The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-24 00:00:00

THE BLACK SEA.

The answer given by the Russian Admiral to
the Captain of the Retribution, who conveyed the
message from the English and French Admirals to
Sebastopol, is said to have been very laconic, and
otherwise such as might be expected from an officer
under such circumstances, namely, that he had no
orders to receive from a French or English Admi-
ral, and that he should leave Sebastopol, or remain
in it, according to the orders he received from the
Emperor, or his immediate superiors. It appears
that the Arch-Duke Constantine was at Sebas-
topol at the time, and when he heard of the mes-
sage delivered by the English captain flew into a
passion, and declared that he would instantly give
orders for the fleet to go to sea, let what would
happen. • If the menace be carried into effect it is
not improbable that a collision has by this time
taken place.

NEW PROPOSAL FOR TERMINATING THE
WAR.

A long and elaborate article from the pen of M.
Granier de Cassagnac, on the Eastern question,
which appeared in the Constitutionnel of Saturday,
is said to have been written by order from the
highest quarter. The article, though able, is
considered as extremely imprudent in the present
circumstances, and as tending still further to com-
plicate affairs. The plan proposed by M. Granier
de Cassagnac to bring the war between Russia
and Turkey to a conclusion, and to obtain a prompt
and sure peace, is by means of a treaty of alliance
between the four Powers for an active policy
against Russia, which would of necessity put an
end to all hope on the part of the Emperor of
Russia of being able to effect by war the objects of
inordinate ambition. The plan is, no doubt, a
good one, if it could be carried out with the cor-
dial assent of all the Powers ; but the writer ad-
mits that there are difficulties as to Austria and
Prussia, and he proposes to get rid of them, by
forcing these two Powers to abandon their preten-
ded neutrality, and calling upon them to take part
either on one side or the other. M. Granier de
Cassagnac seems to think that, as Austria and
Prussia have a vital interest in adopting the policy,
of England and France, and as the neutrality which
they proclaim is a violation of the treaty for the
protection of Turkey to which they were parties,
they would, if forced to take either the one side or
the other, eventually join the other Powers against
Russia. On this point, however, there are different
opinions, and most people believe that Austria, at
all events, if not allowed to remain neutrul, would
take part with the Czar, notwithstanding the
evident interest she has in preventing Russia from
extending her possessions on either side of the
Danube. In short, it is thought that any attempt
to force Austria out of her neutrality would con-
duct us to a general war. M. Granier de Cassag-
nac seems, however, to think differently. He
says :

" The demonstrated impuissance either of a local inter-
♦ention or of diplomacy to bring a!)out peace promptly,
and the imperative necessity of sparing the security of
States and their finances the hazards and ruinous con-
sequences of a war, long, useless, and full of peril for
all, authorise France and England in expecting from
Austria and Prussia, counselled by their interests and
dignity, a more efficacious co-operation, if graver cir-
cumstances should render it necessary. A treaty of
alliance signed with this object, would be immediate
peace—peace without a shock—peace without the sacri-
fice of thousands of men—peace without the loss of
enormous sums which are necessary to the development
of agriculture and commerce. Austria and Prussia
would have no good reason to give for refusing a treaty,
They have the same obligations as France and England,
having, like them, recognised the independence of
Turkey. Great and loyal nations never elude such en-
gagements, which are the basis of common security.
All pacific means exhausted, arms must be had recourse
to. Now, it is better to prevent war than to check it
in its course, and to render revolutionary events impos-
sible than to repress them. What could be more honest,
more full of sense, more humane, and more Christian,
than such an alliance, having for its object to maintain
the peace of the world, to prevent the effusion of blood,
and to submit to the eminently equitable appreciation
of all the European Powers the grievances which the
Czar may have against Turkey ? To whom would such
a measure not be advantageous ? What is the nation
which would not find itself relieved in the present and
reassured for the future ? Such, in our opinion, is the
way of effecting a prompt and certain peace. This plan
is so reasonable and so just, it would so evidently obtain
the approbation of all nations, that Austria and Prussia,
when the necessity of such an alliance shall become
flagrant, cannot reasonably refuse it to a common de-
mand of France and England."