The Sun.
London, England, 1859-07-01 00:00:00

"No. 442.

" THE EARL OF MALMESBURY TO SIR J. CRAMPTON.
" Foreign-office, April 27, 1859.
" Sir,—l have to instruct you to inform Prince
Gortsehakoff that the Cabinet of Vienna having
de?lined to accept the specific part of the proposals
offered by her Majesty's Government for the adop-
tion of their a !lies on the 18th inst., which contem-
plated the admission to the Congress of the repre-
sentatives of the Italian States on the same footing
on which they were admitted to the Congress of
Laybach, her Majesty's Government have consi-
dered that, consistently with the dignity of this
country, no other course remind. for them to
pursue than to abandon all further attempts at
oimembling a Congress of the Five Great Powers
on the affairs of Italy; and they will, accordingly
decline to take part in any such meeting, even if
any further proposal were made to them to do so.
" Her Majesty's Government sincerely regret
that all the efforts which they have made to induce
other Powers to contribute to carrying out to a
successful issue the proposal made by the Cabinet
of St. Petersburg for assembling an European
Congress, by whose intervention Europe might be
spared from the calamities of war, have proved
unavailing; but Prince Gortsehakoff will do them
the justice to admit that they have laboured ear-
nestly in the cause of peace, and have co-operated
cordially and sincerely with the Russian Govern-
ment for that purpose.
" Although her Majesty's Government were of
opinion that the results of the communications
which Lord Cowley held with the Court of Vienna
might have enabled them, by the exertion of their
separate and unaided good offices, to reconcile the
conflicting interests and wishes of the parties more
immediately engaged in Italian affairs, they never-
theless yielded without hesitation to the invitation
of Russia, and agreed to take part in the joint in-
tervention proposed by that Power.
" Her Majesty's Government had no direct in-
terest at stake ; but, as common friends and allies
of all parties, they were anxious to contribute, as
far as possible, to allay animosities, to reconcile
differences, to disarm suspicions, and to establish on
a firm and permanent basis the peace and tranquil-
lity of Italy. They have shrunk from no toil, and
they have spared no sacrifices consistent with the
national honour of England to effect these objects ;
while, in the united action of Russia and Great
Britain for objects so beneficent, they saw an addi-
tional proof and pledge of the entire re-establish-
ment of friendly relations between these two
empires.
" But all has been to no purpose, and her Ma-
jesty's Government are reluctantly compelled, in
deep discouragement, to abandon all further hope of
averting from Europe the calamities which threaten
her.
" In such a state of things her Majesty's Govern-
ment can only be guided by what is due to the
dignity and interest of the British empire, and
those prescribe to them the obligation of standing
aloof from the contending parties, and of ceasing to
interpose their efforts to stay the excited passions
of antagonistic nations. But if, in the course of
events, these feelings should subside, and the con-
tending parties will allow reason to resume her
sway, and they evince a desire to have recourse to
the good offices of a friendly Power for the recon-
ciliation of their differences, the British Govern-
ment will always be found at its post as a friend of
humanity, and as an ardent promoter of peace.
" Looking, however, to the results of the late
attempts to settle these matters by an European
Congress, and to the difficulties and disappoint-
ments with which they have so ineffectually
struggled, her Majesty's Government cannot an-
ticipate that any state of things should arise which
would now induce them again to listen to a pro-
posal to take part in such an assembly.
" Her Majesty's Government believe that if their
good offices are hereafter requested, their single
action would be more likely to contribute to the
restoration of peace than a complicated negotiation
in which other Powers, though equally sincere and
anxious with themselves, should be called upon to
participate.
" You will read this despatch to Prince Gortecha-
koff, and give his Excellency a copy of it.
" I am, Ric.,

" MALMESBURY."
In the following despatch, written a few days
after the startling announcement in the Times, so
absurdly discredited by sundry political sceptics,
the Government of Great Britain thus alludes to the
rumour of the Secret Treaty between France and
the Emperor of All the Russias :
" No. 473.
" THE EARL OF MALMESBITRY TO SIR J.
CRAMPTON.

"Foreign-office, April 29, 1859.
" appears, from your telegram of yester-
day afternoon, that Prince Gortschakoff expressed
something like surprise at the attempt making by
her Majesty's Government by their single inter-
ference, to prevent the interruption of peace.
" You may say, in reply, that having formerly
renounced separate action when combined action
was proposed to them, her Majesty's Government
cannot be supposed to have any special predilection
for the former ; but when, as it has turned out to
be the case, combined action did more harm than
good, her Majesty's Government cannot think that
they lay themselves justly open to re mark for re-
verting to a course of separate, action to which,
although they always considered it would hare been