The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-08 00:00:00

THE NEGOTIATIONS.

( From tke Prjs of ail day.)

The information which the Press was the first to corn,
municate to the public, that a pacific negotiation,
directly sanctioned by the Emperor of the French, was
in progress, is now universally known to be correct.
After four weeks of mysterious silence, occasionally
broken by impertinent doubts and equivocal denials,
the truth is admitted by the organs of Government.
But they are careful to leave the transaction in obscu-
rity. We are not told what the proposals transmitted
by the Emperor of the French were, nor in what spirit
they have been considered by our Cabinet—nor what
bas actually been done with respect to them—nor what
probability there is that they will lead to a satisfactory
result. These dark oracles only inform us that a nego-
tiation is in progress, and that Austria is the mediating
Power ; they leave us to guess the rest.
We believe we may affirm that the proposals Lave in
substance been sanctioned by Lord Palmerston's Cabi-
net ; that they have been returned to the Emperor of
the French ; and that direct communication upon them
is now opened between the Courts of Vienna and St.
Petersburg.
It is hinted by the Ministerial journals that Russia
has not yet been in any way a party to the negotiation.
If they intend by this to discredit its sincerity, and to
make it unpopular, they perform, an ill office for their
patron. Are we to suppose that Lord Palmerston
would lend a willing ear to proposals which came from
Austria only, and that he would consent to the Allies
making the first advances for peace ? What becomes,
then, of the 'foasts of his partisans—that he would make
Russia sue for peace on her knees, and that he would
never more recognise Austria as a mediator in the
quarrel ?
But, altogether apart from the previous declarations
of Lord Paltnerston, to which we admit no great import-
ance should be attached, we have in the character of the
Emperor of the French a guarantee that the negotiation
opened under his auspices is bona fide. He is too politic
to commit himself to proposals of peace without some
firm assurance that Russia is disposed to accept them.
Another abortive negotiation would cover the courts of
France and England with disgrace. It is not to be cre-
dited that they should expose themselves to the humilia-
tion of soliciting peace from St. Petersburg, and of
soliciting it in vain.
Against the vague statements of the Ministerial
organ our readers may set our positive assertion that
the first overtures proceeded from Russia, and that the
Emperor of the French is satisfied of their sincerity.
Hence we are disposed to augur favourably of the nego-
tiation, and to believe that with judicious management
it may be brought to a successful conclusion.
The failure of the last effort affords no ground for dis-
couragement. The time was unseasonable and the cir-
cumstances adverse. The persons principally concerned
in originating the negotiation were removed flora its
conduct—the Emperor Nicholas by death, and Lord
Aberdeen by the dissolution of his Government. By
the Emperor of the French it could never have been
regarded with favour, as it would not have been possible
for the Allies to have withdrawn their forces from
before Sebastopol without grievous injury to their mili-
tary reputation. It is questionable whether negotia-
tion should have ever been entered on while an enter-
prise undertaken with so much pomp remained in sus-
pense. The atm apt ending of the Vienna Conferences
may be attributed to other causes than the impossibility
of solving the third point in a satisfactory manner.
The great difficulty which then existed to the establish-
ment of peace is now removed. The negotiation will be
opened on new ground, and in all probability with a
clear understanding between the Powers concerned of
the points which must be enforced on one side and con-
ceded on the othei. The Emperor of the French will
feel his honour concerned to bring to a successful issue
an arrangement which he has taken a leading part in
originating ; and under his firm and skilful guidance, we
may reasonably hope that in the discussion of the pro-
posed terms whatever difficulties occur they will be
overcome.

To save Europe from a grave scandal, it is above all
things necessary that now, at the very commencement
of the negotiation, the several Powers should declare
their sentiments with perfect sincerity, and prevent, as
far as in them lies, all chance of future misnndkrstand-
leg. We desire negotiation,—not for the sake of nego-
tiation, bet for the sake of Peace. It is not to be
t &rated that any Government should take part in it
with the view of creating obstacles, or of watching for
opportunities of dissemdon. B-tter, a thousand times,
that no pacific discussion should take place than that it
should be conducted with duplicity and marred by chi-
cane. If, in the opinion of the belligerent States,
the time for Peace. has not yet come, and, in the
present state of affairs, it is impossible to arrange
their pretensions, of what avail will it he to
amuse their people with idle hopes of a cessa-
tion of hostilities? Each failure of the kind will tend
to weaken public faith in future negotiation, and thus
brine into disrepute the only means which exist of ter-
minating the calamities of war.
The Allies on one side, and Russia on the other,
now thoroughly understand each other's position, can
compute their respective forces, and know with tolerable
precisiou what are the objects in dispute. If the desire
for peace be mutual, and the outlines of a settlement be
arranged, ordinary good faith with ordinary prudence on
the
.part of the negotiators can scarcely fail of being at-
tended with success. They will playa perilous genie far
themselves and their countries should they venture on
falsehood, for no punishment would be too great, and no
execration too loud for the diplomacy which sacrificed
the peace of the world to the attainment of its own
sinister ends.