The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-04-09


day, although Of an interesting character vary
IN no material respect the aspect Of our previous
intelligence The announcement, previously re-
ceived by telegraph, that the Gar had formally
rejected the uitimatissimnm of the Western
Powers, turns out to have been an anticipation
Of the fact in another form, the Emperor hav-
ing communicated to the French and English
consuls, through Count Nesselrode his deter
mination not to return any answer ut al TO the
Joint summons of those Powers. The cxp,ra-
ton Of the period fixed for the receipt of his
reply would consequently have been followed
By an immediate declaration Of war, and our
next advices will probably bring Us the official
proclamation Of the fact.
The most interesting features in these adj
vices is the effect produced in France by the
publication of the correspondence between the
Gar and the British Cabinet relative to the
dismemberment and partition Of the Ottoman
dominions. The .Moniteur contains an am
biguously worded article on the subject, which
seeks to establish the conclusion that the Rus
sian Emperor, after falling in the objects sought
to be attained through the medium of that cor
respondence, made propositions of somewhat
would seem, however, as if these advances were
made in so cautious manner that they
are susceptible either Of being qualified or
wholly dsclaimed. The .Monsteur says
"As to the government of the EN-
peror Napoleon, there is but one observation
to make upon the studied endeayor of Russia
to leave it out of the question in her plans of
continental modification, which is, that Russia
came back to the French government after
having failed in London, and that France in her
turn had to decline advances, more or less direct,
which are not without resemblance to those
which were made to England"
The London Times gives more specific char
acter to this statement, by alleging that the in
ducement held out to France was the incorpo-
ration with the latter Of portion of the terri
tories of the very kingdom which the Gar had
before passed over in contemptuous silence, and
which has since distinguished itself as the last
adherent of Russian policy beyond the Vistula.
1t was to the forbearance of France upon this
occasion that Prussia owed her safety.
1t is, Of course, difficult to say what amount
Of credit is to be attached to tie colorng given
by the Times to this transaction. The Western
Powers have just now SO powerful an interest
in fixing the waverng policy Of Prussia, and in
committing her decisively to their cause, that
we must receive with caution statements Oh
viously having that object in view. As far as
We can learn, there is no documentary evidence
in existence which can either establish or refute
the truth Of these allegations. The PROPOSE tions
referred 10 were not made as in the case of the
British government. by the Gar himself to the
French minis ,er at st. Petersburg, but were
ommunica,o cd through the informal medium of
a conversation held with NJ. Kisselef by the
French Emperor. Putting aside the considera-
ton that more weight may have been at
tached to observations and reflections thus
transpiring than they were intended to
bear. or that the Russian Minister NAV have |
exceeded his instructions, by either Of which |
statements the Gear may endeavor to establish |
a disclaimer 1t seems strange that. if the facts |
are as represented by the London Times, the |
French Emperor should have felt any delicacy
about communicating them to the world. In
this singular age, when diplomacy has cast |
| aside the secresy which was formerly held to |
be its essential characteristic and when mo-
narchs themselves rush to the public confess
sional there seems to be no possible reason for
this reserve. Louis Napoleon lies under no
particular obligations Of courtesy or diplomatic
restraint as regards the Russian Emperor, and
his abstaining from ainging this brand of dis
cord between two courts, whose family ties
| seem likely to be consolidated by close poll
tical alliance, suggests doubt as to the accu-
racy of that part Of the statement of the Times
which refers to Prussia.
If, however, it should turn ont that the |
French Emperor has been withheld by pune
tilious considerations from publishing a fact |
which it is SO important to the interests of the |
coalition should be made known to the world, |
we must say that he exhibits more delicacy than |
the Gar is likely to appreciate. The latter |
seems to think that the ordinary rules which
govern society and prescribe the sacredness of
private communications should give place, ON
all occasions, to political expediency. Another
illustration of his peculiar views on this sub
ject is to be found in an announcement contain
ca IN the last dispatches from st. Petersburg
that amongst number of documents which he
is about to publish on the Eastern question he
means to give to the world some private letters
| from Prince Albert. Of the nature of those
communications nothing has as yet transpired;
but it would not at all surprise us if they went
to confirm the suspicious SO generally entertain
ed in England short time since of the Rus
sian tendencies of the Prince consort.
The accounts respecting the progress of the
Greek instruction are SO contradictory that
| u Is dlihcuit TO arrive at any precise estimate
OF us Importance It. real aspect may, howev-
err be gathered from the reply made by the
| government at Athens to the remonstrances of
| the Ambassadors Of the allied Powers. This
document states that, with the small number of
| troops comprising the army, it was impossible