The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-10 00:00:00

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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10.

THE old affection for diplomatic secrecy broke
out in the regret which the Earl of CLARENDON
and Earl Russr.m. expressed on Monday at
what they considered the premature publication
of Lord STANLEY'S despatch to our Minister at
Madrid. Lord STANLEY is the frankest of
Foreign Ministers, but even he must draw
the line somewhere. A telegram arrives from
America, informing Europe that one of its great
Powers has withdrawn from that continent,land that
the United States are proportionately aggrandised.
Being asked to explain the transaction in Par-
liament, he discloses most unreservedly the ex-
tent of his ignorance, and describes the steps he has
taken to acquire information. He sends to
Spain a despatch, which, if not an ultioutivm, is the
final precursor of one, and publishes it in London
almost before it can arrive ut Madrid. Still the
inquisitive mind of one of the most ardent of his
followers is not satisfied ; the active and all-em-
bracing intellect of the member for Devizes takes
in the past, the present, and the future. Mr.
DARBY GRIFFITH would know, HOE only what
Ministers have done and are doing, lint what they
have thought of doing in all possible contingencies.
Has the Mediterranean squadron left Malta ?
Has it sealed orders ? Is it going to Spain,
and what will it do when it gets there? Lord
STANLEY could not gratify to the full the wishes of
the most watchful attendant upon his foreign
policy—he could not state what orders had been
given to particular ships of the Mediterranean
B4padron, but he kindly remarked that there was
nothing unusual in sending one or two vessels to
the coast of Spain—an observation capable of
unlimited development in the brain of the
honourable member for Devizes.

Without impeaching that solicitude for the
public interest which undoubtedly inspired the
regrets of the two Liberal ex-Secretaries
of State for Foreign Affairs, we do not hesi-
tate to thank Lord STANLEY for the openness
with which he is conducting the foreign affairs of
the country. If former Foreign Secretaries
bad always let the public know upon
what courses of action it was being embarked,
to what engagements it was being com-
mitted, and what dangers it was challenging,
we might have avoided some costly errors, and
should certainly have been spared some unneces-
sary humiliations. As it is we know exactly, and
while there is yet time for public opinion to in-
fluence the action of the country, of what our
Government complains in the conduct of that of
Spain, and by what measures it is seeking redress.
As to the Tornado, we distinguish between the
doubtful claim of the owners of that vessel for
indemnification, and the well-founded right of the
crew to redress for having been put in irons. We
do not say that the Tornado was entitled to
British protection as a strictly neutral vessel when
she was seized by the Spanish authorities, but we
affirm that she had not a fair trial, and that her
crew were treated arbitrarily, and in a maener
contrary to law. As to the Queen Victoria, we say
that the proceedings against her were from the first
contrary to law. She was seized on the high seas as
a smuggler, whereas, if smuggler she had been, she
would not have been liable toseizure. Hercrew were
driven away while her name was painted out, and
she was falsely reported as having been found dere-
lict. The remonstrances and protests of our Consul
were treated with contempt, and the vessel was
vertised for sale as a derelict, but afterwards sold
as a confiscated smuggler, her master not being
allowed a hearing. After having treated the
matter for a year as one between Government and
Government, the Spanish Minister for Foreign
Affairs informs the parties that they may look to
the courts for redress. Lord ST tNLEY has
notified to the Spanish Government that nothing
less than reparation and apology can be accepted
as a satisfaction for the deliberate and flagrant
succession of utterly lawless acts. There is
no reason why what the British Government
and people require, as well as what they think and
feel, should be privately whispered to General
CatoNer. at Madrid. The wrong has been public,
the reparation must be public, awl so should
also he the demand. Lord CLARENIX/N says
that the premulgat ion of a peremptory
despatch will spread the idea that vier-
cioa has been applied to the Spanish Go-
vernment, and that this may make it difficult for
the Cabinet of Mail ri,l to return a satisfactory reply
to our demand. It may do so, but we are not'
concerned to make it easy for foreign Govern- I
ments to get out of an embarrassment in which
they have entangled themselves by their own I
illegal acts. The wore difficulty they experience
is settling this affair, the less likely will they be