The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-05-30 00:00:00

OVERTURES BY RUSSIA.

IT appears that negotiations for peace were in
active progress very shortly before the declaration
of war ; and that, although that manifesto seemed
to indicate a conclusion of these endeavours, the
efforts have been since renewed, and, only a few
weeks ago, proposals on the part of Russia were
made to the British cabinet of so conciliatory a
nature that the Russian party in our cabinet were
anxious for their acceptance. It was even inti-
mectod, in order to further this result, that the
feelings of the Emperor Napoleon coincided with
those of Lord Aberdeen. We have reason to be-
lieve that the propositions of Russia in this instance
involved, to say the least, a virtual concession of all
those conditions which had been insisted upon by
the allies previous to the declaration of war. The
anti-Russian party in the British cabinet, however,
succeeded, though with difficulty, in the rejections
of these propositions; and an opinion was expressed
that the time for a settlement on the status quo had
passed. It seems that shortly after this deeision
it transpired that the advances on the part of the
government of St. Petersburg were a well-calcu-
lated feint. made on the assumption that they
would be rejected, and that the Western Powers
might become committed to the dangerous course,
doubly dangerous when indefinite, of repudiating
the status quo. No sooner was this end obtained
than, as it reaches us, representations were made
to Austria and Prussia that the Emperor of
Russia, adhering to his voluntary engagement to
respect the integrity of the Turkish empire, and
not to seek any territorial aggrandisement at its
expense, and acknowledging, from the unforeseen
circumstances that had occurred, that his main
object, the relief of the Christian subjects of the
Porte, had been substantially obtained, was ready,
in the interests of peace, and to evince his regard
for his allies, to cause the evacuation of the Prin-
cipalities by his armies, without the simultaneous
retreat of hostile fleets. These overtures, as we are
assured, have been received with favour by the two
German courts, and at the present moment, while
in this country we are calculating on the certainty
of all the great powers being compactly allied
against Russian policy, the Emperor of Russia has
probably succeeded in changing the issue, and the
controversy will be no longer as to the evacuation
of the Turkish dominions, but on the recurrence
to the status quo, or to a redistribution of terri-
tory, with the four great powers divided on the
question. The difficulties of our cabinet are in-
creased, because, as we have reason to believe, no
definite ideas prevail on the subjects of compen
sation and security as conditions of peace. We
have reason also to believe that the Emperor of
the French has remarked that, since the status
quo cannot be recognised, and as no plan of com-
pensation and future security is matured, pro-
longed occupation is the alternative; and thus
the consequence of our proceedings will be—the
Turkish empire in the systematic possession of
foreign armies, which hitherto has ever been the
first step to partition, and which must, at all
events, entail on this country a vast and pro-
tracted expenditure, probably without any results.
The renewal of the labours of the Vienna con-
ference, and the recording protocol from which
so much is expected, are merely steps in the
accomplishment of the projects above intimated.—
The Press.

MERCHANT-SHIP APPRENTICES.

(From the Shipping and Mercantile Gazette.)

MR. HORSFALL, the member for Liverpool, has given
notice that, in committee on the Merchant Shipping Bill,
he will move to insert a clause making it compulsory for
merchant ships to carry apprentices. We have repeatedly
shown the injustice of such a measure, and unless the
honourable gentleman hopes to induce Mr. Cardwell to
consent, at the same time, to the re-enactment of the old
Navigation Laws, we cannot believe that there is the
slightest chance of inducing the House of Commons to
again place on the British shipowner the restrictions and
obligations from which he has been relieved, by reason of
the repeal of those laws. If Mr Horsfall urges the com-
pulsory apprenticeship clause at the suggestion of any
particular section of the shipping interest, the simple
answer is, that they are at liberty to carry as many ap-
prentices as they please. If the object be one of national
policy, then we say the country has no right to ask the
shipowner, any more than the shopkeeper or the cotton-
'Pinner, to contribute to the rearing of British seamen.