The Sun.
London, England, 1842-01-24 00:00:00

Po, would Europe remain indifferent ? The closing of the
Straits is a mere farce when Russia can, in three days,
reach Constantinople. Two months are necessary for a
dispatch to France from Constantinople and an answer,
but in a week Russia is ready for action. The closing
of the Straits protects her from the resistance of more
distant Powers. In what does the interest of Russia
consist ? In the closing of the Straits. What have you
adopted ? The closing of the Straits. You have, there-
fore, adopted the interests of Russia. What then are
your treaties as regards the question of the East ?
Nothing. What is something, however, in order to pre-
vent a great act of usurpation, is that there is a nation,
France, which, cruelly treated in 1815, so unfortunate
indeed at that period, that even misfortune was not re-
spected, and which having lost a part of her terri-
tory has not protested against the treaties of 1815.
And I also have been of opinion that no protest
should be made, for there is something immoral in say-
ing to the world our territory is too limited, we cannot
breathe in it. But if France has thus suffered herself,
she will not permit the violation of treaties which were
made to fix the limits of the territories of the other
Powers of Europe. If an attempt of this kind should
be made, 1 will defy any Ministry to say, as is said now,
" Peace every where and for ever." I will defy any Mi-
nistry in France to co-operate in a great act of usurpa-
tion. When Frederick proposed to the nations which
surrounded him to divide Poland, he was asked, " What
will France say ?" he replied, "France sleeps." She
does not sleep now, however, and when it shall be pro-
posed to divide Turkey, France will by her arms oppose
it to the last extremity, and then Turkey will be better
protected than by all the treaties in the world. Yes, gen-
tlemen, when vie shall be thought strong as we were a few
months ago, peace will be better guaranteed than by all
your treaties. Yesterday the Minister of Foreign Af-
fairs said that right was necessary with might. Certainly,
for moral right constitutes power, and therefore it
is that for 50 years we have been the strongest nation in
Europe. Our revolution was legitimate in principle,
whatever were its excesses, and the Powers who com-
bined against it had the right against them. At the
present moment, after 25 years of peace, to say to the
country that it should rather attend to its materialin-
terests than to its greatness, is to hold a language which
might have been proper in 1812, but which is now much
misplaced. On the contrary, we should say to France
that she should be great and powerful, and resolved
upon any sacrifice in sulaport of her dignity. Yes, this
is what should be said to France, and there is more
courage in using the language which I hold than that
which you (pointing to the Ministerial benches) indulge
in. I have now done. I have only obeyed the voice of
my conscience. I speak with a profound conviction,
and, although it may be disagreeable to many persons to
hear it, I will say to my country—Remember your glory,
remember your exploits ; do more than remember them
—prepare yourselves.—(Applause from the left.)
M. Passy ascended the tribune, but there was for some
time so much agitation in the Chamber, that he could
not be heard. He could not agree with the last speaker
in the opinion which he had expressed of the feelings
of the other Powers towards France. He was convinced
that there was none of the hostility which had been
ascribed to them, but he had no hesitation in say-
ing that, if they should find France anxious to go to
war for a slight cause, there would be a general
league against her.—(Cries of " Yes, yes.) It was true,
said M. Passy, that' France had lost her alliance with
England, and he would not deny that this was to be re-
gretted ; but neither, on the other hand, should it be
taken too much to heart. It was an evil, not without a
remedy. The remedy was to live in harmony with the
other Powers. Prudence should be mingled with firm-
ness. The real strength of such a policy consisted in
rejecting exaggerated pretensions at home and abroad.
This was the best way, he said, to secure respect from
foreign nations and domestic welfare. tinder any circum-
stances he would boldly affirm, that the closing of the
Straits was a better policy, as regarded Europe gene-
rally, than the opening of them, which M. Thiers had
advocated. By the convention for the closing of the
Straits, Turkey was brought under the collective protec-
tion of Europe, and if Russia, abusing her proximity to
Turkey, should at any time attempt to enforce ambitious
designs, by this convention all the other Powers were
bound to resist the aggression.
M. Berryer said that the question of the East was of
high iuterest to France. He maintained that France
had much to defend and protect. Above all she had to
assert her influence against that of others. Had this
influence been upheld ? lie replied—No ! France has
gained nothing, defended nothing, preserved nothing,
and, on this account, he objected to its being said in
the Address that the question of the East was con-
cluded. M. Berryer then drew a comparison between
the advantages of an alliance with Russia and an alliance
with England, which latter Power, he said, had
never entered into any
_alliance with France except
for her own interest. It was England, said M.
Berryer, that France should watch, for on every
point hecinfluence was preponderating; on every point
therefore should France oppose influence by influence.
It would be remembered that ho had defended those who
had fought at Waterloo, and that he bad not been to
Ghent.—(Great interruption.) I am a Frenchman,
added M. Berryer, but I am attached to a principle of
government, and I have never changed my colours.
M. Piscatory said he approved of the principle laid
down by M. Thiers, and thought that whilst France
spoke off' peace to the world, she should have her hand
on the hilt of her sword. Ho was for a more dignified tone
than the advocates of the Address were disposed to use.
A call for a division was now raised, and the first pa-
ragraph of the Address was put to the vote. It was car-
ried by an immense majority. About 50 deputies only
stood up when the vote on the negative was called for.
The Chamber adjourned at Six o'Clock.