The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-05 00:00:00

AUSTRIA AND THE WESTERN

POIVERS.

The Austrian Treaty is for the moment the great
theme of politicians and merchants—in clubs and on
'Change. As the terms of the Treaty cannot be deco-
rously made public until it has been ratified, a wide field
is left for speculation. Men's conclusions, es usual, take
a colour from their tempers and wishes. The sanguine
are confident that the Treaty will prove all that can be
desired ; the despondent shake their heads. Cautious
dealers, who cherish an aversion to war risks, prophesy
peace ; ardent friends of liberty, who cannot get rid of
their distrust of Austria, anticipate fresh complications
and a prolonged struggle. Each man catches at the
rumour of the hour that has the appearance of corrobo-
rating his own views. One reminds his hearers that the
Czar has declared himself willing to treat on the basis of
the four points ; forthwith another strikes in and affirms
that the Czar has retracted this consent since he heard
that Austria and Prussia have come to an understand-
ing. One tells exultingly how the Turkish army in
Moldavia and the Dobrudscha is advancing, with the
consent of Austria, upon Bessarabia ; another asks,
with a meaning look, whether Prince Gortcbakoff has
demanded his passports at Vienna ? All is uncertainty,
all is conjecture.

Amid the dark mist that rests upon the immediate
future, and staid all these gusts of contradictory ru-
mour, there is one infallible guide for the Allied Powers.
It is an old and true maxim, that the best and shortest
way to obtain peace is to carry on vigorously the war in
which we may be engaged. This is especially true when
we have to contend with each an adversary as Russia.
The ambitious designs of that Power have not been con- '
calved yesterday ; they are an heirloom haneed down
through many generations. They have been at times
apparently relinquished, but only to be resumed on the
first favourable occasion. The hypocrisy of the Rus-
sian Cabinet is proverbial ; words— oaths coat it nothing.
The Western Powers ought to pay no attention to its
ioffers to treat through the intervention of third

parties ; when a Government wishes honestly to nego
tiate it applies directly to the principals. Again, the
Western Powers ought to listen to no terms pro-
poended by Russia short of material guarantees that it
will never again encroach upon the domains of Western
Europe. Until such security is offered by Russia—
until Russia urgently implores for peace on any terms—
the war ought to be prosecuted with relentless energy.
Any overtures or proffers short of this are only made to
gain time, that Russia may recover breath and recruit
its exhausted powers.
As for the Austrian treaty it will be well not to build
too much upon it, until the actions of Austria prove the
sincerity of its promises. We hope that Austria may
prove true ; but it is not safe to act upon mere hopes.
Treaties are all very well when honestly acted upon ; but
treaties have been broken ere now. In the beginning of
the present century a treaty was concluded with the
then King of Prussia by the British Government. The
King of Prussia bound himself, in return for a subsidy
to be paid by Great Britain, to bring a certain number
of troops into the field against the French. The King
of Prussia pocketed the first instalment of his subsidy,
and broke the treaty before the ink with which he signed
it was dry. We do not mean to infer that Austria will
do the same new. We only recal to memory how
solemn treaties have been sported with by Governments
in former times, as a warning not to repose too much
confidence on such compacts. When a private indivi-
dual signs a bond, the courts of law will give judgment
against him if he do not fulfil his obligation, and the
sheriff's officers will carry the judgment into execution.
But in what court of law can we iinplead a powerful
Government ? And what sheriff's officers will enforce
Judgment upon it ? Again, if a private individual forfeit
his word, he is " sent to Coventry ;" but the perjuries
of Governments are judged by a more lax code of
morals. It is not meant to be denied that a good deal has
been gaisaed by prevailing upon the Austrian Government
to commit itself in black and white ; but let France and
England beware of relying so far upon this complaisance
of the Cabinet of Vienna as to intermit for one moment
their military exertions.
That Russia has gone so far as to affect a willingness
to negotiate is owing solely to the defeats it has experi-
enced on the Danub and in the Crimea. That Austria
has drawn closer to the Western Powers is owing solely
to the triumphant heroism displayed by the French and
English soldiers on the Alma, and at Balaklava and
Inkerinann. The impressions which Russia and Austria
have received must be maintained by the same means
that made them. The Cabinet at St, Petersburg has
more confidence in its talent for negotiating than in its
talent for conducting a war. The Cabinet at Vienna
will be all the more disposed to keep on friendly terms
with France and England if it sees that these Powers
are confident in their ability to accomplish their objects
, without its aid.
Entertaining these views, it is with satisfaction
that we hail every indication that they are also en-
tertained by our own Government. There are many
symptoms which show that Ministers anticipate a pro-
longed and arduous contest. We do not lay so much
stress as some do on the measure relating to the militia
which they intend to submit to the Legislature ; for
an Act of Parliament can be got at little expense,
and is not in the way, even should it prove to have
been uncalled for. But Ministers would scarcely
have sanctioned the construction of a railway in the
Crimea, if they Lad not been certain that it will be
needed. They would not have gone to the expense they
are incurring for winter habitations for our soldiers in
the Crimea, had they not been resolute to wrest that
province from Russia. We read daily of wooden houses
shipped for the Crimea we mentioned yesterday the
efforts that are being made to procure them from Galli-
poli, Sinope, and Trebizond. We have since learned
that Lord Westmoreland has been instructed to ascer-
tain the cost price charged for such structures by a large
contractor in Istria, and what means of transport exist
for conveying them to a shipping port. In connexion
with these indications we may mention that Messrs.
Peto and Co. are confident that a heavy siege gun will
be conveyed by their railway from Balaklava to the
trenches in seven minutes. As for the wooden houses,
doubts have been expressed as to whether they can
afford sufficient shelter for the climate ; but such doubts
Nareorgwraoy, andund of ourless,fort ownhepe Canada,asantsof N
find woodenorthern housesßussiaand
sufficient for their purpose. In the provisions now
making by Government for the reductionius of
thoroughly
we read their conviction thas Russia Lt bo h
bumbled, however protracted or arduous the struggle
may be ; and in this conviction on their part we think
we see the means of ensuring the good faith of Austria,
and the ultimate triumph of the cause of national hide-
pendence.—Daily [Yeas.