl.tinis of iijured parties, and as soon as those
claims arc satisfied the right to mike r,prisals ceases, and
the surplus belon;a to the original owners.

The Star says no portion of the press has hesitated to
condemn the conduct of Spain ; the position taken up by
Loral Stanley has been most cordially endorsed by political
opponents as well as political friends ; but if he desires to
retain this confidence he must not affect diplomatic re-
serve if force is on the point of being used. As be has re-
ceived no answer from the Spanish government, we pre-
sume sonic action is contemplated by the government, and
it concerns the highest interests of the nation that the
nature of that action be known. Before any serious step
is taken a full explanation of its nature ought to be given
to parliament, and the assent of the Commons obtained.

It appears by a parliamentary return, issued
this morning, that on the Ist of March, 20 English vessels
of war, of 34,617 tons, and a complement of 5.313 officers
and men were in the Mediterranean ; 29 vessels of 34,827
tons and a complement of 1,488 omen in North America
and the West Indies ; 'J vessels of 7,647 tons and
1,115 men on the south•east oosst of America;
7' vessels of 7,•690 tons and 1,375 men at the
Bast Indies; 3 vessels of 3,078 tons and 446 men at
the Cape of Good Hope ; 19 vessels of 15,179 tons and
1,894 men on the West Coast of Africa station ; 14 vessels
of 19,342 tons and 3,321 men in the Pacific ; 40 vessels of
30,246 tons and 4,628 men on the China station ; 6 vessels
of 6,793 tons and 1,367 men in Australia ; and 1 surveying
vessel with 90 men detached in the Straits of Magellan.

It is proposed to establish a Chamber of Agri-
culture ar the county of Wilts.