The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-11 00:00:00

EVENING, MAY 11, 1861.

tributed, and what amount of army they should maintain
All these are questions for the representatives to settle with
their Government, and it is for them to consider in what
way the empire can best be saved. I have already stated

that I do not think it would be desirable to produce the

papers. I will only repeat that, however much I may be
reproached with being an old-fashioned politician of obso-
lete opinions, I do entertain the strongest desire for the
prosperity and the reviving strength of the empire of

Austria. (Cheers.)
The motion was withdrawn.
SYRIA.
Sir J. FERGUSSON rose to call the attention of the
house to certain papers recently presented to Parliament re-
lative to the affairs of Syria; to move an address for a copy
of the final recommendations of the International Commis-
sion for the future Government of the Lebanon ; and asked

her Majesty's Government whether it was their intention to
urge the adoption of the plan of her Majesty's Commission
_ _ _

For the Government of Syria upon the Sublime Porte. He

reminded the house that it was out-of the Syrian question
arose the war of 1854, 18.55, and 1856, into which they had
been drawn. It was not necessary to go into the details of
the civil war which led to such sad results, but having, be-
fore the commencement of the troubles, asked the house to

suspend its judgment, and having expressed his opinion that
the quarrel was not one of religious differences, but of hos-
tile races, he must say that it was satisfactory to know that

the noble lord at the head of her Majesty's Government,
who so well represented this country, had come round to
the same opinion. The history of this internecine quarrel
_ _ _

could only be interesting as bearing on the future of Turkey.
Having read extracts from Lord Dufferin's despatches re-
_ _

specting the cause of the outbreak, and expressed his appro-
bation of the firmness which had been exhibited by her Ma-

jesty's Government,-who foresaw the difficulties likely to
occur, Sir F. Fergusson said they had every reason to con-
gratulate themselves on the universal meed of approval which
their representative had received in Syria, The kindness of
the British officers had also made an impression on the people.
With respect to the case of Cid Bey, he must say that he ex •

pected to have heard of his liberation, but he had received
that evening from a gentleman residing in Paris, a letter
which filled him with great pain. The writer, who had be-

fore given him valuable and reliable information, said that
Cid Bey was dying in prison, with many suspicions of
foul play, and Its asked him for God's sors to 67 and see
some ot the uoveuireceet, that e tologram might be sent
for his removal from prison ; and he concluded by re-
marking that the continued occupation of Syria by the
French troops considerably lessened British authority in
Syria. No doubt the noble lord at the head of the Foreign-
office was already informed'on the same subject, and he
trusted we would not allow Cid Bey to languish or be mur-
dered in prison. (Hear.) Lord Dufferin's opinion of the
quarrel was that, however criminal the conduct and ex-
cesses of the Druses might have been, the original provo-
cation came from the other side. Mr. Brandt, the British
consul at Damascus, said the real cause was the weakness
of the Turkish Government, which rendered them unable
to check the disorders that had taken place. The French
Government had at first agreed with England as to the in-
expediency of foreign occupation, and M. Thouvenel had
expressed himself to that effect, but subsequently it ap-
peared that the Emperor of the French came round to a
different opinion. The noble lord considered that the de •
spatch of troops was unnecessary, but the Moniteur showed
that tha Emperor of the French was of a different opinion.
France insisted on having troops sent out, and then the
English consented, but the tardiness of the noble lord gave
the leadership to the French. He thought the noble lord,
having consented to the sending of troops, should have
limited the occupation of the coast by the French troops.
The language used to the troops by the Emperor showed
that his policy did not mean a peaceful occupation of the
province. It was full of reference to the glory of the Napo-
leon dynasty, and inspired ideas of a crusade rather than a
temporary interference for the purposes of humanity. The
Emperor always professed his anxiety to withdraw his
troops as soon as a regular Government was established,
but still, notwithstanding repeated remonstrances, the
French troops were continued there. M. Thouvenel's de-
spatchhowever showed, and with excessive candour, that the
object of the French occupation of Syria was to encourage
the Maronites to lean on the French Government rather
than their own. "No object (says M. Thouvenel) have the
French in Syria than this, that the Maronites shall not be
left worse than we found them, and to prove to them that
the French Government will not turn a deaf ear to their
complaints." Now, what had been the result of this occu-
pation ? Had it tranquillised the country ? He thought that
so far from the French occupation of Syria tending to that
result it had quite a contrary effect. He had received, during
the last month, letters from gentlemen in Syria, describing
the anxiety of persons long residing in Beyrout, and ex-
press.ve of their fears if a sufficient force were not sent from
England to preserve order. It was somewhat curious that
a confidential document, printed for the use of the Foreign
Office, and presented to Parliament in February last should
have been in the hands of the French. The Revue de Deux
Mondes had criticised it, and he wished to give a free trans-
lation of one of the opening sentences of the article :—" We
have beft re our eyes, reports sent to English consuls and
ambaseactoiro—ropurCe sto4. 4,..tai010d .L. 1.6 wad.► publics—.
printed only for the *nee of Parliament and the 'Foreign-
offlee; and, having read them, we thought it would be use-
ful to submit them to public opinicn." Then follows an
article in which the writer says—" The jealousy of the Eng-
lish is such that they would rather have a recurrence of the
Syrian massacres than that Syria should be in the hands of
the French." Then occurred this passage—" There has
been in this country (Syria) a horizon of blood which will
fill Europe with remorse and shame. Think of 30,C00 Chris-
tians having been massacred last year, and 30,000 more in
1861, because England does not wish Syria to be saved by
the French." Again and again had Lord Dufferin stated
in his despatches that the Maronites trusted on longer
the Turkish Government, and that they only looked to
the French for protection. Now, what had been pro-
posed for the amelioration of the condition of Syria ? Lord
Dufferin had addressed himself with great ability to this
question. He laid down principles on which he thought
the future Government of Syria should be conducted. He
pointed out, in a despatch, how the recurrence of future
outbreaks might be 01, viated. "In the first place," he said,
"for several years Syria must be looked upon as our out-
lying Pachalic, from which considerable profit might be
derived by the farming of taxes." This was the most
vexatious part of the system, as no peasant could certainly
know how much taxes he had to pay. The great difficulty
was the jealousy existing between the two races. An able
report had been drawn VP by the International Commis-
sioners, all of whom agreed, except the French Commis-
sioner, that the governor or governors of those tribes-must
not be a native. The French Government no doubt would
throw all the responsibility of the consequences of with-
drawing
Turkey
theirrkeyt troops n
inducegrant a
good government to their people
—no matter of what race, or creed, or sect—they would do
more than had been accomplished b 3 any government who
preceded them.
Lord J. RUSSELL thought it right to state the views
of Government, after the speech made by the hon. and gal-
lant gentleman, and the position in which the affairs of
Syria now stood. The arrangements made with regard to
nseddttoohaapvieounilltda governor-general with ex-
tensiveer him Christian governors
in the Levant. For his own part, he owned that, in his
that country were not as yet settled ; but he might state
thatit
wpasowperrso,pao
opinion, that was the best arrangement that could be made;
but the Government of the Porte had a great objection to
it, and principally on the ground that what was once done
in Egypt might be hereafter repeatedin Syria. That argu-
ment coming from an independent Government could not
be resisted. It was next proposed that a khan should be ap-
pointed to rule over the Maronites, and another over the
Druses, but the objection to that was, that in certain villages
there were Maronites who would have to be included in the
district of the Druses, and Drama who would in tho acme
manner come under the government of the Maronites. It
was also oppt sed by the French commissioner, and so the
matter remaned for the present. He himself was of opinion
that no native should be chosen as khan, because he would
bring with him in the discharge of his duties all the
hatred of his tribe and race, and the last report of the
commissioners accorded with that view. The opinion of
the French Government was, however, entirely different,
but matters were still the subject of negotiation. He had
great hopes that by the discussions now going forward the
condition of Syria would be improved, and he need hardly
say that he appreciated all that had been done in times past
by Lord Stratford de Redcliffe, assisted as he was by his
noble friend near him, when holding the office he (Lord J.
Russell) had now the honour to fill. There was also a
difficulty arising from the Russian Government insisting
on a protectorate of the Greek subjects of the Porte, and the
French Government of the Roman Catholics, but the course
of her Majesty's Government had been to go on the prin-
ciple that, be they Greeks, Roman Catholics, Mahomme-
dans, or Druses, they were all entitled to the protection and
freedom which a proper system of rul@ would ensure them.
Great improvements had taken place he was happy to say
within the last 25 years, and with regard to the evacuation
of Syria by the French troops, they believed that the pro-
mise of the Emperor of the French would be strictly carried
out.

Mr. LAYARD thought the house was much indebted to
his hon. and gallant friend for bringing the subject before
them, and certainly his information appeared to be derived
from very accurate sources. The papers already laid on the
table proved beyond doubt the difficulty of governing Syria,
and that the Christians, led on by their priests, were the
original aggro: sore. There was also no doubt that the
Turkish Government was much to blame, for although they
punished some of the chief offenders, they allowed others to
escape with impunity. At one time they were governed by a
Christian, and at another by a Druse. It was impossible
that such a system could give satisfaction. It was like at
one time sending a Catholic, and at another a Protestant
Lord-Lieutenant to rule over Ireland. Of Lord Dufferin he
could not speak in too high terms. He was a gentleman of the
best intentions, but the scheme which he submitted for go-
verning Syria, it was impossible that the Porte could as-
sent to. Lord Dufferin and the commissioners suggested
another plan, and that was that a Catholic governor
should be selected to govern Syria, and to that France con-
sented, and said, " Let such governor be a Maronite ;" but
of course that could not be assented to. Lord Dufferin him-
soli had !said that the most Windy Ind§ and .84* is Syria