The Sun.
London, England, 1862-11-14 00:00:00

INTERVENTION IN AMERICA

LORD RUSSELL'S REPLY TO THE FRENCH
GOVERNMENT.
(From the Gazette of this evening.)
FOREIGN OFFICE, Nov. 14. •

The following despatch has been addressed by Earl Rus-
sell to Earl Cowley, her Majesty's Ambassador at Paris :
FOREIGN OFFICE, Nov. 13.

My Lord,—The Count de Flahault came to the Foreign-
office by appointment, on Monday, the 10th instant, and
read to me a despatch from Drouyn de Lhuys, relating to
the Civil War in North America.

In this despatch the Minister for Foreign Affairs states,
that Europe has followcd with painful interest the struggle
which has now been going on for rn•nre than a year on the
American Continent. Ho (hies justice to the energy and
perseverance which have been displayed by both sides, but
he observes that these proofs of their courage have been
given at the expense of innumerable calamities and im-
mense bloodshed.

To these accompaniments of civil coLflict is to be added
the apprehension of servile war, which would be the climax
of so many irreparable misfortunes.
If those calamities affected America only, the sufferings
of a friendly nation would be enough to excite the anxiety
and sympathy of the Emperor.

But Europe has also suffered in One of the principal
branches of her industry, and her artizans have been sub
jetted to the most cruel trials.

France and the Maritime Powers have during this
struggle maintained the strictest neutrality; but the senti-
ments by which they are animated, far from imposing on
them anything like indifference, seem, on the contrary, to
require that they should assist the two belligerent parties
in an endeavour to escape from a position which appears to
have no issue.

The forces of the two sides have hitherto fought with
balanced success, and the latest accounts do not show any
prospect of a speedy termination of the war.

These circumstances, taken together, would seem to
favour the adoption of measures which might bring about a

,ruce.

The Emperor of the French, therefore, is of opinion that
there is now an opportunity of offering to the belligerents
the good offices of the Maritime Powers. He therefore
proposes to her Majesty, as well as to the Emperor of
Russia, that the three Courts should endeavour, both at
Washington and in communication with the Confederate
States, to bring about a suspension of arms of six months,
during vihich every act of hostility, direct or indirect, should
cease, at sea as well as on land. This armistice might, if
necessary, be renewed for a further period.

This .proposal, M. Drouyn de Lhuys proceeds to say,
would not imply on the part of the'three Powers any judg-
ment on the origin of the war, or any pressure on the nego-
tiations for peace which it is hoped would take place during
the armistice. The three Powers would only interfere to
smooth obstacles, and only within limits which the two in-
terested parties would prescribe.

The French Government is of opinion that, even in the
event of failure of immediate success, these overtures might
be useful in turning the minds of men, now heated by pas-
eion, to consider the advantages of conciliation and of peace.

Such is, in substance, the proposal of the Government of
the Emperor of the French, and I need hardly say that it
has attracted the serious attention of her Majesty's Govern-