The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-08-16

tne h-oWerb an SYRIA
According to the advices received by the
Persia aud Parana the Convention for an
armed intervention in Syria has been final
ly agreed to and signed by the Euro
pean governments. The force is to con-
sist of twelve thousand men, one half to
be furnished by France and the rest to
be supplied by another Power when required.
The occupation is to be limited one, the
period fixed for Its duration being six months
1t is to be conducted in unison with the views
of the Porte, credit being given that govern
ment for desire to put stop to the persecu-
ton of its Christian subjects. 1t will be readily
seen, however, that in its limitation as to time,
and its faith in the sincerity of the Turkish
government, there is more than the usual
amount of diplomatic hypocrisy. No one
believes that six months occupation by
foreign troops will have the effect of over
awning the hostile sects; nor is 1t for moment
supposed that difficulties will not arise with
the Sultan, or rather with his Cabinet, as to the
manner and form In which the Intervention is
to be carried out. All the precautions possible
have, to be sure, been taken against any one Of
the high contracting Powers taking advantage
Of any Misunderstanding of this sort.
clause has been inserted IN the con-
vention declaring the intention of the
Signatures not TO seek for exclusive
influence or privileges and no doubt such are
the present sentiments with which they all
enter into this arrangement. 1t must be OBJ
vious to every rejecting mind, however, that
there never was diplomatic agreement which
was more liable to the disturbance of its condi-
tons, or which offered less chances of its being
honestly carried out
Let us look at the facts. BY the terms of
the Convention, France, which has already
despatched troops to the spot is to have the
field to herself, SO long as the six thousand men
who are to constitute her proportion of the
stipulated force are sufficient to overawe the
fanatics to whom these atrocities are due. 1t
may be safely concluded that France will not
acknowledge the necessity for further rein
forcement to have arisen until she is herself
prepared to take the consequences of the in
fringement of the stipulation which limits her
contingent to the number Of men specified.
In the meanwhile, she will have time to con-
solidate that ascendancy over the Turkish
government and the Turkish population at
which her diplomacy has so long aimed.
The circumstances under which this arrange
ment bias been agreed to exhibit as plainly as
possible the fears entertained by the other 60
vernments on this head. Russia endeavored, as
the condition of her consent to It, to obtain per-
mission to interfere on behalf of the Greek
Christians in other parts of the empire; whilst
England insisted on the limitation of the inter-
vention to the briefest possible period. The
one stipulation was overruled because of the
additional complications to which it was GER
tain TO lead and the other was assented to only
because France, having anticipated the action
Of the Conference by the despatch of troops to
Syria, felt Indifferent as to a condition the full
flment Of which could only be determined by
events.
The insertion, therefore, Of this clause in the
Convention, as well as the language of Lord
Stratord de Radcliffe 10 Parliament, prove that,
notwithstanding the reiterated friendly assu-
RANGES of the French Emperor the distrust and
jealousy in regard to him, which found express
sion in Lord Palmerston's recent speech, con-
tinue undminshed among British statesmen.
II is not that they have any actual fears of
aggressive intention Of invasion on his part.
We do not believe that amongst any
class Of English politicians such apprehensions
have been for a moment entertained. What
they dread is not his augmentations of the mill
tary and naval strength OF France, but his DO
litical genius, his diplomatic adroitness, his in
ceesant activity and watchfulness, and his
efforts TO stimulate the industrial and CONNER
cial energies of France. They see in all this
the prospect Of his raising the French empire
TO position Of political influence and great
ness far transcending that Of Great Britain.
And, in fact, thus far all his measures have
tended 10 this result. No war has been under
taken, no diplomatic conference has been held,
no treaty has been ratified that has not in some
way or other contributed to the glory and ma
terial advantage of France The occupation
Of Rome led 10 the humiliation Of Austria and
the ascendancy Of French influence in Italy;
the Crimean war contrasted the military weak
ness and the internal vices of the administrative
system Of England with the perfect or
ganization and immense military resources
Of France; the campaign against Austria
secured for her Nice and Savoy whilst il won
for her chief the prestige as an able general,
which be had so long coveted; the promptness
with which be has proiited by the disturbances
in Syria marks the same wonderful prescience
with which he has hitherto anticipated the
course Of political events, and secured to his
people the advantages that the hesitation and
slow action of his rivals have missed. Whilst
helping to give TO Italy the unity which was
alone wanting to constitute her great nation,
and which, since the decline Of the Roman re-
public, she now for the first time enjoys, he has
guarded against the chances Of her future in
gratitude by obtaining for Spain the privileges
of first class Power thus raising n counter