The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-21 00:00:00

this house, and I only touch upon these circumstances at
all that my statement may be complete. He arrives at
'Constantinople. I need say nothing about the despatch of
Colonel Rose, one of most able and most ill-used of public
men. (Hear, hear, from the Opposition.) What does
Colonel Rose tell you ? He tells you of the arrogant bear-
ing of the Rassian Minister—he tells you of the secret
-threats of the Porte—he tells you that a Turkish secretary
of state has been ignominiously expelled—he tells you that
the Prime Minister threatens to resign, and that the Grand
Vizier sends for him (Colonel Rose), and informs him
that the independence of Turkey is at stake. He himself
'expresses in his despatch that the circumstances are most
exigent, and that unless some step is taken, he can no
longer answer for the independence of Turkey or for the
haleness of power. (Hear, hear.) He tells you all this. I
hardly stop to criticise these important circumstances ;
and if Ido stop at all, it is only to answer an argument
which has been urged in this house, and also in the other
House of Parliament, viz., that Colonel Rose, when he
demanded that our fleet should be sent to the Greek
waters, was precipitate in making that request, because
he afterwards acknowledged that the arrival of the fleet
was unnecessary. But it seems to be forgotten that it was
notorious, not only at Constantinople but at Paris, that
Colonel Rose had sent for the fleet; and that an alteration
in the tone of the Russian envoy was occasioned by this
announcement. (Hear, hear.) That was the naturaaldino-
ference ; and whilst Iwill never quote from a p
rity in this house, althoughin this casel possessri the highest-
yet I say that this was the fact. Well, you had these des-
patches of Colonel Rose, and not only these despatches,
but you had on the the 19th of March (when Colonel
Rose was writing) Sir H. Seymour--not _a man who
.
is distinguished by his want of confidence Russia -not a
man who would be eager to describe the conduct of Count
Nesselrode as fraudulent—and I should say as great a dip-
lomatist as probably ever flourished at a northern court—
how does he write? Before I presume to read an extract,
I beg the house to believe me that it is not merely for cri-
tical observation that I for a moment entreat their atten-
tion to this despatch--I have an object in so doing—I have
a result to offer to the house, upon the merits of which the
house will decide; but I cannot fairly. put it before the
justice in the investigation with-
house with any regard to
out „furring to this document. Well, how does Sir H.
Seymour write ? While Colonel Rose was despatching by
every means and every opportunity the most agitated mis-
sives that were ever sent by a diplomatist, on the 19th
March Sir H. Seymour says, that he asked Count Nessel-
rode, "What credit was to be attached to the rumours,
which reached me from so many quarters, as to military
preparations in the course of being made?" Count Nessel-
rode answers, that he believed he might state that I had
not been correctly informed. Sir H. Seymour then in-
quires, " Does your excellency authorise me to assert that
you are not arming, or am I only to report that you be-
lieve you are not arming?" (Laughter.) Count Nessel-
rode replies, "I will not assert, but I have reason to be-
lieve—(renewed laughter)—that the tendency is rather to
slacken than to urge on military preparation." Sir H.
Seymour then says, "I apprehend this relaxation of pie-
, partition to allude to the order for the purchase of horses,
which has been rescinded." Well, after all this—after all
the despatches of Colonel Rose—after this despatch from
Sir H. Seymour, which I have just read, what is the tone
of' the new Secretary of State? What is the tone of the
statesman who drew up the instructions to Lord Strat-
ford? What effect is produced upon him by all that he
• read and all that he hoard ?On the 22d (of March) he
writes to Lord Cowley, and of course reports to that able
man, in nearer contiguity with him, his impression. He
says, " I had yesterday a long interview with Count
liralewaki upon the events that have recently taken place
at Constantinople." Let the house remember what those
events were—the Turkish Ministry expelled, and the Grand
Vizier announcing that the independence of his country is
at stake, secret intimations that treaties would be demanded
that would destroy Turkey— the personal explanation of
Colonel Rose that even the balance of power was at stake—
and the despatch of Sir H. L'eymour, showing how un-
satisfactory was his communication with Count Nessel-
rode. Lord Clarendon gave this as his private, but calm
and dispassionate summary of all that had occurred to
Lord Cowley at Paris " When the intelligence from Con-
stantinople was analysed, and divested of the colouring
imparted to it by local excitement, there was but one fact
to deal with." What was that ? Was it the armament of
Russia ? No ; that " Prince Menschikoff lied declined to
hold official intercourse with Fuad. Eireudi the Turkish
Minister. Lord Clarendon says he had informed Count
Walewski that Fusel EXereli had resigned, " but Prince
Menschikoff had not required this, and he had declared
that no disrespect was intended to the Sultan by the omis-
sion of the customary visit to his minister." This is the
summary of Lord Clarendon of all these events. Lord
Clarendon not only denounces, I must say, the order of li
Col. RO3O for advancing the British fleet, but he absolutely
expresses himself glad that Admiral Dundas had not obeyed
him, and even regrets the order given to the French admi-
ral to proceed to the Greek waters, treating France with
this sententious dogma that certainly will not soon be for-
gotten, or which will last at least as long as the war, viz.,
that "a policy of suspicion was neither wise nor safe."
Lord Clarendon adds, and it is of great importance to notice
it, that "her Majesty's Government were disposed to place re-
hence on the Emperor of Russia's solemn assurances to up-
hold the Turkish empire ; " and that he was " bound to
believe that the mission of Prince Menschikoff was not of a
character menacing to the independence and integrity of
Turkey." Now, I must again remind the house that we
have no evidence, so far as I can recollect, in the state papers
on the table, of these personal assurances of the Emperor.
I do not say that it may not be most discreet and wise on
the part of the Government not to give us the despatches
in which these assurances are made, but in the absence of
the documents we are bound to speculate on what may be
their possible character; and judging from all the antece-
dents in our position, it is quite possible that the Emperor
of Russia may have said to air H. Seymour—as, I believe,
he has said to great personages in this country and in other
countries—that nothing would induce him to take any step
to destroy the independence and integrity of the Ottoman
empire ; that he sought no territorial aggrandisements ;
and that that was a policy which he wasperfectly ready to
maintain. All this is perfectly consistent with everything
which has, up to this period, occurred on the part of Rus-
sia, and respecting which our Government asked no ex-
planation. Now, I cannot presume to apologise for react-
ing the language of a Minister of State on a subject of this
importance, because, if I make the statement from mere
recollection, I shall be told in the debate that I have given
a false colour to or have garbled a despatch. I have quoted
nothing front these despatches but to illustrate one idea.
Now, what does Lord Clarendon write to our ambassador
at Constantinople at the same time, " that our Govern-
ment feels no alarm at the reports of Colonel Rose—that
we feel quite secure that the objects of Prince Menschis
koff's mission, whatever they may be" (so that therefore,
at this period, the Ministry had no description by Russia
of what those objects were; but Lord Clarendon says)—
"The objects of Prince Menschikoff, whatever they may
be, do not expose the authority of the Sultan, or the in-
, tegrity of his dominions; so far from thinking that Tur-
key has anything to apprehend" (and he goes out of his
way to accuse our only solitary ally in Europe, and says)
" oar only grounds for apprehending embarrassment is the
position which has been for some time ocdupied by France
with respect to the holy places, a question really settled."
Well, I am not surprised when I trace the policy of
her Majesty's Government as indicated through all
their despatches up to this moment, that Count Nes-
selrode should have told our minister at St. Pe-
tersburg, that he looked very hopefully to a peaceable solu-
tion of this question ; and the hon. gentleman who intro-
duced this discussion—and, I must say, in a speech which
did not disappoint the expectations of the house (cheers)--
who was quite entitled to introduce the subject, not only
from his former connection with the embassy at Constan-
tinople, but from the great ability that he has shown on
other subjects, and his general knowledge of the East—
the hon. member for Aylesbury (Mr. Layard) very properly
touched upon that very extraordinary despatch, which, at
this time, came from St. Petersburg, in which we are in-
formed that the Emperor of Russia is grateful for the salu-
tary impulse given to the policy of this country by the
accession of Lord Aberdeen and Lord Clarendon to office.
(Hear.) In that despatch the hon. gentleman reminded
us that we are told that the Emperor of Russia was grate-
ful to Lord Aberdeen for that renewed instance of his
confidence—(hear, hear)—and the hon. gentleman quoted
, a phrase which amused the house, and I believe has some-
what diverted the country—namely, what was happy irony
when Count Nesselrode complimented Lord Aberdeen on
the bold Hie ho was playing (Laughter.) But I think that
the hon. member for Aylesbury Made a great mistake in
that quotation, which was somewhat short if I remember
right. The first minister of the country is complimented by
Count Nesselrode, not merely on the new and boll rule he
is playing, but that bold rdle is defined ; and what is that
definition l—namely, that he has left France ieole. (Hear,
hear.) Now, sir, I will refer very slightlyto therestofthose
despatches ; but it is absolutely necessary, I think, in justice
to the Government as well as to the point which I wish to
impress upon the house, and at which I am now rapidly ar-
riving, that I should not leave out several passages,because
I do not wish to be told hereafter that I stated the case
unfairly. On the Ist of April Colonel Rose informed the
country of the secret invention which Prince Menschikoff
proposed. Colonel Rose had not been looked upon as an
authority ; but there was a timely vindication of the
discrimination and sagacity of Colonelßose, because in ten
days afterwards, on the 11th of April, Lord Stratford arrives
at Constantinople, and confirms everything that Colonel
Rose stated, not in that original despatch, but in the des-
patch of the let of April, in which he gives a minute ac-
count of the secret convention proposed by Russia. (Hear,
bear.) 'should suppose that an incident that was confirmed
by Lord Stratford would have opened the eyes of those who
talk so much of Russian duplicity, but who seem to have
forgotten that there may be an English quality of an op-
posite character. (Laughter.) Yet after this, the Earl
of Clarendon writes thus—after all the information from
Colonel Rose is confirmed by the highest authority, Lord
Stratford—after Lord Stratford has announced that Rus-
sia is trying to obtain a secret convention from Turkey
which would destroy its independenoe, Lord Clarendon
motes to Sir George Seymour, May tint 16th : "That her
4▪ Laiesty' Government being compelled either to think
th a prince
zeMenschikoff had exceeded his instructions, or
to doubtt
entertain th assurances they had received, they did not
e latter alternative." Now, when Lord Cla-
s,rlideorlalisi
atreesduces the question of an alternative, he says,
the frank ja
tys Government have felt the advantage of
of Rnsmia,,,nd friendly explanations offered by the Emperor
3,711,'1
icb never have been seen by the House of
Commons,
prehensions which enabled them to disregard the ap-
coupled with the the proceedings of Prince Menschikoff,
gitary preparations, had not unnatu-
rally produced.
Mensehikoff leaves ear, hear.) Immediately after, Prince
Constantinople ; and on June the Bth
Count .Nesselrode, a
nd9patch to Baron Brunow, to be
delivered to Lord Clarendon,
NoVip, announced the occupation of
the principalities. s will not refer to that despatch,
because I think that ev a:VI:2r is familiar with it,
and if they look to it they
the argument I am about to offers the bearing of it on
de-
spatch proves—if the view of the ore I say that that de-
'violence and perfidy—violence again Government be right—
announces that, because Turkey has' Turkey,ne because it
to its dictation in a course which Tarke
y b:illensen to yield
its independence, Russia had resolved to lisle es
menaces
force—(hear);—and perfidy, because, according to the • to
of the Government, Count Nesselrode had, up to thateview
mo-
ment, been, deceiving them. (Hear, hear.) with
re
d
to the latter point, what does be say in the despatch?
9
He says that, from th© very first he had comninnicated to
the Government of England his intentions with regard to
Turkey. (Hoar, bear.) When the Russian army occu.
pies the provinces, the Russian Minister declares that his
Sovereign has remained faithful to his declaration to the
English Government, and that be did not,
oe conceal front
them that the time might come when
would be
obliged to have recourse to arms. He compliments the
English Government on the friendly disposition it
has shown, blaming France. and throwing the blame
all
men in the
s
of Prince Mensehikoff's failure, of
world, on Lord Stratford. (Hear, hear.) We want to
have this declaration of the Emperor of Russia ; we want
more than the declaration of the Emperor of Russia—we
want the despatch. We want the evidence of this ear's,
declaration from Count Nesselrode to the English Govern-
ment, of the whole intentions and policy of his country.