The Sun.
London, England, 1840-08-07 00:00:00

for the impression so studiously endeavoured a be
spread through the public mind in England, that Franca
entertains hostile feelings towards the Powers engaged
is Eln•se rragenient a ; an I I trust and belies e that
the momentary difference of opinion between us is
not likely to lead to any untoward results. France is
a great and powerful nation. France has great inte-
rests of her own. France is governed by men who
are mach too wise and too enlightened to be led
rashly and wantonly, and without provocation, to
disturb the peace of Europe ; and I am con-
seicus that there has not entered into the minds
of the people the slightest feeling of hostility—
they are conscious that England is desirous
nf making common cause with her, and 'altogether
I h ive good reasons for saying that I by
no m ans parti ipate in the apprehensions of the
Hon. Member for Kilkenny. The objects, means, and
motives of Great Britain have been explicitly stated
to France, and I believe that my Hon. Friends and
myself have satisfied that country as to the enlightened
n ,cure of our views. The course we have thought
A our duty to pursue is, in my opinioe, the best
calculated to prevent the unfortunate events that have
lately taken place in the Levant becoming seriously in-
jurious to the general peace of Europe.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. LEADER thought the House and the country
were much indebted to the Hon. Member for Kilkenny
for having elicited the statement they Lad just heard
from the Noble Lord ; but he believed that there was
a very strong and hostile feeling in Franca that they
had been betrayed and insulted by the other Exropean
rowers on the Eastern question. He understood that
there was a want of official courtesy in these negotia-
tions towards France, and that the French Representa-
tive was not apprised of the day when the treaty was to
be signed, so as to give the opportunity of arguing it
ort the last hour, or of urging reasons for a further
delay. Now that, in his opinion, ought to
tve been done ; it had natural:, egeited unpleasant
feelings among the people of that country, and these
feelings were directed entirely against Great Britain,
The French conceived there was something like tree.
chary in their giving up the alliance with that country,
and ji,inin,g the other despotic Powers against her.
Nothing could compensate fk r a b:e ey tekiag place
between England and France ; for so long as they re-
mained united, the peace of Europe could not be dis-
turbed.—( Hear, hear.) He would, in conclusion, say
on behalf of the English nation, that there was
no feeling whatever of hostility towaids France.
The English people were too deeply impressed
with the advantages and importance of maintaining
heir friendly relations with France—( Hear, heap)—
and he trusted that nothing would ever occur to disturb
the union between these two countries. He hoped the
Noble Lord would assure the House that no affront,
such as he had stated, had been put upon the French
nation.

Lord PALMERSTON—France has been re-
peatedly told that it was the desire of the other Four
Powers that she should be associated with them in any
Convention that might be entertained for the pacifi-
cation of Turkey and Egypt.--(Hear.) It was fur-
ther stated, that if France did not agree with them
they would be obliged to act without her.—(Hear,
hear.) Plans were proposed by the various Powers
(including France) and these were one by one re-
jected, and it is only after negotiations have been
going on for three months that the present Conven-
tion has been agreed upon. When the draft of the
Convention was submitted to France, she dis-
tinctly seated that she could not agree to it.
The Four Powers then determined that they would
cr. ry their own arrangement into effect. If the Four
Powers in said to France, "We are now going to do
this without you, unless you will now accede," it would
have been looked upon as a threat—it would have
been, in fact, an insult to France, to suppose that she
would recede from an opinion deliberately expressed.—
(Hear, hear.) The same course has been pursued
in this instance that was pursued by France and
England with regard to the dissentient Powers in the
affair of IlAgium.—(Cheers.)
Mr. LEADER did not of course wish for anything
in the shape of a threat to have been held out to
France, but he regretted that she had not been made
acquainted with signing the Convention.
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