The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-07 00:00:00

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pluck: 4D. STAMPED, 5D

LORD J. RUSSELL ON 2'llE ITALIAN
QUESTION.

A blue book, entitled " Further Correspondence
relating to the Affairs -of Italy," was issued last
night. The following two despatches from our Fo-
reign Secretary to the British Minister at Paris are
the latest and most important contained in the

LORD J. RUSSELL TO EARL COWLEY.
Foreign-office, Dee. 24, 1860.
My Lord,—You have done well to call my atten-
tion to the pamphlet which, under the name of
" Francis Joseph and Europe," has appeared at
Paris.
Is these days pamphlets are events, and we can-
not forget that the pamphlet called " The Pope and
the Congress" has led to the loss by the Pope of
more than half his dominions, and has prevented
the meeting of a European Congress.
I do not wish at present to discuss the main object
of this pamphlet. The question of the surrender of
Venetia by Austria must be considered separately
and deliberately.
But towards the end of the pamphlet is a sugges.
tion which was partially hinted at last year in re-
gard to Italy, and which may, one day or other, be
brought forward as a serious proposition.
The suggestion is that a new species of Holy
Alliance should be formed; that an Areopagus
should decide on all European questions ; that all
classes should have the benefit of the enlightened
views of this very learned and benevolent body.
It is not difficult to discover, amidst the covert
phrases of this proposal, an old enemy of European
independence.
A council which should pretend to represent all
nations, and embrace all interests, would soon be-
come the centre of intrigue, and the organ of the
boldest and most unscrupulous of the prevailing
Powers. Its decrees would be aimed against all
diversity of institutions and all liberty of thought;
the ancient safeguards of order and of freedom
would be denounced as barbarous and feudal ; the
expression of individual thought would be con-
demned as a disturbance of the general peace and
tranquillity. Fortunately for Europe the tendencies
of the year passing away have been in an opposite
direction. In Switzerland, in Belgium, in Prussia,
and in Spain the attachment to national landmarks
has been unequivocally and loudly expressed. In
Italy also, however divided. the people of different
States may have been, there has been displayed a
vehement desire for independence of foreign douni-

nation.
You are too well informed not to know that the
national independence of the States of Europe has
been for three centuries, excepting, perhaps, during
the reigns of Charles 11. and James 11., the object
of the policy of Great Britain. The nationality of
Holland, of Portugal, of Spain, of Germany, of
Greece, of Belgium, have been at various times up-
held by the influence of England, and sometimes
supported by her arms.
From this independence of Europe have flowed
immunity from foreign conquest, attachment to
their own institutions, the cultivation of the lan-
guage and literature of each nation, and that gene-
ral security, which have contributed so much to
wealth, to knowledge, and to freedom.
It would be a great misfortune to exchange this
system for a central control. To imagine that in-
ternational disputes would thereby be avoided is a
fatal error. But the weak States, having no longer
a combination or coalition of Powers to look to for
support, would fall before the strong, and under the
names of Switzerland, of Spain, of Italy, of Hol-
, land, or of Belgium, would be in fact the mere de-
pendencies of some one or two great States.—l
am, &c.,

(Signed)

J. RUSSELL

LORD J. RUSSELL TO EARL COWLEY.
Foreign-office, Dec. 24, 1860

My Lord,—Her Majesty's Government trust to
hear very soon that the French fleet has been with-
drawn from Gaeta. After the recent proclama-
tion of King Francis, the French fleet could only
remain on the principle of interference in the war
between King Victor Emmanuel and King Francis.
But if it had been consistent with the publicly
announced policy of the Emperor of the French
with regard to Italy, to interfere in favour of the
King of the Two Sicilies, the interference of his
Imperial Majesty ought to have taken place in the
beginning of the conflict between the champions of
Italian unity and freedom, and the authorities and
troops of King Francis.
Had the French Emperor put forth his strength
to maintain King Francis in the full possession of
the royal power which he had inherited from his
father, such a policy might have been deeply
lamented, but it would have been intelligible, and
might have been successful; but that the Emperor
of the French should stand aloof while Sicily and
nearly the whole territory of continental Naples
were wrested from King Francis, and should then,
at the eleventh hour, step in and give him a tardy,
and what must necessarily be an ineffectual sup-
port, in defending for a few weeks, and at a useless
expenditure of blood, life, and money, a small town
and promontory at the extreme verge of his former
dominions, seems to be a course that cannot be re-
conciled with any motives or principles by which
the conduct of the Sovereign of a great Power can
reasonably be supposed to be guided.
But in withdrawing his fleet from Gaeta the
Emperor of the French will show that although he
somewhat strained his policy to save the personal
dignity of a distressed Sovereign, he by no means
wished to forbid in Southern Italy that freedom
of action which he had so powerfully maintained in
the North.—l am, &c.
(Signed) J. RUSSELL.