Star.
London, England, 1823-04-23 00:00:00

SUPPLEMENTARY PAPERS,

L IID BEFORE PARLIAMENT LAST NIGHT,
AN ANALYSIS OF WHICH APPEARED IN TILE STAR OP

YESTERDAY.

SPAIN.

NO. h—CONFIDENTIAL MINUTE OF VISCOUNT CAS-
TLEREAGH ON THE AFFAIRS OF SPAIN, CONIMUNI-
CATED TO THE COURTS OF AtISTRIA, FRANCE,
PRUSSIA, AND RUSSIA, IN MAY, 1320..
(Extract.)
The events which have occurred in Spain have, as milat be
expected, excited, in proportion as they have developed them. ,
selves, the utmost anxiety throughout Europe.
The British Cabinet upon this, as upon all other occasions, is
ever ready to deliberate with those of the Allies, and will unre--
servedly explain itself upon this great question of common- in-
terest ; but a.s to the form on which it may be prudent ;o con- •
duct these deliberations, they conceive, they cannot ton early re-
commend that course of deliberation which will excite-the leisiu:
attention or alarm, or which can least provoke jealousy in the
minds of the Spanish Nation or Government. In this view, it
appears to them advisable, studimesly to avoid any re-union of
the Sovereigns;—to abstain, at least in the present stage of the
question, from charging any ostensible conference with commis-
'inn to deliberate on the affairs of Spain. They conceive it pre-
ferable that their intercourse should be limited to those confi-
dential communications between the Cabinets, which are, In
themselves, best adapted to approximate ideas, and to lead, as
far as may be; to the adoption of common principles, rather than
to hazard a discussion in a Ministerial conference, which, from
the necessarily limited powers of the individuals composing it,
must ever be better fitted to execute a purpose already decided
upon, than to frame a course of policy under delicate and diffi-
cult circumstances.
There seems the less motive for precipitating any step of this
nature in the case immediately under consideration, as, from all
the information which reaches us, there exists in Spain no order
of things upon which to deliberate; nor as yet any governing-
authority with which foreign Powers can commienicate.
The King's authority, for the moment at least, seems to be
dissolved. His Majesty is represented, in the I sat Dispatches
from Madrid, as having wholly abandoned himself to the tide
of events, and as conceding whatever is called fur by the Provi-
sional Junta and the Clubs.
The authority of the Provisicnal Government does not ap-
pear to extend beyond the two Castilles and a part of Andalu-
sia :—distinct local authorities prevail in'the various provinces,
and the King's personal safety -is regarded as extremely liable to
be hazarded, by any step which might lay him open to the sus-
picion of entertaining a design to bring about a counter-revolu-
tion, whether by internal or external means.
This important subject having been referred to, and consi-
dered by the Duke of Wellington, his Memorandum accom-
panies this Minute. His Grace does not hesitate, upon his inti-
mate experience of Spanish affairs, to pronounce, that the Spa.
nish nation is, of all the European people, that, which will least
brook any interference from abroad ; he states the many instances
in which, during the last war, this distinguishing trait ofnae
tional character rendered them obstinately blind to the most
pressing considerations of public safety : he states the imminent
danger in which the suspicion of foreign interference, and more
especially of interference on the part of France, is likely to in-
volve the King ;—and he further describes the difficulties which
would oppose themselves to any military operations in Spain,
undertaken for the purpose of reducing, by force, the nation to
submit themselves to an order of things, to be either suggested
or prescribed to them from without.
Sir Henry Wellesley has, in coincidence with this opinion, re-
ported the alarm which the intended mission of M. de la Tour
du Pin bail excited at Madrid, the prejudice which, in the opi-
nion of all the Foreign Ministers at Madrid, it was calculated
to occasion to the King's interests and possible safety. He also
reports the steps which it was in contemplation to have adopted,
on the part of the King, to endeavour to prevent the French Mi-
niater from prosecuting his journey to Madrid, when the intelli-
gence of the abandonment of the mission was received from Paris.
At all events, thetefure, until some central Authority shall
establish itself in Spain, all notion of operating upon her councils
seems utterly impracticable; and calculated to lead to no other
p,,,siVle result, than that of compromising either the King or
the Allies, or probably both.
.1 he present state of Spain, no doubt, seriously extends the
1 range of political agitation its Europe, but it must nevertheless be
admitted, that there is no portion of Europe of equal magnitude,
in which such a Revolution could have happened, less likely to
menace other States with that direct and imminent danger, which
has always been: regarded.at least in this country, as alone con-
stituting the case which would justify external interference. If
the case is not such as to warrant such an be:reference—if we
: do not feel that we have at this moment either the right or the
means to interfere with effect by force—if the semblance of such
an interference is more likely to irritate than to overawe; and
if we have proved, by experience, how little a. Spanish Govern-
ment, whether of King or of Cortes, is disposed to Hate', to
advice from foreign States, is it not prudelit at least to pause,
before we assume an attitude which would seem to pledge us in
! the eyes of Europe to some decisive proceeding? Before we
embark in such a measure, is it not expedient, at least, to Wet-,
tain with some degree of recision, what we really mean to do?
This course of temperate and cautious policy, so befitting the
occasion, and the cr.tical position in whints the King is personally
placed. will in no degree fetter our screen, when, if ever, the
cause for acting shall arise.
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