The Sun.
London, England, 1853-06-07 00:00:00

THE FRENCH EMPIRE.

The Emperor received yesterday at a private audience
V6ly Eddin Rifaat Pacha, Ambassador Extraordinary
and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Sublime Porte,
charged to deliver the reply of the Sultan to the notifi-
cation of his Majesty's marriage.
The semi-official journal, the Pays, contains a long
article on the position of France in the Eastern question.
It is of importance, as it is meant to convey the expres-
sion of the Emperor's ideas, and as marking the line of
policy which it is proposed to follow. The article bears
the signature of Viscount de Laguerroniere, the princi-
pal editor of the Pays. After criticising with some se-
verity the conduct of M. Thiers in 1840, the Pays pro-
ceeds thus :

" Our national pride isimuch flattered, no doubt, at hear-
ing it constantly said that the Mediterranean is a French
lake. Unfortunately, the treaties of 1815 have changed into
a dream that expression of a great man. In consequence
of these treaties the Mediterranean is not, and cannot hence-
forth be, other than an European and International lake.
It is to maintain for it that character that Egypt ought
not to be either English or French ; and that Turkey cannot
be Russian. Let us speak in good faith ;--could we permit
England, for instance, to establish herself in the Balearic
Isles to intercept our route to Algeria, which is henceforth
united to France by indissoluble bonds ? And could
England suffer that by making Egypt French we should
take from her the Bay of Suez, which is for her the gate
of the Indies ? M. Thiers threw himself rashly into the
question of the East in 1840. He could only end in an
impossibility. He completely disregarded the interests of
France in that question. The Restoration did not commit
such a fault • and its flag floated at Navarino side by side
with that of Russia and of England. The independence
of Greece was won and settled by Europe. It was also the
whole of Europe which intervened to settle the interests at
stake between Egypt and Turkey. The day that the
Eastern question loses this European character the peace
of the world would be disturbed for a long time ; let this
be believed ; and it is not France that would: have to suffer
from that attack on the equilibrium of Europe, for she is
perhaps the most disinterested of all in the question of the
East, There are three Powers who have a vitaal interest in the
East—Russia, England, and Austria. For Russia it is the
interest of her religious ideas, which points out to her the
attainment of a political sovereignty where she has the
pretension to exercise a sovereignty of dogma, and of faith.
For Austria it is the interest of her security and of her de-
fence on the Danube against the immense weight of the
Empire of Russia, which already presses on. her. For Eng-
land it is the interest of the freedom ant security of her
communications with India, where she has immense pos-
sessions, which are the source of her pro sperity, and the
absolute condition of her rank as a power of the first order.
But France has only the interest of all—t hat is to say, the
balance of Europe and the freedom of the seas. France
would not be menaced in her vital intereats, like England
and Austria, were Russia at Constantinople. Her expan-
sion towards Africa and America would not be less free.
It may even be said that she would find it a counterpoise
to the excess of the maritime force of England, if that force
should occasion umbrage to us. France would remain then
what she is, and what she will always bey a power of the
first order. But that rank, of which she i s proud, of which
she is jealous, and which she will no ram •e lose for herself
than she will take from others, Austr is and England

would infallibly lose the day that the Ott 'man Empire be-
came the vassal of the Russian Empire.
" The Government of Napoleon M. ha is not committed
the fault of the Government of Louis Philippe. It has not
sought in the Eastern question for an oc c asion of revolu-
tionary tumult on the drum of propttga,n. Lista • it has not
isolated France from Europe. No ; it has placed itself
with dignity, firmness, and calm in the ii ght of Europe. It
is for that that it negotiates; it is for tl ta,t, that it would
fight, if necessary, not alone, but with arl, and for all.
France ought not to be and cannot be alone in the question
of the East. The simple supposition of her isolation is a
folly of so monstrous a character that it: is impossible to
think of it for an instant. France is wi tlx England, with
Austria, with Prussia ; and she will be also, we hope, with
Russia. There exists between the five great Powers, as
between them and all the others of Eurt)p e, a common in-
terest, more intimate for some of them, i nore distant for
us, but obligatory for all. If Russia ware to disregard
that fact through pride or ambition, is it w ith France alone
that she would have to do ? Would France alone take'
fire for an interest more European than. 'French ? Could
she, from the extremity of the west, separated from
Russia by Germany, and from Turkey Iby the Mediter-
ranean, the Archipelago, and the Dardanelles, have
to fire the first shot for a cause which is he only because
it is that of every one? Honour would not command so
much precipitation, nor would sound pc] icy recommend
it. What she ought to have done, she lin s done. At the
first signal of the complications she son t her fleet, took
up a position near the theatre of events, and was ready
for every eventuality. But in displaying her flag in face
of the Dardanelles, France showed ht n• right to all
Europe ; and her right is the right of all- -that which she
could not defend single-handed without temerity, and
which the other Governments could not a bandon without
weakness, and without relinquishing their proper interest
and honour. We cannot imagine a not der situation for
France. We know of none more honomra ble for her Go-
vernment, and which more markedly coati adicts the senti-
ments of distrust which had greeted its ac cession. Napo-
leon 111. has too much prudence, patrio tit ,m, and political
genius to play with that terrible wor ' war.' That
word, which is a part of his glory, has mot dazzled him.
Twice only has has he pronounced it since h e has governed—
three years back, as a reparation towards the head of Chris-
tendom, the illustrious Pius IX., repla,3ed in the chair of
St. Peter by a French army ; and nov r, as a precaution
against the fear of an encroachment as id. of a violation of
treaties. The foreign policy is sufficiently characterised by
this explanation. After having had the .honour of saving
religion amidst the applause of Europe, Ito now defends the
right of Europe, respect for treaties, os •der, peace, and
equity. The conqueror who was feared is not lie. Tho
people which tremble for its repose is nos b that which ad-
joins our frontier. No, he renders imp° ssible any coali-
tion against France ; and he also render a impossible the
partition of another Poland, as well as the i conspiracy or the
treason of another treaty of Pilnitz ; and h. 3 is ready to take
his place in the great European coaltion, to cause the in-
tegrity of a people and the inviolability of a right to be
respected. Besides, this point must not ;be lost sight of,
that war, not probable but possible, would not resemble in
anything what has been hitherto seen. :It would not be
the frontier uncovered, nor the nationalit .y engaged. The
Rhine, that natural barrier, would not be menaced by any
onemy : and it is not at our doors that t.ht 3 quarrel will be
settled. At the utmost, in a distant scen4 ), France would
have to appeal, not to defend herself nor t o attack, but to
cause treaties to be respected. Such is tae r armed misF•ion.
She would have behind her flag the armies 3 and fleets witi-ii
could not make default to the cause of the r ight of all against
the ambition of one. War on these condi Mons would un-
doubtedly be a misfortune, but it would. r lever be a peril or
a convulsion. Consequently, whether France combats er
negotiates, her situation is as glorious as it is strong, for
war would only be an act of common l E uropean defence,
and peace a treaty of alliance, the indisso lubility of which
would have for sanction the permanent it iterest of all the
States."

The Moniteur publishes an account Of the proceedings
of the Governor-General of Algeria against the Kabyles.
The Arabs make no resistance, so that there are no
killed on either side, but the native vi llages are burnt
without mercy. By a telegraphic dispatch, dated the
28th May, the Governor-General announced that " all
the tribes have made their submission, furnished hostages,
and paid the impost."
The market for Government Securities at the Bourse
yesterday had been dull, and a decline, ultimately took
place in the Three per Cents., in the quotation for cash,
of 20c. ; and for the term of 15c. The Four-and-a-Half
per Cents. were, as usual, better supported, and closed
with an advance for money of 25c., and of sc. for the
end of the month. Bank of France Shares fell 10f.
The final quotations were :—For cash—Three per Cents.,
78f. 70c. ; Four-and-a-Half per Cents-, 102 f. For the
account—Three per Cents., 78f. 65c. ; Four-and-a-Half
per Cents., 101 f. 80c. ; Bank Stock, 2,665 f. Shares of
the Mortgage Bank still remain at 800 f. ; a decline of
2f. occurred in those of the Socigte 31obiliere, which
were finally quoted at 825 f. 50c. The Railway Share
Market was also affected by the general want of activity
in affairs, though, on the whole, that description of
public security was tolerably well supported. The most
favoured lines yesterday were the Northern and Paris
and Lyons—the former of which advanced 55f., and the
latter 20f. Orleans shares also improved 5f., and Paris
and Rouen, 2f. Closing prices :—Northern, 950 f. ;
Paris and Orleans, 1,065 f. ; Paris and. Strasbourg, 902 f. ;
Paris and Lyons, 935 f. ; Paris and Rouen, 1,037 f.