The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-11-27
THE OULE AFFAIR

Translated from the Paris Correspondence Of the Inde
pendence Beige of Brussels
PARIS, Nov. e. 1854.
1t is true that the affair Of Mr.. soue, United States
Minister at Madrid has caused great excitement here
and it is also true that he denied passage through
France his return from England but it is easy
tabsh the fact that this act Of the French
performed through very serious motives, and was
very well justified 1t is also easy to divest this affair of
what at first seemed to involve serious political conse
quences between France and the United States.
You know that Mr. Soule is a Frenchman born will
not tell you to-day under what circumstances he lief
France. Perhaps at some future day will give you
the case in detail For this moment will only speak Of
the parsonage whose attitude language and role since
his return from the United States minister to Europe
have provoked the step which the French government
As soon as he arrived in Madrid Mr.. soule mixed with
the parzans Of the demogogue creed, and particularly
with those who niical to the French government
peror hmsef-was not only improper but often violent
and injurious. The Marquis de Turgot had been only
when Mr. soule seized upon an opportunity to embro
him in duel, which he wanted to fight with him per-
sonay, while nothing the part OF Monsieur de Tur
got had given him o reason for this provo
cation The cause Of this hostile meeting, partaking
but little Of diplomacy was to be charged entirely to
abrupt provocation The result was fatal to Monsieur
de Turgot, who had accepted the challenge with senti
ments Of digni6ed susceptibility
good taste the part Of Mr. Soule not to take
try for his promenades, while his hands still stained
looked upon having played very active and very
compromising role in the Spanish events in July and
August The Spanish government ITSELF born from the
revolution of July notwithstanding its democratic sym
pahes and tendencies, had reason, apparently, to
plain of the intrgues of the Uuited States Minister
Either he obliged to leave Madrid for season. or
wishing to continue with activity his demagog aical and
revolutionary mission, he came to France.
For entire month he travelled in the southern pro-
uvto< h. tho
compromised in the anarchial ideas Of 1s4s preparing
almost openly an armed propaganda against the actual
ereton, in language which, spoken by any French cit.
gen. would have been judged culpabe. Government
informed Of this revolutionary enterprise and OF the
liberty to pass unmolested through France to England.
Mr. Soue, in London, mixed more among political re-
fugees than among the members Of the corps diploma
tique. He was permanently in conference with those
OF lS4S whose convictions-pronounced under the
Republic of lS4s and '49show their fragrant hostility
not only against the French but against
the French society These conferences their character
and their aim were well known here through channels
that were reliable. When Mr. S0ule, after having been
the head and heart Of those conferences to the
French borders the Minister of the Interior thought
proper to forbid him entrance into the French territory
Having charge ST the order aud peace Of the interior,
and the security Of the public, this minister did not
think that Mr. soule who had made himself the
of the republicans and the demagogues sundry
quarters the southern Provinces to be authorized
to act their gent and the agent of the danger
chiefs gathered at London These the real facts
Of the
How these facts be viewed in point Of international
law2 What consequences can they lead tos
An ambassador foreign minister has but diploma
tic character in those countries in which he is not the
resident the representative When he travels through
those countries route to the State to which he sent
when he returns back again. he is covered by e dro
des gems He enjoys the special protection Of this law
which is extended 10 all persons dipomaiique to
bearer ofdespaches But II in these circumstances
that Soue back to France Has he asked passage
through this state diplomatic parsonage? Has he
shown this qualification Not at all. Mr.. soule
Erot IN IN faf dali
political tour, very active very long, but which had
nothing TO do with his mission aud his diplomatic attr
butes He private individual, ostensibly,
rather apparently TO travel but in reality to tn
malevolent and hostile intention against the government
He came back 1t is evident to recommends and continue
his action with more dangerous arguments than
The government has taken the steps necessary to
vent It, Are not these measures right as well as
sonable and necessary How 1t be possible to in
this violation Of the law of naonsY How is possible
for him. any to pretend this action OF the govern
ment TO be directed against the dpomatthat they af
fected his official character and consequently outraged
his governments diplomat in the country where he
resides notwithstanding his special privileges is obliged
In his dealings with persons and things to respect the
general laws Of the country in which he is placed II
the government has of complaint against him. IL
70 MIN his passports and oblges him to use them
instantly In the privileges of the diplomat are not
wrapped up the responsibilities of the private citizen
SO much more is this distinction batween the diplo-
mat and the private citizens in the countries In which
he Is not accredited. HIS official Character only ac.
companies the diplomat in his tour as have men.
toned above, in the accidental relations which he
seeks, either with the chiefs of the state or the
Minister the funconaries of the country where
he is and TO whom he has been introduced with this on
cal character. But one who makes tour through
country to which he is not accredited with any Official
position. comes only as private individual and with.
out special rights. lie who in this condition excites
troubles irritaes bad feelings calls TO life elements Of
insurrecton and civil war, is enwrapped with
guarantees which leave the defenceess than
any other agent OF disorder. In one weri, country
abandons abdicates its sovereignty even
towards diplomat. Now, is there sovereign right
more imprcscriptble and more sacred than the one
security and defenceS It is in consequence of this
supreme power that the Minister of the Interior
pposed H. Soule's coming bacx upon this terri
DRY, after having acquired the knowledge OF his