The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-07 00:00:00

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.

(THIS DAY.)

M. Monatier's circular to the French diplomatic
agents abroad may still be regarded as a deliberate mis-
representation of the imperial policy, though the most rci,
lentlesa eiunity, remarks the Times, would find it difficult
to allege any ground for the imputation, but it may, at
least, claim the merit of being • most explicit and une-
quivocal document. The Minister and his Sovereign may
not mean what they say, but it is impossible not to make
out with the most perfect distinctness the mean-
ing of what they say. The journey of the Em-
peror of the French to Salzburg had no other ob-
ject than • visit of condolence ; it has had no other results.
If we may believe M. Iloustier, not only is there no
' quarrel with Prussia in contemplation, but, were even any
subject of dispute to arise, France would be ready to settle
it by the same diplomatic means as brought about the
peaceful solution of the Luxemturg question. And yet
the Times' Paris correspondent reports, " No business at
the Bourse, and plenty of Chasaepot rifles in store."
Nevertheless, it expresses a confident hope that
the Emperor not only meditates no war, hut is even
anxious to recede from his untenable position of
an armed peace. It would, however, have more faith
in him if he showed greater confidence in himself.
A peaceful policy would be sure of the support of an im-
mense majority, if it were only looked upon as an honest,
consistent, and settled policy. The first oondition of true
peace is disarmament, and • decree for the dismissal of
soldiers is worth any amount of speeches and notes.
In other articles the Tina tre►ts of the tenure of land
in England, the disclosures before the Manchester Trades'
Union Commission, and the rival claims to the authorship
of the design of the Houses of Parliament.

The Daily News observes that having treated the visit
to Salzburg as one of sympathy and condolence, it is happy
to find that it had only anticipated M. do Moustier's ver-
sion of the simple facts of the case. It came to that con-
clusion, however, upon data very different from those to
which M. de Moustier refers in his circular. Its
estimate of the importance of that interview was
based upon facts less open to dispute: upon the
notorious internal distractions and embarrassments
of the Austrian empire ; upon the state of public
feeling among the German population, the still unsettled
difficulties with Hungary, and the resistance of that king-
dom to any purely " Austrian" political combin►tions; the
disaffection in the Sclavonic provinces ; the financial
penury ; the absolute necessity of avoiding all adventures
and provocations, and entering upon a long period of peace
and a calm and settled policy of patience, economy, and
conciliation. It is the misfoitune of such documents as the
recent circular that these explanations read like confessions,
and that in excusing they seem to accuse their authors.
No further circular could be needed to justify public con-
fidence in the preservation of peace, if M. de Moustierhad
only been permitted to give the shortest and simplest
assurance that Franoe, secure in her national unity, would
henceforth devote herself to the pursuit of domestic
liberty, and leave the family affairs of Germany to the
Germans.

Referring to an article in the Journal de St. Petersbourg
on the Salzburg interview the Herold hopes that the Res•
Irian government will earry out its peaceable professions
by peaceable acts. For the writer in the Journal de St.
Petersbourg is well justified in his apprehensions that
Russia, on the very day that she overtly renews her
aggressive policy in the East, will find at least three of the
great powers prepared to oppose her. What may be called
the equitable conclusion of M. de Moustier's circular now
issued is the position on which the imperial government
stood at this time last year—" France must always strive
for moral and political aggrandisement by employing her
influence for tha great inter-sate of civilisation ;" and that,
too, is the ground on which confidence well not remotely
be entertained and exercised.

The Star believes not merely that the Marquis de Mous-
tier, in the document which he sends round to the diplo-
matic corps under the Emperor's orders, expresses the im-
mediate opinions of his master, adopted for reasons of
policy, but his deliberate wishes in which, subject to the
will of the French people, he would sincerely desire to
persevere.