, 1866-06-12

compromised under such circumstances.
Earl GREY.-My lords, [ must say, for
myself, that, though I view the state of
affairs to which the noble viscount has
called attention with the same dismay
and the same horror as he does, / do not
look upon it with the same surprise. 1t
seems to me that what has now taken
place in Europe is the natural conse-
quence of that conduct which we thought
it right to pursue some two years ago.
(Hear, hear.) Your lordships will remem-
Der that it was at that time ostentatious-
ly laid down as the political rule Of
conduct of this country that we were
never TO interfere with foreign States
except when our own interests were at
stake. The rule or principle of nom
Intervention, which had been understood
in a very different sense by great states
men in former times, was abused to this
extent. In former times, when the prin-
ciple of non-intervention was invoked, it
meant this,-that no State had a right to
interfere with the national affairs of
another; that it was an abuse and scan
dol if any nation prevented another from
settling it's internal government In the
manner it thought best for its own well
fare and its own prosperity. But in
those days no man ever dreamt that the
principle of non-intervention applied to
the case of the disputes which arise in
the civilized world, or that it meant that
a great country like this had no duty to
perform in e~ndeavouring to prevent the
oppression Of weak States by the strong,
and ia maintaining, not only peace, but
the interests Of justice throughout the
world. MY lords, I say this is a new
daefrina-En for the frst fine nnt- forward
and for the first time acted upon in a
manner which has left a stain on the
fair fame Of this country some two years
ago. {Hear, hear) We then not only
acted on this principle, but acted on it in
this manner-we deluded unfortunate
Denmark by limitations, if not promises,
of support, until we brought her into a
false position. [ then foresaw that if we
were to proceed on the purely selfish
principle of thinking Of our own interests
only, it would very soon happen that
some strong and INSCRIPTIONS Power
would avail itselfof the new principle to
peace ofEurope would be in danger, and
axdO oOOuCA " IdGCA VIC SuUUlu SCI bIOSC
deeds of wrong and violence which we
had encouraged by our sufferance rise to
such a height and be applied in such
a manner as to fill the world with blood
and misery. (Hear, hear.) L ventured
at the time to express to your lordships
my conviction that this would be the
consequence of the policy pursued that,
encouraged by our sufferance, scandal,
wrong, and robbery-what we stated in
cur official papers to be wrong and rob-
berry (hear, hear)-would result and 1
am certain that a single word said at the
right time and with proper firmness
would have stopped the entire mischief
without danger of war. (Hear, hear.)
We are told that it was a great triumph
for the Administration of that day that
it kept III out of war. I venture to say
that they ought not to boast until they
see the end Of it; and, looking now at
the threatening state of Europe, will any
man tell me that we are not now more
in danger of being drawn into ascontest
than if we had taken a holder course 2
My lords, | say the consequences may be