Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-04-08
Sir G.. IT. Seymour to Lord j. Russell.

| Secret and confidential. Received February 6
Eztract.1 ST.. PETEnsEuRGH, JAM %, 1858.
have generally found Straightforward conduct to be
the best policy, and as it peculiarly called for towards
those who have acted by us in similar manner upon
leaving the palace the 14th instant drove the For
eign Office, and gave Count NEssELRoDE correct
mary of the conversation had just had the honor Of hold
ing with the Emperor. ...
Lord John Russell to Sir G. H Seymour.
FoRE1GN OFFICE, FEBRUARY 8, 1853.
SIR: have received and laid bef,re the Queen your
and confidential despatch of the 22d of January
In considering this grave question: the first reflection
which to her Majestys Government is that
crisis has occurred which renders necessary sou
ton of this vast European problem Disputes have arisen
respecting the Holy Places but these without the
sphere Of the internal government Of Turkey and con-
Germ Russia and France rather than the Sublime Porte.
Some disturbance of the relations between Austria and
Porte has been caused by the Turkish attack Mon
tcnegro but this again. relates rather to dangers at
fectng the froxter Of Austria than the authority and
safety Of the Sultan that there is sufficient cause
for nmang to the Sultan that he cannot keep peace of
home preserve friendly relations with his neghbors
1t further to her Maesy's Government to re-
mark that the event which contemplated is not definite
ly fixed in point of time. When William Ill and Louis
XIV disposed by treaty, of the succession of Charles H.
Of Span they providing for event which could
not be far off The nfrmtes of the Sovereign Of Spain
and the certain end of any human life made the contn-
gency in prospect both and near The death of the
partition The thing may be said Of the provision
made in the last century for the disposal of Tuscany
the deceaso of the last prince Of the house of Medc But
the contingency Of the dissolution Of the Ottoman empire
is of another kind. 1t may happen twenty, fifty, or
hundred years hence ...a.
In these circumstances it would hardly be consistent
with the friendly feelings towards the Sultan which ami
mate the Emperor of Russia no less than the Queen Of
Great Britain to dispose beforehand of the provinces
der his dominion. Besides this consideration however,
it must be observed that agreement made in such
tends very surely hasten the contingency for which
it is intended to provide. .a "a. '..,
Austria and France could not in fairness be kept in
ignorance of the transaction would such conceament
be consistent with the end Of preventing European war
Indeed such concealmen cannot be intended by his I'm
perla Maesy 1t is to be inferred that Great
Britain and Russia should have agreed the course
be pursued and have determined to enforce they should
communicate their intentions to the great Powers of Eu
rope. An agreement thus made, and thus communicated
would not be very long secret and, while it would
alarm and ALLEVIATE the Sultan the knowledge Of its exist
would stimulate all his enemies to increased violence
and more obstinate conflict. They would fight with the
conviction that they must ultimately triumph while the
Sultans generals and troops would feel that immediate
could their from final overthrow Thus
would be produced and strengthened that very anarchy
which is feared and the foresight of the friends of
| the patient would prove the cause of his death.
Her Maestys Government need scarcely enlarge the
dangers attendant the execution of any similar
venton The example of the Succession War is enough
to show how little such agreements are respected when
their VIOLATION. p0S10n
e Emperor Of Russia dposary but proprietor Of
Cosantnop woud be exposed to numberes hazards both
from the iongcherhed ambition of his and the
'caSoases Of Europe The ultimate proprietor, whoever he
might be, would hardly be satisfied with the inert supne
attitude of the heirs Of Mahomet H. great influence
on the affairs Of Europe naturally to belong the
sovereign of Constantnope holding the gates Of the Me-
dterranean and the Black Sea- That influence might be
used IN favor OF Russia it be used to control and
curb her power
His Imperial Majesty has justly and wisely said "My
country is SO vast happily circumstanced in every
way, that it would be unreasonable in me to desire more
territory or more power than possess On the contra
he observed sour great perhaps cnly danger is
that which would arise from extension given to
pire already too large vigorous and ambitious State
replacing the Sublime Porte, might however render war
the part Of Russia necessity for the Emperor or his
SUCCESSORS This European conflict would arise from the
very means taken to prevent it for neither England nor
France, nor probably Austria would be content to see
/ lConstantnople permanently in the hands of Russia.
On the part Of Great BritGn her Majesus Government
once declare that trey all intention or ,pish 10 hold
Constdntinople His Imperial Majesty may be quite Sc
cure on tins head They are likewise ready give an
that they win enter into agreement to provide
for the contingency of the fall of Turkey without
communication with the Emperor Of Russia
Upon the whole, then, her Majestys Government are
persuaded that no course Of policy be adopted
wse disinterested more beneficial to Eurone than
that which bis Imperial Majesty has SO lono followed
and which will render his name more lustron. tban
Of the most famous sovercgns who have sought inn
eplemcral nj
With view to the success Of this policy il ia
that the utmost fcrbearance should be manifested To-
wards Turkey that any demands which the great Power
Of Europe may have to make should be mado matter of
friendly negotiation rather than Of peremptory demand
that military and naval demonstrations to coercc the su
tan should much possible be avoided: that differ
ences with respect to matters affecting Turkey within
the competence of the Sublime Porte should be decided
after mutual concert between the great Powers and not
be forced upon the weakness Of the Turkish
To these cautions her Majestys Government wish to
add that in their view it is essential that the sptan
should be advised to treat his Christian subjects in
formity with the principles Of equity and religious
dom which prevail generally among the enlightened ma
tons of Europe The more the Turkish Goycrnment
adopts the rules Of impartial law and equal adminstra
ton the less will the Emperor of Russia snd 4
ry apply that exceptional protection which his
rial Majesty has found burdensome and inconvenent
though doubt prescribed by duty and sanctioned by
treaty.
You may read this despatch to Count Nesselrode and
If it is desired you may yourself place copy of in the
hands Of the Emperor In that case you viii aecompa
ny its presentation with those assurances Of riendshn
and confidence the part Of her Majesty the Queen
which the conduct Of his Imperial Majesty was so sure
70 inspire. am, &C. J. RUSSELL.