The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-15 00:00:00

LATEST FOREIGN NEWS.

RUSSIA AND TURKEY.

LETTER OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON TO
THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA.

The II foniteur says :—" The journals having given
inexactly some passages of the letter which the Em-
peror of the French addressed on the 29th ult. to the
Emperor Nicholas, it is necessary to re-establish the
exactitude of the alleged facts in publishing the original
text :"

" Palace of the Tuileries, Jan. 29, 1854

xi a
j"
sSti rye
and— T he
the do
ti f fte
or
me nacne
Portew h i c hh
ahsa sa
nair ivseedn
tb estuthe between
point
of gravity, that I consider it my duty to myself to explain
directly to your Majesty the part which France has taken in
this question, and the means which I conceive to be calcu-
lated to avert the dangers which menace the repose of
Europe.
" The note which your Majesty has just had presented to
my Government and that of Queen Victoria, endeavours to
establish that the system of pressure adopted, from the out-
set, by the maritime powers, has alone envenomed the ques-
tion.' But the matter would, on the contrary, it appears to
me, have still continued a Cabinet question, had not the oc-
cupation of the principalities transported it all at once from the
domain of discussion into that of facts. However, once that the
troops of your Majesty had entered Wallachia, we not the less
recommended the Porte not to consider that occupation as a
cants belli, thereby giving proof of our extreme desire for
conciliatory measures. After having concerted with England,
Austria, and Prussia, I proposed to your Majesty a note cal-
culated to give a common satisfaction ; your Majesty accepted
it ; but scarcely were we informed of that good intelligence,
when your minister, by explanatory commentaries, destroyed
all its conciliatory effect, and prevented us thereby from in-
sisting at Constantinople on its adoption without any altera-
tion. On its side, the Porte had proposed in the note certain
modifications, which the Four Powers, represented at Vienna,
considered of a nature to be accepted; but the changes in
question did not meet with the approbation of your Majesty.
Then, the Porte, wounded in its dignity, menaced in its inde-
pendence, and straitened by the efforts already made to raise
an army in opposition to that of your Majesty, preferred de-
claring war to remaining in that state of uncertainty and
abasement. The Porte has applied for support ; its cause
appeared to us just ; and the English and French squadrons
received orders to anchor in the Bosphorus,
" Our attitude with respect to Turkey was protecting, but
passive. We did not encourage it to make war ; but, on the
' contrary, incessantly gave to the Sultan counsels of peace and
moderation, persuaded that that was the only means of arriv-
ing at an arrangement, and the four powers again came to an
understanding` to submit to your Majesty other propositions.
Your Majesty, on your side, displaying the calm which origi-
nates in the consciousness f force, had confined yourself to
repelling, on the left bank of the Danube as in Asia, the at-
tacks of the Turks; aud, with a moderation worthy of the
head of a great empire, had declared that you would remain
on the defensive. Up to that point we were, therefore, I must
declare, interested spectators, but still nothing but spectators
of the contest ; when all at once the affair of Sinope occurred,
and forced us to assume a more decided attitude. France and
England had not considered it advisable to send troops to be
landed for the assistance of Turkey, and their flag consequently
was not engaged in the conflicts which had taken place on land.
But by sea the case was different. There were at the mouth
of the Bosphorus three thousaud pieces of cannon, the pre-
sence of which declared plainly enough to Turkey, that the
two first naval Powers would not allow any attack to be
made on her by sea. The affair of Sinope was for us as of-
fensive as it was unexpected ; for it is a matter of little im-
portance whether the Turks intended or not to land stores
and ammunition on the Russian territory. In fact, the Rus-
sian ships of the line came and attacked Turkish vessels of
smaller force in the waters of Turkey, and while tranquilly
anchored in a Turkish port, and they destroyed them, not-
withstanding the assurance given not to wage an aggressive
war, and notwithstanding the vicinity of our squadrons. It
was no longer our policy lwhich there received a check ; it
was our military honour. The cannon shots of Sinop°
produced a deep feeling of affliction in the hearts of all
who in England and in France have a lively sentiment of the
national dignity. With a common accord the cry arose every-
where that wherever our cannon can reach our allies must
be respected.' Thence emanated the order given to our
squadrons to enter the Black Sea, and to prevent by force, if
necessary, the recurrence of such an event ; and thence, too,
the collective notification sent to the Cabinet of St. Peters-
burg, to the effect that if we prevented the Turks from car-
rying on aggressive war on the coasts belonging to Russia,
we would protect the sending of stores and ammunition to
their troops on their own territory. As to the Russian fleet,
in interdicting it from navigating the Black mea, we placed it
in different conditions, because it was important during the
continuance of the war to preserve a pledge which might be
an equivalent for the parts of the Turkish territory which
were occupied, and might facilitate the conclusion of peace
by becoming an object in an exchange which was so much to
be desired.

"Such, Sire, is the manner in which events have followed
each other and been connected together; and it is clear, that
having arrived at this point, they must promptly lead either
to a definite understanding, or to a decisive rupture.
" Your Majesty has given so many proofs of your solici-
tude for the repose of Europe, has contributed so powerfully
by your beneficent influence to put down the spirit of dis-
order, that I cannot entertain any doubt of the resolution
which you will come to in the alternative presented to your
choice. If your Majesty desires as earnestly as Ido a pacific
conclusion, what more simple than at once to declare that
an armistice shall be signed forthwith, that matters shall
resume their diplomatic course, that all hostility shall cease,
and that all the belligerent forces shall be withdrawn from
the places where motives of war have called them ?

" In that case, the Russian troops would quit the Princi-
palities and our squadrons the Black Sea. As your Majesty
prefers to treat directly with Turkey, you would name an
ambassador to negotiate with a plenipotentiary of the Sultan,
respecting a convention which should be submitted to the
Conference of the four powers. Let your Majesty adopt that
plan, on which the Queen of England and myself are perfectly
in accord, and tranquillity will be re-established and the world
satisfied. There is, in fact, nothing in this plan that is not
worthy of your Majesty, nothing that can wound your honour.
But if, from a motive difficult to be comprehended, your
Majesty should refuse, in that case, France, as well as Eng-
land, would be obliged to leave to the fate of arms and to the
hazards of war what might be decided at present by reason
and justice.
" Let not your Majesty suppose that the slightest animosity
can enter my heart; it experiences no other sentiments than
those expressed by your Majesty in the letter which you
wrote to me on January 17,1853. Our relations,' you said,
ought to be sincerely amicable, and ought to be based on
the same intentions—namely, maintenance of order, respect
for treaties, love of peace, and reciprocal kind feeling.' That
programme is worthy of the sovereign who traced it out, and
Ido not hesitate to declare that I have remained faithful
to it.
"I request your Majesty to believe in the sincerity of mi
sentiments ; and it is in such sentiments that I am, Sire
your Majesty's good friend,

4 ' NAPOLEON.'

REFUSAL OF THE CZAR.

It was rumoured yesterday in Paris that the intel-
ligence bad been received of the absolute refusal of the
Emperor of Russia to accept, receive, or listen to any
further propositions or offer of negotiations made by
France or England ; but it is stated that a telegraphic
despatch was received on Monday from General Castel-
bajac, with these words only, " I return with a refusal."
So that now there remains no other alternative for
France but to leave " to the fate of arms, and to the
hazards of war, what might be decided at present by
reason and justice."

We understand that it is perfectly true (as, indeed,
may be gathered from the letter itself) that the letter
was communicated to the English Government before
being transmitted to St. Petersburg ; but that it is not
true that the English Government expressed its appro-
bation of the document. It is stated,,from sources which
are entitled to all confidence, that the answer of the
English Government on the subject was that the letter
might be sent, if its being sent would give any satisfac-
tion to the Emperor Napoleon ; but that, so far from
their expecting any good result from such a communica-
tion, they considered it useless, inefficacious, and in-

opportune.
It appears that among other less important documents
already in type on Monday night at the office of the
Moniteur were circulars addressed to the Ambassador
and the consular agents in the Russian dominions, in-
tended for publication in the morning's impression, but
that an order was received at rather an advanced hour
to set them aside and print the letter of the Emperor.
A rumour prevails that a communication has been
made to the English and French Governments, by the
Vienna Cabinet, praying for a further delay, even under
the present , unfavourable circumstances, before an ap-
peal be made to arms. The reason alleged for the delay
demanded is, that the Cabinet of Vienna does not
yet despair of inducing the Emperor to accept reason-
able conditions.

In Paris all hope seems now at last abandoned, and
" war, war," is what is heard on all sides. All the
machinery of the Foreign-office is put in motion, and
many hands are employed in translating into the various
dialects of the East, circulars, manifestoes, and procla-
mations. Dragomans or interp.eters are abuut to be
engaged for the expeditionary army, and one will be
attached to each battalion.

In the circular addressed by M. de Kisseleff to the
Russian residents in Paris, previous to his departure,
there is nothing relative to confiscation of property in
case of their neglecting to return to Russia. It is in
substance as follows :—I hare to announce to you my
departure from Paris and the cessation of my functions
as Minister Plenipotentiary, in consequence of the rup-
ture of diplomatic relations between the two Govern-
ments of Russia and France. I recommend you to quit
the territory of this Empire within as short a term as
possible.

- The semi-official evening journal, the Patrie, publishes
the following, under the head latest news :
"We hasten to announce the prodigious impression
produced in Paris by the letter of his Majesty the Em-
peror Napoleon 111. to the Emperor of Russia. France
is described in language which reaches the highest eleva-
tion of national dignity and of the sentiments of justice.
"We wait the reply of the Czar. If our information
be exact, it has already reached the Government. We
are even assured that it has disappointed the hopes of
the friends of peace. In that case France will be com-
pelled to leave to the fate of arms that which might have
been decided by reason."

Private letters from Bucharest, of the sth, mention
that the Russians had not yet ventured to undertake
anything important against Kalafat ; and it is said to be
the opinion of the General commanding that an attack
on it would be attended with many serious difficulties.
The Journal de Oonstantinople publishes another
report from Omer Pacha on the affair of Citale, in which
he corrects his first statement respecting the loss of the
Russians. He has ascertained that he had much under
estimated it, and now states that the Russians had 4,000
killed and 4,000 wounded.
General Aurep, who commanded at Citale, has been
sent in disgrace to the rearguard of the Russian army
in the Caucasus. This fact proves to demonstration that
the Russians admit their defeat in that battle.
The Sultan's departure from Constantinople to Adrian-
opl• is fixed for the middle of March.
The Porte has contracted a loan with two bankers for
twenty millions of piastres, on account of the Servian
tribute, Lord de Redcliffe assisted in negotiating the
same.

On the 31st ult., the advanced guard of the 6th corps