Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-11-29

federate States, to bring about q suspen-
sion Of hostilites for six months, during
which every act Of hostility, direct or in
direct, should cease, at sea as well as on
land. This armistiee might, if necessary,
be renewed for further period.
This proposal, Drouyn de Lhuys proceeds
to say, would not imply on the part of the
three Powers any judgment on the origin
Of the war, or any pressure on the nego-
tiatiOns for peace, which it is hoped would
take place during the armistice. The
three Powers would only interfere to
smooth the obstacles, and only within the
limits which the two interested parties
would prescribe.
The French Government is Of the opin-
ion that even in the event of failure Of
immediate success, these overtures might
be useful in leading the minds of men now
heated by passion, to consider the advan-
tages Of coneiliation and peace.
Such is in substance the proposal Of the
Government Of the Emperor of the French,
and l need hardly say that it has attracted
the serious attention Of her Majesty's Gov
ernment. Her Majesty is desirous of act
ing in concurrence with France upon the
great questions now agitating the world,
and upon none more than on the contin-
gencies connected with the great struggle
now going on in North America.
Neither her Majesty, the Queen, nor the
British nation will ever forget the noble
and emphatic manner in which the Empe-
ror of the French vindieated the laws of
nations, and assisted the cause of peace in
the instance sf the seizure Of the Confed-
crate Commissioners on board the Trent
Her Majesty's Government recognizes
with pleasure the design of arresting the
progress Of the war by friendly measures,
the benevolent views and humane inten-
tiOns of the Emperor.
They are also Of the opinion that if the
steps proposed were to be taken, the con-
currence of Russia would be extremely de-
sirable Her Majesty's Government have,
however, not been informed, up to the
present time, that the Russian Government
have agreed to cooperate with England and
France to obtain the end proposed.
But is the end proposed attainable at
the present moment by the course suggest
ed by the Government Of France2 Such
is the question which has been anxiously
and carefully examined by Her Majesty's
OOhtEHmeuI.
After weighing all the information
which has been received from America,
her Msjesty's Government are led to the
conclusion that there is no ground at the
present moment to hope that the Federal
Government would accept the proposals
suggested, and refusal from Washington
at the present time would prevent any
speedy renewal Of the offer.
Her Majestys Government think, there
fore, thatit would be better to watch care
fully the progress of opinion in America,
and if, as there appears reason to
hope, it may be found to have un-
dergone, or may undergo hereafter,
any change, the three Courts might
then avail themselves of such change
to offer their friendly counsel with great
er prospect than now exists of its being
accepted by the two contending parties.
Her Majesty's Government will commu-
nicate to that of France any intelligence
they may receive from Washington or
Richmond bearing on this important sub
jeet.
Your Excellency may read this dispatch
to NJ. DrOuyn de Lhuys, and give him
copy of it.
RUSSELL,