The Sun.
London, England, 1856-02-01 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON,

cessation of hostilities. Austria undertook to ascertain and
make known to the Cabinet of St. Petersburg the termson
which the Allies would consent to terminate hostilities,
and I must do Austria the justice to say that from the first
she admitted the necessity that the terms of peace should
be clear and precise, in order to do away with, as far as
possible, any lengthened negotiations, and arrive at an early
and successful issue—(hear)—above all, to get rid of a re-
petition of those misunderstandings which, on a former oc-
casion, placed Austria in a painful position. The Govern-
ment of the country did not think it their duty to refuse the
offer of Austria, however confident they might have been
that another campaign would have added, if it had been
suggested, to the military fame of England—(hear)—but
such anticipations I consider unjustifiable for the prolonga-
tion of the war beyond the objects for which it was under-
taken. (Cheers.) Notwithstanding the spirit that animates
the people of this country, I believe that the sound judg-
ment and reason which characterise the people of this coun-
try will approve of the course that has now been taken.
(Hear.) It was the original offer of Austria to communi-
cate these terms to Russia on her own responsibility, but of
course it was necessary before they could be signed that the
allies should see them. No intention, I assure your lord-
ships, of disrespect was entertained towards Sardinia and
Turkey by omitting them from her Majesty's Speech ; and
I can only assure your lordships that her Majesty and her
Majesty's Government are sensible of the courage and bra.
very Sardinia has embarked and shown in the contest, and
the manner in which she has carried out all her engagements.
(Cheers.) It was but simply necessary for her Majesty to
declare in her speech that, in concert with her allies, she
had thought it her duty to enter on negotiations of peace.
Austria, however, has now become a party to those terms
which she has made herself responsible for, and she had
entered into an engagement to break her diplomatic rela-
tions with Prussia if she rejected them; and that she
would afterwards consort with the allies as to the best
means of coercing Russia. (Hear, hear.) The terms were
sent by Austria to the Cabinet of St. Petersburg for her
simple answer "yea'' or "nay," forbidding at the same
time any discussion of them, or admitting any modification
of them or the reception of any counter-proposition what-
ever. (Cheers.) Russia, however, remitted her answer not
as requested by Austria, but with modifications ; on which
Austria, true to her engagements with the allies, informed
the Russian minister at Vienna that unless an answer—a
pure, categorical answer—was returned to the propositions
by a certain period, she would withdraw her minister from
St. Petersburg, and the passports sent to the Russian lega-
tion at Vienna. (Hear.) This was communicated by Prince
Gortschakoff to the Russian Government, on which the
answer, pure and simple, was sent by telegraph, and the
despatches received on the 21th inst. That circumstance
was communicated to the Government the day before yes-
terday, and the plan proposed to be adopted is that the
terms whim have been accepted by Russia shall be agreed
to by the representatives of the allies at Vienna, who will
sign short protocols agreeing to the preliminaries of peace,
which latter will be signed at Paris. That 'an armistice
shall be agreed on, and the negotiations of the new treaty
acted on. -These protocols may be signed even by the time
our instructions have been sent over for its being done. I
shall not now interfere with the terms proposed, nor do I
think it right to discuss what should be the duration or
form of an armistice ; but I must take this opportunity of
saying that I agree with my noble friend that it should bo
of as short duration as possible. (Cheers.) I have now in-
formed your lordship; of the present state of affairs' and
great doubts and anxieties must of course be felt as to the
result. It was impossible to deny that a doubt was felt as
to the sincerity with which Russia may have accepted these
colditione ; the readiness with which she has accepted
them, and the manner in which she proceeded last year,
after purely and simply accepting the terms of peace, have
increased that doubt. (Hear.) It was impossible to dive
into the thoughts and analyse the mind of Russia; but it
was to be hoped that she was now sincere. You are aware
of the failure that has attended the subtle diplomacy of
Russia, and it would be to the interest of that country to
treat on safer grounds. Russia desires peace, and I think
the Emperor of Russia has shown a moral courage in accept-
ing these terms, which I have reason to believe are distaste-
ful to the war party in Russia; and I hope he will continue
to exhibit the same moral courage, and not permit any at-
tempt of evasion, but maintain it to the letter and in spirit.
Should this fortunately he the case. I think we have
a speedy prospect of obtaining that which has been
throughout the object of the war —a safe and honourable
peace. (Cheers.) And by that I mean, that a peace which
degrades and dishonours Russia will not be a safe one.
But I think, however, that Russia has accepted conditions
that will cast no stain on her honour, and Russia must be
aware that the coercive policy imposed on her has arisen
from the cause of alarm and irritation she has given to
Europe, which has now been arrested, and on which ac-
count it is that she has been required, and has consented
to give guarantees for her maintaining in future the in-
tegrity of Turkey. Your lordships are probably aware
that we are accused of insincerity in having accepted these
terms of peace, that although we have accepted them we
still intend to continue the war, because we want more
military glory, and that another campaign would be pro-
ductive of so much military renown as would compensate
for the sacrifice of human life that had been made in the
course of the present war. (Hear, hear.) I mention these
reports because they have been lately circulated and gene-
rally believed, in order to give them an unqualified contra-
diction. (Cheers.) However much we may be aware of
the spirit that animates the country, and however much
it, might be regretted that the vast preparations which
have been made and are now making, and of which we
have no example in this country, should not be turned to
account, and redound to the military fame of England,
yet I am convinced that the number of such persons will I
decrease rapidly, provided we get the full measure of the
conditions of peace. (Hear.) From whatever quarter,
however, a departure took place from the full carrying out
the conditions of peace which we have a right to expect, I
feel the people of England will not consider any saeritiee
too great to enable us to carry ou the war rather than sub-
mit to conditions of a different nature to those which her
Majesty's Government have now agreed to, and to which we
will faithfully and honourably adhere. (Cheers.) The noble
earl then adverted to carrying out the negotiations devolv-
ing on him, observing that in acting on the part of 'her Ma-
jesty's Government, I shall enter on these negotiations with
the sincerest desire for peace, and with a profound regard to
that which is for the honour and dignity of England. I
think I might say, without violation of official reserve,
that the sentiments by which her Majesty's Government
were animated are entirely shared by the Emperor of the
French, and I hope it is not presumptuous in me to say that
the firmness, moderation, and the straightforward and
honourable conduct of the Emperor of the French is beyond
all praise. He desires peace, but be will not make any
peace incons'stent with the dignity and honour of France.
Like her Majesty's Government, he is determined that the
preparations for war, both naval and military, shall go on
with intrepidity and activity in order that both countries
might be completely prepared to take the field on the same
day, should these negotiations not be honourably carried
omit by Russia. (Cheers.)
Earl GRANVILLE oonsidered the noble lord who bad
juee sat down had so completely answered the statements
of the noble lord opposite that he need not further advert
to them. With regard to the apprehension that appeared
to be entertained by the noble lord opposite, as to the im-
proper use of the royal prerogative in creating a life peerae e
in the case of Baron Wensleydalo, he W2B ready to defend
the conduct of her Majesty's Government in that respect.
He fully agreed with the importance of the question, and
that it was one which their lordships would no doubt fully
discuss, but he protested against its being discussed by only
a certain portion of the members of their lordships' house.
He felt certain it could be safely discussed by the whole of
their lordships, free from party, because the learned baron's
elevation had in no case arisen from any political votes he
might give in that house. Ho assured their lordships that
the Government would not take their lordships by sur-
prise, but that they should have an opportunity of discus-
sing the question before the learned baron took his seat.
Lord CAMPBELL—I can only say that I entertain very
grave doubts whether that could be done, if it were desirable,
without the authority of Parliament, and without a new
law to alter an established precedent. I think it a very
tit question to be discussed, whether it bo within the pre-
rogative of the Crown, and whether the prerogative of the
Crown would be wisely exercised; but I have great doubts
that the power exists without a new law.
After a few words of explauation from the Earl of
DERBY, in reply to Earl Granville, which were inaudible
in the gallery,
The address was agreed to, and the house adjourned a
8 o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(YESTERDAY.)
The house resumed its sittings at a quarter to four
o'clock, when the SPEAKER took the chair.

NEW MEMBERS.
The following new members took the oaths and their
seats : Sir C. Napier, for Southwark ; Mr. Bouverie,
for Kilmarnock ; Major Sibthorp, for Lincoln ; Mr.
Rust, for Huntingdonshire ; Mr. M'Evoy, for the
county of Meath ; Capt. Joliffe, for Wells ; Mr. Lowe,
for Kidderminster ; and Mr. Bond, for Armagh.
SESSIONAL ORDERS.
The usual sessional orders were considered and agreed
to.