The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-18 00:00:00

THE LATE MISCONCEPTION.

(Opinions of the French Press.)
The diplomatic correspondence exchanged on
the subject of Count Walewski's despatch by the
English and French Governments is reproduced by
the French journals, and pronounced by them
highly satisfactory. The Pays and the Courrier
de Paris, however, alone publish leading articles on
the subject. The Pays says ;--
"Lord Malmesbury was aware of the real
meaning of Count Walewrki's despatch of the 20th
January ; and if lie desired an explanation, it was
only in order to fulfil the conditions which placed
the new Cabinet in power. This species of com-
promise between the necessities of policy and the
conscience of statesmen is really understood in Eng-
land ; but in France it has ever been severely
judged, and these compromises from the principal
motive of the disrepute into which parliamentary
government has fallen in Vrance. We cannot be
suspected of being the adversaries of the alliance,
which we consider one of the greatest political
facts of the nineteenth century. But the great at-
tachment we profess for it will not lead us to con-
ceal our thoughts, and we are greatly mistaken if
the impression produced on us by the despatch of
, Lord Malmesbury has not been shared by the
public. On the other hand, we do not hesitate to
affirm that the reply of Count Walewski is precisely
that which becomes the minister who has the honour
to speak abroad in the name of the Emperor
of the French. It is clear and noble ; it explains
.
everything and retracts nothing. . . Every-
thing has now been satisfactorily arranged. The
leaders of the English Cabinet have declared to
Parliament that alt cause of misunderstanding be-
tween France and England had been removed ; this
declaration offered them no great difficulty, since
they never entertained a doubt of the excellent in-
tentions of the French Government. Parliament
received this intelligence with cheers, which were,
we believe, sincere ; for public opinion had not
concealed from itself that au internation question
has been imprudently complicated by party tricks.
We likewise rejoice heartily at this friendly result ;
and our satisfaction is the more lively since the
alliance is preserved on the condition mentioned
by the Emperor : that the honour of one of the
two nations should never be sacrificed to the honour
of the other. The reply of Count Walewski is the
faithful expression of this idea; it represents the
language of honour itself, and will find au echo in
the heart of all Frechinen."
The following is from the Courrier de Paris :
"The crisis, which at one moment menacei the
Anglo French alliance is completely at an end.
The despatches placed before the House of Com-
mons contain explanations which will suffice to
remove all causes of misconception, and to calm the
passions on both sides of the Channel. We may
observe how superior France has shown herself to
England on this occasion, both by her good sense
and moderation. This moderation has been so
eminent that we may one day place it amongst the
greatest recollections of our annals. It possesses
all the qualities which constitute the beautiful and
the great. Whatever may bo our future rattious
with England, let them be fiiendly or hostile, we
shall derive from this recollection a strength for
our arms or for our diplomacy,"