The Sun.
London, England, 1860-03-27 00:00:00

COMING EVEXTS.

--o-

The debate last night in the llouz Commonsis,
if we mistake not, a point of departure for new
combinations in Europe. Lord John Russell has
almost in terms announced that the entente co rdtale
which has so long intermittently existed between
England and France is again—we hope we may
say only for the moment—broken. He, the Mini-
ster directing the foreign relations of England, has
from his place in Parliament deliberately declared
that he no longer feels confidence in the modera-
tion or peaceful intentions of the Emperor of the
French. He has expressed his conviction that,
after this consummated act of the annexation of
Savoy, " The Emperor wilt be called upon from
time to time to commit other acts of aggression,"
and he suggests that the Emperor will accede to
the call. He proclaims to the world that this act
must estrange England from the side of France, and
must induce her to seek safety in the society of the
other nations of Europe. " I do feel," said Lord
John Russell, that, however we may wish to live
on the most friendly terms with the French Govern-
ment—and certainly I do wish to live on the most
friendly terms with that Government—we ought
not to keep ourselves apart from the other nations
of Europe, but that, when future questions may
arise—as future questions may arise—we should be
ready to act with others and to declare, always in
the most moderate and friendly terms, but still
firmly, that the settlement of Europe, the peace
of Europe is a matter dear to this country, and that
that settlement and that peace cannot be assured if
it is liable to perpetual interruption, to constant
fears, to doubts and rumours with respect to the
annexation of this one country, or the union and
connexion of that other." This is a very important
declaration. Both the Emperor of the -French and
the Minister of England have now kept their words
to each other. The former shadowed forth his in-
tention of pushing forward the present frontier of
France in a certain contingency ; the latter warned
him that whenever be should carry out that inten-
tion he would forfeit the confidence of his ally. It
is done, and Lord J. Russell tells his ally frankly
that, although he continues him as an acquaintance,
he shall go elsewhere to seek his friends. The
allusion to Prussia is scarcely equivocal, and we
have not now to inquire where the present Go-
vernment proposes to make its closest alliance ;
while the confession that Russia has declared that
" the King of Sardinia was free to give away Ms
province, and the Emperor of the French was free
to receive it," leaves it clear that there is no inten-
tion or hope of forming a hostile European Con-
federation, such as the Tory party recently coun-
selled.

Thus ends, as we very much fear, that strong
hope of mutual confidence and good will based on
commercial intercourse which we were all only
yesterday taught to anticipate with such eager
credulity. When these words are—as they are at
this moment—telegraphed to Paris, and when it is
known with what loud cheers the House of Com-
mons rang as they were delivered, and with what
welcome they were received by all except by one
speaker, we cannot, but expect that such zeal as has
hitherto been shown to remove difficulties will be
somewhat cooled, and that the strictest interpreta-
tions of the Commercial -Treaty will be enforced.
On our side, also, there is a possibility that the
Treaty may hereafter be read with a different gloss.
It will now be more clearly seen that we have yielded
everything upon the spot, in the expectation that
something that has never been promised might be
generously given to us. The Emperor of the French
may be magnanimous, and may yet fulfil the hopes
of those among us who stooped to think with such
motives. But it is not now likely. It is an unhappy
time to declare ourselves slighted and betrayed.
The Emperor has gained all his objects: He has
crippled Austria, neutralised Russia, and conciliated
Italy. We arise from our dream of confidence, and
tell him that we 'have been deceived and that we in-
tend to trust him no more. The time is past when
such a reproach or such a declaration would have
had weight. These bold words will not make Na-
poleon 111. relax his grasp upon Savoy, or delay
him in the choice of the site for his palace at Nice.
They only tell him authoritatively—what we told
him long ago—that by this act we are offended but
not outraged, estranged but not provoked to enmity.
The instincts of the people of this country are truer
than those of her rulers. They have never trusted
the Emperor, though they have not thought it neces-
sary to be constantly telling him so.—limes.