The Sun.
London, England, 1847-08-30 00:00:00

elltrtilT„ll 21M

LON )')N, MONDAY. AUGUST 30, 1847.

The intestine dissensions which have so long im-
peded the commerce of the world with the richest
territories of South America, have hitherto survived
the ingenious proposals of reconciliation tendered to
the belligerents by the Plenipotentiaries of France and
England. So long as Lord ABERDEEN remained in
authority we were by no means amazed at these pro-
tracted negotiations. They were the natural conse-
quences of an effete administrator. We not only
comprehended that the pacification of parties in the
Argentine Republic would continue to be a chimerical
aspiration until the dismissal or retirement of Lord
ABERDEEN, but we recognised, as the inevitable effects
of his policy, the further complication of difficulties
which were already in a state of inextricable
entanglement. What, in truth, we would ask,
are the fruits recorded in the correspondence re-
ceived during the past fifteen months from the
blockading squadron at the mouth of the River ,
Plate ? They are simply and explicitly these :
The citizens of Monte Video were involved in dilem-
mas, and subject to extortions, and threatened with
continual ill-treatment by the haughty and avaricious
possessors of land in La Plata. For the protection
of the natural rights of these citizens, for the enforce-
ment of the conditions comprised in the treaties of
Brazil and Buenos Ayres, and for the guardianship
and facilitation of their own commercial transactions
in the western hemisphere, the Governments of
France and England endeavoured conjointly to bring
these matters to a pacific settlement—to reconcile the
antagonists by the persuasion of plenipotentiaries, or
tc, awe them into quiescence by the presence
of our armaments. Those were the inten-
tions of the Cabinets of St. James's and
the Tuileries—those were the impediments they had
to encounter and the animosities they had to dis-
si?ate—those were the means selected by them for
the tranquillisation of the distracted districts of South
America. That their negotiations have heretofore
been altogether ineffectual, and that their intervention
has proved a most expensive nullity, is become by this
time tolerably—or rather intolerably—notorious: But
it would appear, moreover, that the combined inter-
ference of France and England has not only been
fruitless and costly, as far as they themselves are con-
cerned, but that it has tended, in no inconsiderable
manner, to enrich those who have been most culpable
tbrou4hout.

Since the Earl of ABERDEEN was first cajoled into
the nominal blockade of Buenos Ayres the revenues
-of the most troublesome authorities in the republics
have been marvellously enhanced by the receipt of
tolls fur the importation and exportation of mer-
chandise and provisions. The customs have flourished
in the midst of the unnatural heat engendered by
civic commotions and of a hypothetical blockade.
Our naval and diplomatic representatives, therefore,
have been unconsciously affording the sinews of war
to the very individuals who first originated, and
have since sustained, these deplorable dissensions.
Happily, an abrupt and extraordinary change has
recently taken place in the position of affairs in the
Rio de Id Hata. By the intelligence received
through her MAJESTY'S steamer Rattler, it would
appear that the British blockade of the River Plate has
at last been raised ! After General ORIBE had, with a
few modifications of his own suggestion, consented to
the terms of an armistice offered by the Ministers of
France and England, it seems that those terms were
rejected by the Government of Monte Video, from
the superior advantages of a pecuniary character
afforded by the compulsory tolls levied upon mer-
chandise. Immediately this declaration was commu-
nicated to Lord HOWDEN, that Noble Lord em-
powered Mr. HOOD to inform the British merchants
and others resident in that city, that Sir THOMAS
HERBERT had received instructions to raise
the blockade without further hesitation. This
we take it, is tantamount to the official
presentation of a kettle of fish to the belli-
gerents. By refusing the armistice they will
find themselves again face to face, with their muskets
cocked, their swords drawn,
id their bayonets
fixed. They have provoked the crisis themselves,
and will now have to fight the matter
out tooth an d
nail. Hitherto they have been quelled into
sullen tranquillity by the presence of the Praenchndanodf
British along their shores. Now, however, that the
blockade is raised, and the farmed peacemakers have
withdrawn, the Orientals and Argentines can cut
each other's throats to their heart's content. Little,
possibly, did the authorities of Monte Video reflect
that, in striving to dip their hands up to the wrists in
gold, they would only be enabling themselves to
dip their arms up to the elbows in blood. That a
sanguinary encounter between the opposing races
will be the immediate consequence of our neutrality
is almost inevitable. The passions of these tropical
_gentlemen having been infuriated by delays, and
their poniards having been whetted upon the hone
of expectation, it is improbable but that the havoc will
be something frightful, now that they find themselves
at liberty to indulge their little propensities for
cutting and thrusting.

It is earnestly to le hoped that in the butcheries
which must ensue the least unrighteous parties
may prove the conquerors, and that their
successes may be as speedy as they are decisive.
Under any circumstances, it must be a
source of congratulation to ourselves, that British
lives have not been rashly sacrificed in the interrni-
nab'e cabals of a worthless population. British money
has been expended with i lavish frivolity in nego-

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