The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-06-15

most important character have been proceedin 9
there for some short time, but we have received
account as yet which can reassure the public mind
with respect to the issue of those negotiations
My lords, upon the 25th OF April the noble ear
opposite the Secretary of State for Foreign AFFAIR."
treasured the public and the House by telling Ut
that he had received the most solemn promise from
the Emperor of Russia with respect to his inten-
tions and propositions intentions towards the
Porte, and his propositions to that power. ] was
not present myself when the noble earl spoke upon
that occasion, because no notice had been given by
the noble marquis of the question he was about to
put. was consequently absent, circumstance
which much regret, seeing that the whole ques-
ton peculiarly interesting to me. But
upon that occasion, what the noble earl stated to
the House certainly treasured with respect
to any suspicious that might have been enter
tanned of the policy and intentions of Russia
towards the Ottoman empire. regret to say-a
regret which is shared in common with me by
thousands in this country-that whatever may be
the Issue OF the events which have yet occurred,
appearances have not justified the promise held
out to the public by the noble earl. We under
Stood if we understood any thing, that the object
of the embassy of Prince Menschikoff to Constan.
tinople was principally to settle disputes concern
ing the H1ly Shrines with the French government
1t his object were confined to that point, it was
clear to everybody that England could have no
interest. personally, in the matter; and therefore
if no other question were to be considered at Con.
stantinople, we, when we heard that statement
were treasured upon the subject But since the
speech of the noble carl viz upon the 9Th of this
month, believe, Prince Menschikof, having
settled bis differences with the French government
and the Ottoman Porte on the question of the HOLY
Shrines, came forward with perfectly different
and new proposition, involving other points OF
much greater Importance to Europe generally and
to this country, of course, as one of the great
ersof Europe. Of course / speak, my lords,
under correction, because what l say upon the
subject with respect to the facts of the proposition
of Prince Menschikof. have only learnt from the
same sources which are open to your lordships;
but have not seen the statements contradicted az
they probably would have been if they had
been incorrect. 1t appears to me, then, that upon
the 9Th of May Prince Menschikof proposed to,
or rather l should say demanded of, the Ottoman
Porte that convention should be signed between
the Sultan and the Emperor of Russia securing to
the Greek subjects of the Porte all the privileges
and indemnties which they had epioyed at an y
time previous to the present Sultan's reign, or
which by himself had been granted to those sub
iects, and accepting Russia as the guarantee.
indemnities perpetually secured. / will not de.
tain your lordships by describing what consider
the result of such treaty would be if it were
signed by those two powers, further than to say
that consider it extremely analogous to propo-
stion or demand being made by some great Cath.
oic country to the sovereign of England, insisting
that sovereign should sign TO them treaty
which should secure to our Roman Catholic sub
jects in Ireland the immunities and privileges
which Parliament has hitherto granted them
privileges like the bill of 1929, and Others of a sim
liar nature. My lords, it must be evident to all
Of your ordships that, if such treaty were signed
as Prince Menschikoff has proposed, Russia would
become the arbiter between the Sultan and his sub.
jects-would become, indeed, de fdcto, the ruler
of great part of that sovereigns subjects; and I
need not tell your lordshps what effect that must
have upon the general balance of power in Europe,
and upon all those opinions which believe are en-
teraned upon both sides of the house with respect
to the great importance OF keeping the Turkish
empire in state of integrity and independence
[ Hear, hear.] Another remarkable circumstance
with reference to that proposition is, that it was
made at once an ultimat,tm. do not pretend to
any great experience in diplomatic customs, but
it certainly struck me as most unusual that the
first proposition should be at the same time an ult
matum. If treaty had been violated, or if there
had been any dispute to infraction of treaty.
could understand that proposition might be made
IN an arbitrary manner, demanding an ultimatunl
But this was entirely a new proposition 1t had
never been heard of, or suspected, or apprehended
before; and the way, as | understand it, if am
rightly informed, in which it was proposed to the
Porte was in the offensive character of an ultima
tum. The questions which wish to put to the no
Bile earl are-whether have given correct de.
scription of the demands made by Prince Menscbi.
kof upon the Porte; and whether, CONSIDERING az
do, that the interests of France and this country
are identical upon this subject do not mean with
the proposition of Prince NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ing, say, that our interests are IDENTICAL wish
to ask the noble earl whether the instructions given
to Lord Stratford are identical with those given to
the French Ambassador at Constantinople-wh
Their those two dipomatists are acting in union
upon this matter, and whether, when thus acting
under their instructions, they are supporting the
courage and independence of the Porte?
The Earl of CLARENDON. My lords, can as.
sure your lordships that there is unwillingness
on my part to answer the inquiries which have
beer addressed to me by my noble friend opposite.
still less to withhold from your lordships any in.
upon subject with respect to W hich,
as my noble friend said, you must naturally be
most anxious, and which has claims of an import
ant nature upon your attention. am sure, there.
fore, shall not be accused of a want of courtesy
to my noble friend who recently filled the office
which have now the honor to hold, or to YOUR
lordships, if ask him at this time not to press
for information which believe it would be con.
to give with respect to negoa tions that may still
be pending. Hear, hear.] Your lordships will,
am sure, still less urge me to express the opinion
that my noble friend has called for, when tell
your ordshjps that the dates of the last official
dispatches which we have received from Lord
Stratford are of the 9th of May. A short time
prior to that, as my noble friend has stated the
question of the holy places, which involved grave
offence offered to the Emperor of Russia by the
violation OF an engagement towards him by the
tied. am happy tie state that the friendly and
judicious offices of Lord Stratford had promoted
that settlement, and that those good Offices had
been duly acknowledged. Hear, hear.] 1t is
also true, az my noble friend has stated that on
the 9th of May project of convention was pre-
sented to the Porte by Prince Menschikoff but it
10 not correct that 1t presented as an ultima.
tt4m ID true an answer was required in We
days. but the best proof that it was not an ultima.
I"m 10, that believe other notes have since been
exchanged Lord Stratford, upon the 9th instant,
states that he is not able to inform US what answer
would be given by the Porte; and that is really the
whole OF the official Information that we have re-
ceived Other information has of course reached
her MaJesty's Government by means of the cleo
TIC telegraph, because, now days. no small por-
lion of diplomatic business is transacted by means
Of that discovery. This is very useful and con-
venient appliance in respects, but it is per.
picking in others, because, though it announces
acts and events, it seldom announces the causes
which have led to those events, and it is difficult
to act, therefore, with confidence upon the infor
nation which it conveys. Upon the 10th, for in.
stance, we received by the telegraph an announce.
ment that Prince Menscbikoff's note had actually
been rejected by the Porte; but we do not at all
know upon what ground the step had been taken
we know, also, that Redschid Paeha is now Min
lster for Foreign Affairs; and we know that on the
1oth FRINGE Menschikoff was etill at Constantine.
pleI but we do not know whether all nego tiations
are at an end. think l can, therefore, in these
appeal to your lordships whether it
would not be in the highest degree improper and
mpoltic on my part if we're to pretend to give a
correct account OF the events which had there oc-
cured and still less to express opinion upon
hAr,a