Polynesian., 1853-10-01
necessity of the movement of the two squad

t"SSSSisy VI tuC uiOtctucut Vi Tie tWO SQudQ-
rons.
| On the 3lst of May, when it was impossi-
BILE 10 know at St. Petersburg, where the
intelligence did not reach until the l7th
June, the resolutions which might be adopted
by France and England, Count Nesselrode
communicated to the Porte, in the form of
letter to Reschid Pacha, last ultimatum,
with brief delay for an answer, and which
contained and very clearly expressed the
menace OF an approaching occupation of the
Danubian Principalities. When that decf-
sion was adopted, with a solemnity which no
longer permitted government careful of its
dignity, to modify it-when in a circular,
dated the 1lth of June, His Majesty the
Emperor Nicholas caused it to be announced
to Europe, az if it was meant that its exc
cution was still more irrevocable, our squad
ron was yet at Salamus, and that of Eng
had not quilted the port of Malta
This simple comparison of dates suffices
sir, to show from what quarter proceeded
the initiative which is now attempted to
be thrown off, by imposing the RESPONSE
bility of it On France and England II also
sufhces to prove that between the commu-
nlcation made at Paris and London of the
steps directly taken by Count Nesselrode at
Constantinople, and the rejection Of the uhi-
nahum, time was actually wanting to the
governments of His Imperial Majesty and
Her Britannia Majesty to exercise, in any
sense whatever, their influence at CONSTANT
nople. No, sir-and assert it with all the
force OF conyiction-the French government
in this serious matter has no reproach to
make to itself if it rejects from the inmost
lcOnScIpnce and in tho nf oil
Europe, the responsibility imputed to It;
and, strong in its very moderation, it appeals
in its turn-and fearlessly appeals-to the
Judgment of its cabinets.
Excepting the object, which is SO different
OF the two demonstrations, there was per-
maps, sort OF analogy IN the respective
situations when the Russian army was drawn
up on the left bank Of the Pruth, and when
the fleets of France and England cast
anchor at Besika. That analogy has ceased
to exist since the passage of that stream
which forms the limits Of the Russian and
Ottoman Empire. Moreover, Count Nessel-
rode seems TO admit the fact, when he sup
poses the squadrons to be already within
sight of Constantinople, and describes as
necessary compensation for what he terms
our maritime occupation, the military posi-
tion taken by the Russian troops on the
banks of the Danube.
The English and French forces do net,
by their presence outside the Dardaneles,
commit any infra ctIon of existing treaties
The occupation of Wallachia and Moldavia,
on the contrary, constitute a manifest viola
ton of these same treaties. The treaty of
Adrlanople, which determines the conditions
of the Protectorate of Russia, specifies the
case which permits that power to intervene
| in the Principalities and that case is when
their privileges are disregarded by the
Turks
In IS4S, when these provinces were occu-
pied by the Russians, they were the theatre
of a revolutionary agitation which equally
menaced their own safety, that of the sove-
reign, and that of the protecting power,-
The convention of Balta Liman admitted
that if events of similar nature again occurred
IN the course OF several years, Russia and
Turkey should in common adopt measures
that were best suited to establish order.
Have the privileges of Moldavia and Wal
lachia been menaceds Have revolutionary
movements broken out on their territory9
Facts are before us TO prove that there has
been no occasion, for the moment, for the
application of either the treaty of Adrianople
or of the convention of Balta Lima
BY what right, then, have the Russian
troops passed the Pruth, if it is not by a
right of war-a war, l admit whose true
name there appears no desire to pronounce,
but which proceeds from a new principle,
fertile in disastrous consequences, and
which one is astonshed to find acted upon,
for the first time, by conversative power
of rank in Europe so eminent as Russia,
and which would end in nothing less than
the oppression, in time of profound peace. of
weaker States, by strong ones who are their
neighbors?
The general interest Of the world is op-
posed to the admission of such doctrine;
and the Porte, in particular, has the indis-
putable right to regard as an act of war the
invasion OF the provinces, which, whatever
be their special organization, constitute an
integral part of its empire. The Porte
would not therefore any more than the
powers who would come to its aid, commit a
violation of the treaty of July, 1871, if i'll
declared the Straits of the Dardaneles and
of the Bosphorus open to the squadrons of
France and England. The opinion Of His
Imperial Majesty's government is precise on
that point; and, though it does not exclude
the attempting efficacious means of concillia-
tion between Russia and Turkey, have
requested General de Castelbajac to make
known to Count Nesselrode our opinion and
to communicate to him the present despatch.
also authorize yon to hand copy of it to
M. -.
Receive. sir, the assurance Of my distin-
guished respect.
DROUYN DE LHUYS.
SLAyERY AND THE NEW TERRIToRY.-The Bos-
tox c,-ro-ro,Jocf of tbo Gan Frzpc,Sco Hara1d 1