The Sun.
London, England, 1859-06-21 00:00:00

ENGLAND'S NEUTRALITY.

Continental Governments are looking with
anxiety and impatience for signs of English influ-
ence and policy with regard to the war in Italy as
applied by the Palmerston Cabinet at Berlin and
the Courts of Germany. It is felt here of the
highest importance that the new British Cabinet
should lose no time in distinctly statinc, what Eng-
land's neutrality really means. In order to under-
stand this anxiety it must be remembered that at
Vienna and at most of the German Courts an im-
pression prevails—indeed I may say that a strong
conviction exists—that England will eventually
come forward and form an alliance with Germany
to oppose France, Italy, and Russia, even to at-
tempting to restore at least a portion of Lombardy
to Austria. It may be asked on what grounds can
Austria and Germany expect aid from England
when the late Government and the people of Great
Britain so loudly proclaimed for neutrality? As
far as I can understand the question, Austrian
statesmen have always thought circumstances
would eventually drag England, Prussia, and the
German Confederation into the war, although
against their will. Austria reckoned on a chapter
of accidents. Her agents at London, Berlin, and
the German Courts, have been moving heaven and
earth to persuade neutral States to arm, because
they know nations are more likely to fight when
they have arms in their hands than when simply
unarmed spectators of a quarrel. Austria says to
herself—" Tt is always something gained to have
put the armies of Europe on a war footing." Her
policy has not failed. The invasion panic took in
England ; the Rhine alarm lighted up Germany,
until Prussia was obliged to inflict a war footing
decree on her own people. England has given the
example of " an armed neutrality," and it is the be-
lief of most foreign statesmen that if Lord Derby
had remained in power that armed neutrality would
have ended in a European war. It is therefore hoped
the Palmerston Cabinet will distinctly let it be
known that if the French, Italians, and Austrians
will fight out their quarrel on Italian ground, and
not offend surrounding States, then England will
maintain a strict neutrality, and be quite satisfied
to see the Austrians driven out of Italy, and Italy
become independent. Such a declaration, it is felt,
would do much to bring the war to a close. Ger-
many will not dare to move without England, so
that in point of fact it depends upon England
whether the war be confined to Italy or whether it
become European. England might even have pre-
vented the war had the Government only used past
experience of Austrian trickery as a guide for the
present. Whilst Count Buol was assuring Lord
Cowley, Lord A. Loftus, and therefore the Derby
Cabinet, that Austria would never assume the
aggressive and invade Piedmont, the Emperor and
his advisers were actually making preparations to
march on Turin. Whilst these negotiations were
going on—whilst, in fact, Lord Cowley was at
Vienna, I told your readers that Austria was only
with her old game of deception. She in-
tended to invade Piedmont, and wanted to get
England on her side. She found the Government
and the agents of our Government sympathising
with her, and the ready dupes of her cunning.
Austria was encouraged, therefore, to believe she
would divide the armies of Europe into two great
camps. It must be known also that Austria had
designs beyond Turin. The Emperor Francis
Joseph and the Church Papal party all over Europe
reckoned on being able to put down the Napoleon
dynasty in France. They think to this day any
reverses of the French army would create discon-
tent in France, and perhaps end eventually in a
change of Sovereign and Government. It was
argued at Vienna—" England would be pleased to
see such a change, and no doubt assist us." The
Holy Alliance ideas haunted, and still haunt, the
statesmen of Austria and Germany, and that is
another reason why the English Government should
let it be known that the people of England wish to
see Italy Italian, and that the French alliance is
the basis of our foreign relations.—Correspondent
Morning Post.