The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-28 00:00:00

The noble lord, in his graphic style, declared that
" diplomacy is armed reason," and went to explain
that if not the Ministers of the weaker States
would have as much influence as those of the great
Powers of Europe. Thus, when a negotiator sets
out by asserting that whether his propositions are
entertained or not he will not enforce them he loses
his power altogether. The strength of Powers in
a Conference is the strength they leave behind
them ; and if they declare they will never use that
strength, they might as well have none." This
fully exposes the errors of the mode employed by
the English Ministers at the Conference, also their
predetermined notions of a do-nothing-policy,
and their evident desire to fail in their aps
parent attempts to make Prussia and Austria come
to something like terms which reason and rumour
did not denounce. Lord ELLENBOROUGLI'S con.
eluding remarks deserve to be studied as a master-
piece of European policy, described by an able and
astute judge. He showed how dangerous a tone
has been infused into the political bearings of Euro-
pean affairs. How that this destruction of Denmark
has been sanctioned and even encouraged by the
other Powers, what will prevent other large States
from preying on smaller ones, and thus the old
doctrine of Might versus Right will be revived in
an age that has more than once boasted of its well
nigh complete extermination. The rights of
strangers and the liberties of the subject are alike
disregarded by the rulers of the aggressive king-
doms who now trample down justice and ignore
mercy altogether. The noble lord in his bold
address, declared that all this Schleswig-Holstein
scheme has been a " wickedly-laid plan to destroy
the liberties of Danmark, and also those of the
people of Prussia and Austria. Many may now
slight all these remarks and simply regard them as
evil prognostications, but the day will come when
all these dark predictions will be realised, and the
page of history will bear on its record the verifica-
tion of Lord ELLENBOROUGII'S impressive pro-
phecy, that the cruelties now so rife in different
parts of Europe will bring down a terrible doom
on their perpetrators, and that such "flagrant
offences-against right and justice cannot go on with-
out a decided chastisement and retribution. "

The final report of the Select Committee upon
Dockyard Accommodation, which is now laid before
the public in the shape of a Parliamentary paper,
will he read with considerable interest. Its sug-
gestions are worth attention and consideration,
although by no means of equal value. The gees.
tion of foreign dock accommodation is rightly re-
garded by the committee as being of considerable
importance. One of the points in which the iron
vessels, now so general, bear an irofavcurable com-
parison to the old wooden walls is the necessity of
f -equent cleaning. The case of the Alabama was
cited in the House the other night in evidence of
this fact, since no iron vessel could have kept at sea
without cleaning or repairs for the length of time
during which the famous Southern privateer was
the terror of the Northern shipping. In any case
the necessity of sending our large vessels on foreign
stations home for the inevitable cleaning is a loss of
time and a great inconvenience ; but in time of war
such a course might be attended by most serious
results. If the enemy could reckon on the enforced
absence of part of our fleet for six or eight weeks,
he might take ready advantage of the knowledge,
and while England possesses so many dependencies
in all parts of the globe it is somewhat ridicule,as
that her firstsclass ships must perform a tedious
voyage home before they can find a suitable graving
dock. According to the established principle of
preparation for war being the best security for
pease, it is wise not only to increase the number of
our ships but to provide for their efficiency in time
of need. It is therefore satisfactory to find the com-
mittee expressing such decided views on the sub-
ject, and setting aside all timid and hesitating
doubts about expense where the honour and safety
of the country are concerned, boldly assert that a
considerable outlay will be necessary before the re-
quirements of the public service aro fulfilled.
It is especially gratifying that the committee
express themselves most decidedly about the Malta
dock, which occasioned such an animated disc-,48.
sion in the Hcuse last year. Public attention was
called to the matter, and there could scarcely be
two opinions as to the superiority of the French
creek over the site selected by the Admiralty. The
advantages were indeed so manifest that the very
authorities who persisted in continuing the works
at the Marsa admitted them, but excused themselves,
for such seeming inconsistency on the plea of keep-
ing faith with the Colonial Government. The com•
mittee evade this difficulty by recommending that
in the event of a French creek being placed at the
disposal of the Government this country should
offer to construct a dock at the Marsa for the use of
merchant ships. The decisive opinions which
were given in this matter by those best
qualified, from long acquaintance with the
island and cfficial experience, to judge, left
the committee no room for a different verdict,
still it is satisfactory that they should have
pressed themselves so positively as to the :Lceessity
of altering the mistaken plan hitherto followed. It
is also proposed that a dock is reed.aired at Bermuda
'
suitable for the accommodati en of first-class ships,
while at other colonial s'.,ations it is suggested that
the method adopted at Hong Kong should be tried,
and a reasonable sum advanced to private parties
construeting a dock, provided it be of sufficient
dimensicsas and be at the service of her MAJESTY'S

shires whenever required—the sum advanced being
•

in proportion to every foot of depth attained beyond
20 feet and up to 24 feet. It is further thought
that such an arrangement might with advantage
be made with private firms in this country. This
proposal is, however, part of a most extraordinary
scheme suggested by the committee which will cer•
tainly not commend itself to the good sense or
public spirit of the country. Iu consideration of
the great expenses which will bo entailed by the
necessary enlargements and improvements in our
dockyards here and abroad, it is gravely proposed
to suppress Deptford, Woolwich, and Pembroke
Dockyards altogether; and the money derived from
the sale of these valuable sites would, it is thought,
go far towards meeting the fresh expenses in-
curred. That is to say, that the Government is to
sell these yards, now in good working order,
and to spend the money thus obtained in
paying private firms ►o do the work it
might have done for itself. We are to build
up with one hand and to pull down with the other.
While professing to be anxious to secure the best
sites for our docks we aro to abandon one of the
finest harbours in the world. Wo might as well
give up Portsmouth as Pembroke. A harbour like
Milford Haven is certainly not easily matched in
any European country, and when the Government
have such a site at their service, what folly would
it be to abandon the advantage and give the benefit
of all their outlay to private speculators ? It is
just the same principle advocated by Mr. CoBDEN
the other evening in another aspect ; but before
Woolwich and Deptford aro sold, and the Admi-
ralty are placed at the mercy of contractors, let the
country call to mind the disastrous results which
have too often followed from being compelled to
depend upon private firms for vessels in time of war.
la oideo days the Bristol merchants made fortunes