The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-04-15 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN,

It is impossible to look at the astrireQont bee
tween France and Spain,adverting to what has passed from
the commencement of the year MO, to the present mo-
ment, without being sensible of the unfortunately false
position in which the King of Spain is placed ; and that
the spirit of party in both countries, having aggravated
the national antipathy which antecedent circumstances had
occasioned, is in a great measure the cause of the unfor-
tunate irritation io Spain against France, to which his
Excellency the Minister of France has adverted. The
great object of his Majesty's foreign policy is to preserve
peace among nations; be feels the most anxious inter-
est for the happiness of his Catholic Majesty, and the
honour of his Unverement, and it would be his sincere
desire to allay that irritation.
But the British Government cannot but, feel, that
to make any declaration on any of the three points
referred to by his Excellency, without a previous accu-
rate knowledge pf all the circumstances which have oc-
curred between the two countries, would be not only pre-
mature and unjust, but would probably be unavailing;
and would, in fact deprive his Majesty of the ower•of
discussing and deciding upon the measures of this own
Government in this affair hereafter, when be should be
better informed. His Majesty must either place lairoselc
in this painful position, or he most do what would be
equally painful to his feelings, require from his august
Friend and Ally, the King of France, that lie should
submit his Conduct to the advice and controul of his
blajesty.
His Majesty's Government cannot think either 'ltem.
tive to be necessary ; but are of opinion that a review
of the obvious circumstances of the situation of France,
as well as Spain, will show that whatever may be the
tone assumed towards France by the ruling Powers in
Spain, they are no) in a. state to carry into execution any
plan of real bdsiility..
Considering thit a Civil War exists io the whole ex-
tent of the frontier which separates the two kingdoms ;
that hostile armies are in movement and in operation in
every part of it; and that there is not a town or village
ou the French frontier which is not liable to insult and
injury—there is no person who must not approve of the
precaution which his Most Christian Majesty has taken
in forming a corps of observation for the protection of
his frq,ntier, and for the preservation of the tranquillity
of his people.
His Britannic Majesty sincerely wishes that this mea-
sure may be effectual in attaining the objects for which it
is calculated ; and that the wisdom of the French Govern-
ment will have induced them to explain it at Madrid, in
such terms as will satisfy the Government of his Catholic
Majesty of its necessity.
Such an explanation will, it is hoped, tend to allay in
some degree the irritation against France ; and, on the
other hand, it may be hoped that some allowance will be
made in France for the state of the effervescence of isen's
minds in Spain ; in the very crisis of a Revolution and
a Civil War.
A moment's reflection upon the relative power of
the two States will slow, that the real evil to which
his Most Christian Majesty is exposed, is that resulting
from the operations of the Civil War on the neighbour-
ing frontier of Spain ; against which the atomises which
his Government have adopted is best calculated to pre-

serve him.
• Even revolutionary madness could not calculate upon
the success of a serious attack by Spain upon France, un-
der any circumstances which it is possible to suppose to
exist at present in the latter kingdom. Bet the attesitiou
of the Spanish tiovernmetat is now occupied by a Civil
War, the operations of which certainly justify the forma-
tion of a Corps of Observation in France; and it is not
very probable that they would, at this moment, desire to
break with France.
Neither is it to be believed that, in their present situa-
tion, they would not desire still to enjoy the advantage of
that conntenance to their system, which the prese
ennce of
the French Ambassador at the seat of Governm t must
afford them.
His Majesty therefore considers any rupture by Spain,
or any measure on her part which may render necessary
tithe immediate discontinuance of diplomatic relations by
France, very improbable; and as his Majesty is quite
unacquainted with what passed between France and Spain
since the month of April 1820; and his Government can-
not know upon. what grounds his Most Christian Ma-
'jetty's Government may think proper to discontinue the
diplomatic relations of *France with Spain ; or upon what
grounds war may break out between the two countries ;
it is impossible for them now to pronounce what 'advice
they should consider it their duty to give to his Majes-
ty, in case either or both-of those events should occur.
His Majesty most anxiously wishes that such extremi-
ties may be avoided, and be feels convinced that the Go-
vernment of his Most Christian Majesty will find means
of avoiding them.
.xo.s.—Tact Dugn
Op WRILINOTON TO MR. SECRICTART
CANNINO.--ReCeiVed Nov. ►2l. •
• (Extract.) Verona, Nov. 12. 1322.
1 Lave little to report as having occurred on the Spa-
nish question, since I wrote to you on the sth inst.
But 1 inclose to you a Memorandum oo what is pass-
ing. here, which I send to Sir Charles Stuart by this oc-
casion.
(Inclosure in No. 5.)---Memnatinum.
Verona,o Nov. 12, 1822.
On the 20th of October, the French Minister gave in
a.paper, requiring from the Ministers of the Allies to
know, whether, it France should be under the necessity
of withdrawing her Minister from Spain, the other Al-
lied Powers would do the sante ? In case France should
be involved in war with Spain, what countenance the Al-
lies would give the former ? And iu case France should
require it, what assistance?
To these questions the three Continental Allies answer-
ed on the 30th of October, that they would act as
France should, In respect to their Ministers in Spain,
and would give to France every countenance and assist-
ance she should require ;a-the cause for such assistance
and the perioil and the mode of giving it, being reserv-
ed to be specified ie-a Treaty.
The Ministetof Great Britain disswered, that having
no knowledgeof the cause of dispute, and not being able
to form a judgment upon an hypothetical case, he could
give no answer to any of the questions.
'f he mode of communicating with 'Spain was consider-
ed on the 31st, with a view to prevent a rupture between
France and Spain. It was agreed that the Minister of
each of the four Continental Courts at Madrid should
present a separate Note of,the same tenour, and drawn
upon the same minciples.; and on the Ist of November it
was settled, that the foor Vourm should draw • Up. their
Notes and .connuunicate them to the British Minister ;
• who should, upon seeing these Notes, make known the
line which his Court would take.
Since chit meeting, it is understood that the plan of
proceeding proposed and agreed to, has been altered.
Instead of Official Notes to be presented by the several
Ministers at Madrid to the Spanish tioverndent, it is
now intended that despatches shall be written to those
Ministers respectively, in which the several Courts will
express their wishes and intentions; this mode, of pro-
ceeding is adopted, as affording greater latitude for die-
Iraision and explanation than that by Official Notes.
• Accordingly, Monsieur de Montmorency has prepared
the draft of Ins despatch ; anti it is mph-rimed that the
Ministers of the Continental Powers are preparing theirs.
These are the facts which hare occurred at the exist-
IDE C"ICT".
In tbe area of the discussions which have taken
place upon *moles, a nusked4ilference of opinion
as so.* motlealf action bap nppenced between the l:on-
ditenul Pug han/la ankEnglaail on the
Other. • •

nilie Minister of the latter Power has rrcori►mended
that France, and the Powers which should interfere in
this cue, should •confine themselves to what may pro-
perly be called the external qnarrel bet►reen France and
Spain, should not, menace; and, above all, . should not
approach Spain in the form of enemies, bound ib a treaty
of a defensive alliance against her.
No.6.—Tnt Max oe rittimwc.rOm TO MR. SZCIUTART
CANNlNG.—Recelved Dec. 6.
(Extract.) Verona, N0v.22, 1822.
I inclo►e the Minute of the Answer which 1 returned.
to the Ministers oldie Allies on the 20th inst. when they
communicated to me the despatches which they proposed
to write to the Ministers of their several Courts at Ma-
drid.

111Ittcya.—(1nelosure in No. 6 )
• Verona, November 20,1922.
When the Ministers of the five Courts last assembled,
on the Ist instant, the object of their common solicitude
was to allay the irritation existing In Spain against
France, and to prevent a possible rupture between the
two Powers.
Although his Majesty's Gorcrnment did not consider
themselves sufficiently informed, either of what had al-
ready taken place between France and Spain, or of what
might occasion a rupture, to be able to answer in the'
affirmative, the questions submitted to the conference by
his• Excellency the Moister of France ; yet, knowing the
anxiety of the King, my master, for the honour of his
Most Christian Majesty, and for the preservation of the
peace of the world, 1 was willing to enter into the
consi-
deration of the measures proposed with a view to attain
I our common object.
It was settled that the Notes to be prepared according
to the proposition of his Highness the Austrian Minister,
and to be presented to the Spanish Government on this
occasion, should be communicated to me, in order that I
might see whether, consistently with the view which the
King had invariably taken of the affairs of Spain, and
with the principles which hat governed his Majesty's
conduct in relation to the internal concerns of other
countries, his Majesty's Government could take any part
which might forward the common purpose of preserving
the general tranquillity.
The Ministers of the Allied Courts have thought pro-
per to make known to Spain the sentiments of their re-
spective Sovereigns, by despatches addressed to the Mi-
nisters of their several Courts, residing at Madrid, in-
stead of by official notes—as a mode of communication
less formal, and affordiug greater facility of discussion.
These despatches, it appears, are to be cominanicated
in extenso to the Spanish Government.
The origin, circumstances, and consequences of the
Spanish Revolution—the existing state of affairs in
Spain, and the conduct of those who have been at the
head of the Spanish Government, may have endangered
the safety of other countries, and way bsve excited the
uneasiness of the Governments, whose Ministers I am
now addressiug; and those Governments may think it
necessary to address the Spanish Government upon the
topics referred to in these despatches.
'these sentiments and opinions have certainly been en-
tertained by the three Minds of Austria, Prussia, an:l
Russia, for a considerable period of time; and the Bri-
tish Government duly. appreciates the forbearance and
deference for the opinions of other Cabinets, which have
dictated the delay to wake these communications to the
present moment. But having been delayed till now,
~ould request those Ministers to consider, whether this
is the moment at which such remonstrances ought to be
made; whether they are calculated to allay the irritation
against France, and to prevent a possible raptor;; and
whether they might not with advantage be delayed to a
later period.
They are certainly calculated to irritate the Govern-
ment of Spain ; to afford ground fur a belief, that advao-
tage has been taken of the irritation existing betiseen
that Government and France, to call down upon Spain
the power of the alliance ; and thus to embarrass still
more the difficult position of the French Government.
The result of these communications will probably be,
that the diplomatic relations between the three Allied
Courts and Spain will be discontinued—whatever may
be the state of the questions between France and
Spain ; this occurrence cannot assist the cause of France;
as those questions will stand upon their own ground, and
the Government of France must decide them upon their
own merits.
By these communications are not only calculated to em-
barrass the French Government, but likewise that of the
King, my master. Ills Majesty feels sincerely for the King
and the people of Sain ; he is anxious to see a termination
of the evils and misfortunes by which that country Is afflict-
ed; and that it should be prosperous and happy. ills Ma-
jesty likewise earnestly desires, that the usual relations of
amity and good neighbourhood nifty be re-established be.
tween France and Spain; his Majesty's Government would
.have been anxious to co-operate with those of his Allies in
allaying the existing irritation, and in preventing a possible
rupture.
But his Majesty's Government are of opinion, that to
animadvert upon the internal transactions of an independent
State, unless such transactions affect the essential interests
of his. Majesty's subjects, is inconsistent with those princi-
ples on which his Majesty has invariably acted on all ques-
tions relating to the iuternal concerns of other countries;
that such animadversions, if made, must involve his Majes-
ty in serious responsibility, if they should. produce any
effect ; and must irritate, if they should not; and, if ad-
dressed, as proposed, to the Spanish Government, are likely
to be injurious to the best interests of Spain, and to pro.
duce the worst consequences upon the probable discussions
between tbat country and France.
The King's Government must, therefore, decline to advise
his Majesty to hold a common language with his Allies upon
this occasion; and it Is so necessary for his Majesty, not to
be supposed to participate in a measure of this description,
and calculated to produce such consequences, that his Go-
vernment must equally refrain from advising his Majesty to
direct, that any cortainuoication should be made to the Spa-
nish GOTEMMEDI, on the subject of its relations with
France.'
His Majesty, therefore, must limit his exertions and
good offices, to the eudeavours of his Minister at Madrid to
allay the ferment which these cornmuelcalioqs must occasion,
and to do all the good in his power.
No. 7.-11 a. SLCSETART CANNING TO THS Duas or
WELLINGTON.
(Extract.) Foreign Office, December 6, 1822.
The latest date of your Grace's despatches from Verona
is the 19th ultimo.
The French mail due yesterday, has, from some unac,
countable accident, failed to arrive ; and we are left in an
uncertainty as to every thing that has passed at Verona for
more than a fortnight. In this state of things, however
difficult it may be to shape instructions to a ease not ascer-
tained, it has nevertheless been felt by his Majesty's ad-
visers, that we should be wanting to our duty, if we did not
submit to his Majesty the course which it would be expe-
dient to pursue, in that which is understood to be the pre-
sent situation of the qutstion of peace or war between.
Franee and Spain.
M. de Viilele has taken several opportunities of expross-
big to Sir Charles Stuart his own earnest desire for the pre-
serration of peace ; and his wish to receive not only she I
+support, but the advice of the British Government, inAla
endeavours to preserve it.
I bare the King's eorninends to signify to your Grace his
Majesty's pleasure, that your Grace should seek a conver-
sation with M. de Viliele; and after referring to his Excel-
ieney's communications through Sir Charles Stuart, should
offer to that Minister the mediation of his Majesty between
their Most Christian and Catholic Majesties.
It will not mei). your Grace's observation, that in order
to afford a prospect of success lb our mediation, if Frame
'thwart be willing to employ it, thereehould bosoms reason
able hope of a similar acceptance on thepart of Strain. .:
i enclose to your Grace an extract of w despatch-from the \
Apulian, Uovernment to its Charge d'Affaires in I.cunlpsi,
last was read and delivered to me by Ms di Colusab JD to
conference thti day before gestertlay.
litillitt4datett!ttf ibltdielktictt b bl.Aegol ntith(.wlth