The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-07 00:00:00

THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE.

We extract the . following remarks from lettors
received this morning from Paris, and published
in a second edition by
( The Times.)

It is thought probable that by this time the ratifica-
tions of the treaty of the 2d Dec. will have been ex-
changed, and that in three or four days, perhaps
less, they will be published in the official journals of
the respective Governments who have signed it. la
the meantime two subjects particularly occupy the
public mind—the nature of the propositions which
Russia will be called upon by Austria to accept—and
the probability of her accepting them. If I may give
credit to the opinion expressed in quarters likely to
be informed on these matters—though the secret is as
yet well kept—these propositions are in fact the four
guarantees already demanded of Russia and refused,
viz., the liberty of the Black Sea—of the Danube—the
annulling of the treaties between Russia and the Porte,
and the joint protectorate by the five Powers of the non•
Mussulman subjects of the Porte. I cannot answer for
the correctness of the statement, but it is certain that
men experienced in these matters believe that this is all
—at all events, all of an important nature.
Supposing that estimate to be correct it may be
asked if there is a chance of their being accepted by
Russia ? Opinion is somewhat divided on the point,
but I think that it inclines to the affirmative. As to what
Austria thinks of the matter there does not seem much
doubt. We are assured rather confidently that had that
Power believed that Russia would not accept peace on the
conditions just mentioned she would not have signed the
treaty of the 2d, and that she has a moral certainty that
Russia will not refuse. The interviews between M, de
Buol and Prince Gortschakoff, though affording no proof
of the fact, are, nevertheless, considered as favourable
to that view of the question, and of Russia having been
made aware of all that was going on. If, however,
Austria should be disappointed in her expectations,
she will, when the term expires, on the Ist January, join
the Allies. It is believed that Prussia, also has the inti-
mate conviction that Russia will accept the propositions,
and indeed the same may be said of the other German
States. Of the Crimea, or Sebastopol, nothing is said ;
but it remains to be seen whether peace on the terms
above mentioned will satisfy the people of England and
France, after the tremendous sacrifices that have been
made.

( The Morning Chronicle.)

People have got so much into the habit of doubting thtt
good faith of Austria, and of discrediting the good will
which her statesmen have invariably professed in the
cause adopted by the Western Powers, that it is difficult
to get the public even now to believe that the Austrian
Emperor has entered into au alliance offensive and defen-
sive to coerce Russia, and to force the Czar to abandon
his ambitious projects. Yesterday and the day before
many were incredulous as to the fact, notwithstanding
the announcement in the Moniteur. To-day the news
is more generally believed, and the impression it makes
is most favourable.

According to some it will produce an almost imme-
diate settlement of the Eastern question, because the
Czar will now see the hopelessness. of the struggle.
According to others it will have no such effect, because
the question is a religious one, from which the Czar
cannot recede ; but all admit that if the war is to be
continued, it will be under circumstances much more
difficult than hitherto for Russia, now that Austria is
prepared to throw the weight of her 500,000 legionaries
into the scale against her.

The Russian -party here profess to make light of the
treaty. They contend that it must be a dead letter.
The treaty between Austria and the Western Powers
binds Austria to make war, but only in order to get the
four guarantees, which, though offered by Russia, Eng-
land and France now refuse to accept. They therefore
contend that as England and France will no longer be
contented with the four guarantees which Russia is wil-
ling to accord, Austria will never have occasion to draw
tilt. sword against Russia.

In a few Clays the precise terms of the treaty will be
known, and all discussion as to the real extent of the
obligations assumed by Austria will then be set at rest ;
but in the meantime it cannot be doubted that the con- I
elusion of the treaty is an affair of immense importance
to England and France. No doubt Russia, aided by
Prussia, will resume her intrigues to keep Austria for
some time longer neutral, but she can no longer stave
off the blow. The day is now fixed when she must either
do justice to England and France, or be prepared to
carry on the war, not only against them, but against
Austria also.

The Daily Nevis.
I have good reason to believe that the official publication
of the treaty with Austria will be delayed for some days
at the instance of the English Government,for the express
purposeof escaping the criticisms of the press on the text
before the meetingof Parliament. In the meantime lam
enabled, from a perfectly authentic source, to give you
the following particulars, which comprise, I believe, all
the principal points of the treaty. It is to become
eventually a treaty of alliance offensive and defensive.
Peace will be proposed to Russia by Austria on the
basis of the four points, interpreted as mentioned in the
treaty. If by January 1 or 2 (I am not sure which)
Russia shall not have accepted the four points so inter-
preted, Austria will recall her ambassador from St Peters-
burg, and if by March 2 the four points (or at least some
conditions satisfactory to the Western Powers based
upon the four points) shall not have been accepted
by Russia, then Austria will declare war. The inter-
pretation of the four points includes the throwing open
of the Black Sea, Russia not to be allowed to have a
larger number of vessels therein than France and Eng-
land. Six ships from each nation is, I believe, the stipu-
lated number. An European port is to be formed as a
counterpoise to Sebastopol, either at Batoira or at Sinope.
The liberty of the Danube is to be declared, and as a
guarantee for such liberty the town and fortress of
Ismael and all the Russian forts near the mouth of the
Danube are to be destroyed. The protectorate of the
Christians (subjects of the Sultan in Turkey) is to be
exercised collectively by the Five Powers. Each power
will have the right to protect separately its own subjects
of its own religion, but not the subjects of the Sultan.
Should Austria be compelled on March 2 to declare
war she will enter with all her forces into Bessa-
rabia, and will send 20,000 men to the Crimea. I am
also told, but of this I am not so certain as of what pre-
cedes, that the two Western Powers undertake to main-
tain Austria in the integrity of her dominions. There
is very little chance that the Emperor of Russia will
accept these terms. It must be owned that they are
much better than it was expected Austria would assent
to. Action, however, on the part of Austria is yet
quite another thing.