Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-04-09
ENGLAND, FRANCE. AND THE EAST.
prom rnk LONDON rIMEs or MARION 81.

LONDON D.
The perpexity thrown the present state Of affairs
in the East by the confused and exaggerated statements
Of several foreign journals is partly dspeed and
when the which have actually taken place
reduced to their real dimensions they win be found 70
have lost much Of the imposing and alarming character
ascrbed to them. 1t appears to be true that days
after Prince MENscHIKoFy had his audience Of the Grand
Vizer, COL RosE the British Charge dAfares at Con-
stantnope, thought fit either upon the solicitations OF
the Turkish Government Of his notion to
send steamer to Malta with request addressed to Adj
miral DUSDAs that he would bring her Maestys Medi-
terranean fleet to Besika Bay, or point the
mouth OF the Dardaneles. We the term request,
because believe that Col Rose had and could not
suppose that he had the power to order the Admiral to
take so momentous step; and although the present
emergency had been foreseen for several weeks and in
deed similar had recently occurred at the time of
Count LEINISGENs mission such power had been sent
out to him. 1t is due the French Charge dAares at
Constantinople to that being consulted by his
colleague he did not in the measure proposed by
COL Rose. That measure was in fact, as We think, a
great error OF Judgment and it demonstrates more strong
than thing that has yet occurred that Lord STRAIT
fords long delay in proceeding to his post is very highly
reprehensible.
Fortunately, upon the arrival of the steamer at Malta
with this request from Colonel RosE Admiral DUNDAs
Of opinion that his instructions did not enable him to
comply with it. under the circumstances alleged to have
occurred The feet therefore, remains in harbor; and
there to suppose that the decision taken by
Admiral DUNDAs has been Disappeared by her aestys
Government 1t may also be hoped that before any
such communications be dispatched by the Charge
dAfaires Lord STRATFoRD will have reached CONSTANT
nope, with full knowledge of the views Of the British
Government 1t certainly does little credit to the fore
sight of cabinets that at the moment of the arrival Of
Prince MENscHIKoFT, with degree OF pomp and soem-
nifty which Russian Ambassador had displayed since
PoTEMKIN, the three Courts of England, Austria, and
France should be represented simple Charge Aares
whose personal abilities not above their professional
rank.
Upon the receipt of the intelligence that Col ROSE had
for the British feet the French Government appear
to have taken instantaneous resolution to send their
fleet to the Greek waters without waiting to be informed
degnng to inquire what had been the result of COL
Roses application. This decision might, however, be
the effect Of the dispatches received in Paris from their
Charge dAfares, of the representations made by
the Turkish Ambassador Probably it will turn out that
the French squadron will remain for time at Athens or
Smyrna, to watch the course of events. But although
regret the naughty and exclusive tone which the rus
sian Envoy Extraordinary has been suffered at
Constantnople andn's impossible for e other great Powrs
10 recognise Russia clam chdtsoeUer 10 dispose drb
dry and her pleasure of the fate Of Empire whose
existence has soiong been the peril and the problem Of Europe
by satisfied that the views of the Cab-
net of ST. Petersburgh extend far at this moment as
Of contemporaries suppose. II they did, it is not
the presence of half dozen French battle ships off
the Dardanelles that would stop the Of events
In discussing this subject however, which several of
the principal English journals appear to labor under ex
raordinary misconceptions both of fact and principle 1T
must be borne in mind that the prime aggressor Of whom
Turkey has to complain is France and it may be
demonstrated that without the extraordinary concessions
exacted by Nj. DE LAvALETTE last autumn, the cause
which has led to this formidable Russian embassy would
not have existed That is not the attack Mon
tenegro, as one journal supposes modification Of the
treaty OF Adrianople another conjectures is the
necessity which the Emperor of Russia processes to feel
for the maintenance of the rights of the Eastern Church.
which every where involve his authority We have not
forgotten that in the latter part of last summer when
Louis NAPOLEON was making his election of Imperial
titles that of Protector of the Holy Shrnes was Gre
dbly assigned to him. 1t obvious that neither Turkey
Russia would acknowledge such pretension,
but Nj. LAvALETTE instructed and authorized to
every known to diplomacy to strengthen the
influence of France in the Holy Land, especially by ex
tending the rights and jurisdiction Of the Latin converts
frman granted revoked and granted again to these
Franks and the persecution which the Divan had to en-
dure this subject of the chief that led
to the fall of REscnID and the dissolution of the Admins
traon of ALI PAsHA Russia declared that she could not
submit TO changes thus introduced into the existing state
of things, which wereso humating to the Greeks and
favorable to the Roman Catholics. A negotiation was
proposed at ST. Peersburgh but the instructions Of NJ
DE CAsTELBAJAo the French Minister, not Of ma
ture to facilitate settlement. The French Government
seemed to have made ITSELF on this question, the very
tool Of the utraCathohc party doubtless for political
objects of its and at the point the question las
reached she either surrender the preferential rights
she has extorted from the Porte defend them by other
Such is strictly the history Of this complicated
affair." and IL is certain that Russia has taken no active
part in it until she found it polite to defend her supre
macy in the Greek Church from the direct attacks of the
late French Ambassador.
But what have we to do in such affair? Will any
contend that this country is to pay the penalty Of
LAvALETTEs folly? That to intcrpose for the
purpose of strengthening the influence of France in the
East, as the protecress Of the Latin Churches? Or
that have the defence of the Roman Catholic clergy
much heart that to uphold their claims OF pre-
cedence Greek Popes Such notions will not support
moments investigation and accordingly the motives and
origin Of this dispute dressed way but
the to engage English sympathies on behalf OF
French interests in the Levant The French no doubt
an awkward position there but is the result Of their
own policy and the first blows struck in the last few
months Mt the independence Of the PORTE came from
Paris and destined to crafty the vanity Of LOUIS
NAPOLEON. 1t is therefore mockery to suppose that
this country be made the caspaw Of the French Gov
ernment by lending itself to the support Of demands
which ought to have been made, and which might
be employed at distant period to warrant French
cupation of Egypt.
tits true that this unhappy and candaous transaction,
disclosing does the impotence of Turkey and the d
visions of Chrstendom around the very sepulchre Of
Christ may also the preext and the occasion TO
execute other and deeply laid schemes Of policy
That was consequence which the French Government
ought to have when il thrust the Sultan into
embarrassing position. But must deal with those
dangers as they arise and though hold that it is ut
present our duty and interest to stand aoof shall
never cease contend that the policy Of this
try restore the of all the great Powers in the
affairs Of the East and by example OF moderation to
preserve peace and to check that cupdity which may
threaten any the Turkish Empire with
violence asunder.
FROM THE LoxDoS CHRONICLE or MARCH %.
The recent crisis in the affairs Of Turkey which was
terminated only by the submission of the Porte to nearly
- r.