The Sun.
London, England, 1860-06-23 00:00:00

NEAPOLITAN CRUISERS.

Mr. D. GRIFFITH asked the Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs whether any account had been received of a
Neapolitan fri,gat e.having captured two vessels, presumed to
have been carrying reinforcements to Garibaldi, by hois. ins
English colours, and offering to tow them into Palermo,
and, having got them in tow, she then hoisted Neapolitan
colours and steered for Gaeta; and whether, if so, such use
of the British flag would bo permitted to the Neapolitan
Government ?
NICE AND SAVOY.—MINISTERIAL POLICY.

Sir R. PEEL—Before the noble lord the Foreign Secre-
tary replies, I shall be very glad to have the opportunity of
putting 'a question to him ; and, before doing so, I beg to
thank the noble lord for his kind consideration in being pre-
sent, so as to be able to return an answer; and I hope it is
an earnest that for the future the noble lord will
endeavour to be present in this house to defend
the policy which the Government are following with
respect to foreign affairs. I said last night, and I now take
the opportunity of reiterating in presence of the noble lord,
that in my belief there is a general opinion throughout the
country that the noble lord is endeavouring to shirk the re
sponsibility vested in him by the office which he has under-
taken. It may not be the case, but such is my impression.
We so seldom receive any information from the noble lord
with respect to foreign affairs that when any is obtained the
feeling of the house generally, I think, is rather ono of
commiseration with the noble lord on being any longer un-
able to conceal the intelligence—(laughter)--than of grati-
fication at the tidings which he has been obliged to convey.

We have had some experience of the policy of the noble lord
and I am sorry to say I conceive it to be far from satisfac-
tory. For many months the noble lord has had charge of
the Department of Foreign Affairs, and I am bound to de-
clare in my place in Parliament that I believe that policy to
be both weak and vacillating. I recollect the noble lord was
sometimes very indignant with other Ministers when they
did not pursue a straightforward policy. I remember per-
fectly well, when the noble lord sat on these benches, with
what indignation, and how, with the mein of an exasperated
patriot, he fulminated against my noble friend the Prime
Minister for what he called his mean and humiliating policy.
I do not know whether the noble lord recollects the expres-
sions which he then made use of against the Prime Minis-
ter—(a laugh)—but, if he does not, I will recall them to his
memory. The house will recollect that in Ins the noble
lord non at the head of the Government introduced into
this house a measure kuown as the Conspiracy Bill, which
a large number of members, of whom I was one, from the
first resisted most strenuously. The noble lord the Secretary
for Foreign Affairs was then sitting on the back benches
and, in a spirit of strong indignation—he was then, no•
doubt, anxious to replace his noble friend—(a laugh)—de-
nounced the measure. The noble lord, on that occasion to
which lam alluding (Feb. 9, 1858), said—for the noble
lord at that time was very violent against the Prime
Minister, although matters have since been made up between
them—(a laugh)—that the Government yielded to a demand
front France ; that it was not a strong Government ; that it
was about to introduce a bill which he should feel it a shame
and a degradation to support. " Let those who will support
it," said the noble lord, "in that humiliation I, for one, will
not share." Loud cheers followed thaehnnouncement, and of
course the noble lord obtained credit throughout the country
for being a very spirited and exasperated patriot. (Hear,
hear, and laughter.) I must, however, say that lam afraid
the noble lord's present policy is very shameful and humi-
liating to the nation. The despatch which, if the newspapers
be correct, has just reached the Government from M. Thou-
vend I look upon as an insult to us and our councils in the
eyes of the nations of Europe, and as degrading to the pres-
tige and character of England. M. Thouvenel appeals to
the good faith of the policy of France, and says that,
although the Court of France asks Europe to sanction the
act of annexation which has just received its final consum-
mation, yet that the Court of the Tuileries will not consent
to any lessening of the Savoyard territory in favour of
Switzerland. Now, I regard this, after the repeated decla-
rations which have been made on the subject by the French
Emperor, as a most serious and dangerous position of affairs.
(Hear.) Upon three separate occasions—the 10th February,
the Ist March, and then on the 6th of the same month—
distinct assurances were given on the part of France that
the Powers of Europe would be consulted before the con-
templated annexation was carried into effect. (Hear, hear.)
Now, if any faith is to be placed in the statements of public
men, some importance ought to be attached to the report
which on the 10th of February last was made by Lord
Cowley to the noble lord the Secretary for Foreign Affairs,
vhen he wrote as foll..ws

" I saw the Emperor yesterday, and had some conversa' ion
with him on the subject of the annexation of Savoy. The
Emperor entirely disclaimed all intention of proceeding to
make the annexation without consulting the gre..lt Powers.
(Hear, hear.) I asked his Majesty if I might repeat this
Assurance to your lordship, and permission to do so was
nog graciously and cordially given."
(Hear, hear.) Now, that word "cordially" seems to me
to possess a charming piquancy, because the Emperor cf
the French must have known perfectly well that when he
gave the assurance in question he did not mean to act upon
it. (Hear.) There is also another despatch, No. 17 in the
books, in which Lord Cowley says that M. Thouvenel had
again assured him that the Emperor had intended to abide
by the statement which I have just mentioned. On the 6th
March the noble lord the Secretary for Foreign Affairs
wrote to Lord Cowley in the following terms :
" I wish your lordship would ascertain from M. Thouvena
in what manner the promise of the Emperor that the great