The Portland daily press., 1862-11-27
BY TELEGRAPH Il.
TO THE
Portland Daily Press.
Letter of the French Minister ON
Interference i'm American
Affairs.

HALIFAX, Nov. 80.
| The following is the dispatch of the French
Minister of Foreign Affairs, addressed to the
Ambassadors of France at London and ST. Pc
tersburg, and published in the Moniteur:
"Pdris October 30
Europe watches with painful interest the
struggle which has been raging more than a
year upon the American continent. The hos
tities have provoked sacrifice, and the efforts
of nature certainly inspire the highest idea of
perseverance and energy of two populations
but this spectacle, which does 50 much honor
TO their courage, is only given at the price of
numberless calamities and a prodsious effu-
sion of blood To these results OF civil war,
which from the very first assumed vast proper
ton, there is still to be added apprehensions of
seryilc war, which would be the eliminating
point of so many irreparable disasters
The sufierings of nation towards which we
have always proiessed sincere friendship
would have sufficed to excite the sincere solic-
itude OF the Emperor, even had we ourselves
not suffered byacounter blow from these events
under the influence of intimate relations, which
extensive intercourse has multiplied between
various regions of the globe.
Europe itself has suffered from the conse-
quences of this crisis, which dried up one of
the most fruitful sources of public wealth, and
which has caused most sad trials
AS you uic dWstIc, Wucil ILLS COuLlcJ COM
menced, we held it our duty to observe the
most strict neutrality, in concert with other
maritime powers, and the Washington cabinet
repeatedly acknowledged the honorable man
ner with which we adhered to that line of con-
duct. And the sentiments dncated TO us haue
undergone no change; but the benevolent char
acter Of that neutrality, instead of imposing
upon the powers the attitude which might re-
sembe indifference, ought rather to make
out of the position which seems to have no is
sue.
From the commencement of the war an arm
ed force was set ON foot by the belligerents,
which since then has almost constantly been
kept up. After SO much bloodshed, they are
now, in that respect, nearly in the same posi-
ton. Nothing authorizes the presumption
that more decisive military operations will
shortly occur.
According to the last news received in Eu-
rope the two armies, on the contrary, were in
condition that would not allow either party
to hope, within q brief delay, for any decided
advantage TO throw the balance and acceler-
ate peace.
All these circumstances taken together point
to the opportunity of an armstce, to which,
moreover, under present circumstances, no
stratagetical objection can be made. The
favorable dispositions towards peace which
North as well as the South, might on the other
hand second steps that might be made to rec
ommend the idea of truce.
The Emperor has therefore thought that the
occasion has presented itself of offering to the
beligerents the support OF good offices of three
maritime powers, and his majesty hats charged
me TO make the proposition of the government
TO her Brittanic majesty as well as to the Court
of Russia.
The three cabinets would exert their inf
ence at Washington rs well as with the Con-
federates, TO obtain an armistice for @ months
during which every act OF war, direct or ind-
rect, should Professionally cease on sea as well
as on land, aud it might be. il necessary, ulte-
riorily prolonged. These overtures, need not
say. would otimply on our part any Judgment,
on the origin or issue of the struggle, nor any
pressure upon the negotiations which might, it
is to be hoped, ensue in favor of an armistice.
Our task wouldconsist solely in smoothing down
obstacles. and in interfering only in measure
determined upon by the two parties. We
should not, in fact, believe ourselves called
upon to decide, but to prepare the solution of
difficulties, which hitherto have opposed rec
oncilliation between the belligerent parties.
Would not, moreover, an agreement between
the three Courts respond sufficiently to their
intentions; would it not give to their step the
character of evident impartiality?
Acting in concert they would combine the
conditions best suited TO ensure confidence in
the government of the Emperor, by the con-
slant tradition OF French policy towards the
United States, England by the community OF
race, Russia by the marks Of friendship she
has never ceased to show to the Washington
cabinet. Should the event not Justify the
hope of the three powers, and should the ardor
OF the struggle oyerrule the wisdom of their
councils, this attempt would not be the less
honorable for them, and they would have full
filled duty of humanity more especially in
dlcated in war which excited passions render
all direct attempts at negotiotion more diff
cult. il is the mission which international
law assigns to neutrals at the same time that it
prescribcs TO them a strict impartiality, and
they could never make nobler use of their
influence than by endeavoring to put an end
TO the struggle which causes so much suffer-
ing, and compromises such great interests
throughout the whole world.
Finally, even without immediate results,
these overtures would not be entirely useless,
for they might encourage public opinion to
views of concilation, and thus contribute TO
hasten the moment when the return of peace
might become possible.
request you sir, in the name of His Maies-
ty, TO submit these considerations to Lord
Russell, or to Prince Gortschakoff. begging
him to state the views of government of Her
Britannia Majesty or Count of Russia.
tSigned) DRoUYN De LHUYs.
The following dispatch was addressed by
Earl Russell To Earl Cowley, Her Maiestys
Ambassador at Paris:
"Foreign Office, Nov. IS.
My Lord: The Count de Flahault came to
the Foreign Office by appointment on Mon
day, 10th inst, and read to me a dispatch from
Nj. Drouyn de rHuys, relating to the civil war
in North America. In this dispatch the Min
lister tor Foreign Affairs states that Europe
has followed with painful interest the struggle
which had now been going on for more than
year on the American continent. He does
justice to the energy and perseverance which
have been displayed by both sides, but he OBJ
serves that these proofs of their courage have
been given at the expense of innumerable ca
lamities and immense bloodshed. To these ac-
compartments oi civil conflict is to be added
the apprehension of servile war, which would
be the climax of so many irreparable misfor-
tunes. If these calamities affected America
only, these sufierings Of friendly nation
would be enough to excite the anxiety and
sympathy of the Emperor; but Europe has
suffered in one of the principal branches of her
industry, and her artisans have been subjected
to most cruel trials
France and the maritime powers have, DUR
ing the struggle maintained the strictest neu-
tralty, but the sentiments by which they are
animated are far from imposing on them any
thing like Indifference, but seem. on the con-
trary, to require that they should assist the
two belligerent parties in an endeavor to es-
cane from n pOsition which appaarS IN haya