The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-29 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1856.

•
We must again, even at the risk of repetition,
emphatically warn the people of Great Britain
against being betrayed into the supposition that,
because the Austrian Propositions have been
accepted by Russia " as a project of preliminaries
for negotiations for peace," that a definitive ar-
rangement—a satisfactory oue is impossible under
existing circumstances—must necessarily be ar-
rived at. There are many important questions
left in abeyance, and we fear that the vagueness
is not altogether undeeigned. It is obvious, how•
ever, that Russia has many lcopholes for evasions,
by which she can at any moment wriggle out of
her engagements, and greatly embitter the con-
troversy. The proceedings at the Vienna Con-
ferences should convince Ili that no acceptance of
conditions will be held binding, if at any moment
they sheuld,nppear to he opposed to her peculiar
interests. . The acceptation of the " Four Points"
was as " pure and as those of the Austrian
Propositions. They were indeed far more dis-
tinct and unequivocal, ,for they were not referred
to merely as " a project of preliminaries for ne-
gotiations for peace."
In the present instance the CZLR has even
more urgent reasons for temporising than existed
in January, 1855. There is a Russian lean on
the tapir, and the prospect of peace would obtain
a far better price for the stock than if " war to
the knife" had been proclaimed against the wishes
of the German Powers. She has also sustained
many serious reverses, and bean greatly exhausted
from her desperate and convulsive efforts to sweep
back the tide of strife from her soil. Anything
that could induce the Allied Powers to suspend
or even slacken their preparations would be of
immense advantage, especially as there would be
no corresponding relaxation on her side. During
the interval she could recruit her damaged finances,
and obtain the much-required supplies of the
wittrie/ of war. But, far beyond all, she could
endeavour to sow dissension and. difference be-
tween the Allies. We believe that the attempt
would be utterly fruitless, so far as the Weatern
Powers are concerned, and also that Sardinia
would pass through the ordeal sans pour et sans
reproche ; but there is a quasi ally, one who
uttered "prase ords at the pridge," but who has
rendered no aid to those for whom she professed
unbounded friendship. A plausible excuse is all
that is required to detach Austria, and the minor
satellites whose motions follow in her wake, from
their professed anxiety in favour of the Anti-
Muscovite cause. Pretended concessions on the
points where the interests of Germany are Con-
cerned, and the alleged intention of maintaining
these views, notwithstanding differences on other
points, will achieve the object of keeping Austria
quiet, and Making the German sword remain
glued to the scabbard. There are, also the in-
numerable chances that may spring out of the
chapter of accidents, from which the unscrupulous
diplomacy of Russia may derive valuable assist-
ance. They will be prepared to turn any and all
of these to the best advantage, and thus obtain
useful results from matters, Which to all otkers
must eventually turn out " stale, flat, and un-
profitable."

We have, however, fallen into the trap—have
perstaa,dei to p:2,7 a3alnst notoriew slurpars
with s'ogiod th " and "vrk