The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-11-22

Be most useful Tor the future And am hardly
prepared at this moment even TO follow the example
mend reform OF the House OF Lords In that genial
way In which, speaking with so mucl hereditary
antnof ne recommendea ieior nere ~ "0 hawnuer
one trait OF the House OF Lords when Is but the
type OF what was witnessed IN ING o,ner HOUSE OF
which would venture to make remark II Is inn
possible to say how much the great anxiety aud
responsibility which has been felt o. ncr MajesyS
goyernment has been mtlgated by the attitude
OF the country itself. IL has been piece OF great
foment WAS siting at the time when this great this
melancholy war was declared. In the House OF
Lords as In the House OF Commons, was seen that
feeling which never fails in this country when great
questions OF international difficulty arise. All traces
OF party Keeling disappeared anu vn{ oesre tat
the government IN following me course consistent
win the interests and the ;,s dignity q the coun,
nation. We had the great advantage Of being able to
describe 20 the Houses Of Parliament and through
them 10 the country, what we had done TO prevent
the war and may say that Parliament approved or
what We haa done Ihave heard snce-and II has
stronger and more energetic language we might
nave averted this war altogether. But Parliament,
as believe agIee1 w Was no ss nn
than these TO which we were determined To
adhere; and although 4 any occasion should un-
fortunately arse requiring us TO employ strong
expressions we should be prepared to employ them
conscious OF the support Of Parliament ana OF q
united nation, yet we believe this great country mas
felt with Parliament and her Majesty's government
that we had not sufficient cause to risk our being
involved in this great ana calamltous war; which
was none OF our making and which we had tried TO
prevent with the small ana slender chance or
postponing for time war that both France
wrongly, would inevitably occur. We had
also the advantage OF stating what were the
Intended to act with that elasticity which was
required by varying circumstances and events. The
riIy Of Which win not weaken by repeating them
how we have attempted to exercise The duties ana
to maintain the rights OF neutral Power. There
are some who think that we have been In state OF
inaction but those who think that Ii was easy to
follow the course OF policy which has been pre-
scgDed as we believe by the country must also be-
neve that sailors beard OF ship IN storm lind 1t
work OF perfect inactlon 10 give TO The ship tue
prescribed ana direct course There was one thing
winch we endeavofed to effect and that was
when we were unable 10 prevent the war. al
least to try to ocae II as much as possible and not
until possibly the whole OF Europe and ourselves
might have been involved IN the struggle. Up to
tins time We have the sat sfactlon Of seeing chat
such an extension OF ITS area has not occurred.
Another thing that wished TO do was to avoid all
idle and unacceptable propositions which could
sistent with that policy that we should watch
with anxiety every, opportunity OF dong
might be elective. 1t was in this spirit
that her Majesty's government rejoced when |
the Queen desired a friend 10 friend, in spirit
perfectly appreciated by the King of Pruss 4, TO
make an appeal TO his sentiment OF moderation and
Of humanity. In the same way, when it seemed
wosid not be unwilling TO meet for the purpose OF
considering whether conditions OF peace were |
possible, we recommended that course to both OF |
those statesmen, and we contributed In q certain |
degree TO that result. which unfortunately at |
that time was unsuccessful. At later period |
phase OF the presented Itself which we Thought
we could not pass over In silence circular |
has been written with great with fearful power BY |
Count Bismarck IN the name OF Germany, descrb-
ing the horrors that might ensue from the lombard.
ment tue siege OF one or the fairest cities Ia the
world. We felt that we could not remain insenslDle
an Al WI ~ H.
dressed to the neutral Powers OF Europe. We ascer-
tanned without doubt that IN any step we took we |
to unite with US In collective action, or
to suggest any possible terms Of peace
dent 70 Do so But what wy da
and from the highest possible authority, was that
the Prussian government themselves were inclined
towards an arnstice which should lead TO the con-
vocation OF Constituent Assembly In France, and
TO the subsequent negotiations OF permanent peace.
We tnereupon Immediately addressed ourselves 10
the French government, and although the French |
government absolutely refused to make themselves
any demand for an armlstlce; they expressed to Us
to concur IN II. And in making that proposal.
which we thought it absolutely our duty TO
Tours would be most acceptable and most likely TO
succeed-vH., thay M. Theirs should be admitted to
terms Of the armistlce alone should be argued, with
out any reference whatever to The terms OF the sub
seaue.t peace which were lett Tor the future con.
was the course we took. Although we were fully
aware OF the dinicny Of the situation.
succeed. We thought that the attitude OF
this country did not unfit us for making such
] have already remarked on the
absence OF party spirit, ana reference has been
made to the attempts where hundreds Of thousands
OF pounds had been subscribed In this country to
administer that money under very great difncult y
by public men OF different trains OF thought for the
purpose OF mitigating the horrors Of the war. We
that freedom schtch fortunately Is our IrtUte0e
and ,chfch IRE shall 0ttcdys maintain, discussing
times necessarily leading to some irritation the
one side or the other, an irritation which Is
very natural the part OF the bellgerens-but with
an answering purpose, which ! am glad to acknow-
ledge OF showing that the great desire OF this nation,
expressed through the press is 70 promote and acce-
crate speedy conclusion to terrible calamity.
(Iear) Ana here In,ag perhaps, In passing remark
that the extraordinary eaerOV ana erert,0ns OF the
created under very great dirculty what was called
lcGr literature unerdDped M dbllity and interest
putting be,ore tie public az the vastons astonishing
eren.s sohich hare so rapidly scceedei each oSe;.
In thls tremendous struggle tIiear, hear) Under
the circumstances have mentioned we made our
proposition, which was accepted so far as meet
ing OF ne20t,atOrs was concerned. We have learned
that long and frequent interviews have occurred be-
absolutely our duty 10 refrain from making sugges-
tons as TO the conditions OF the armistice. How
could we-how could any Of those neutral coan,
trlcs-for We were supported by every neutral
Power in Europe IN the endeav0r we were making.
how was y possible for them, In igno::
either belligerent, IN ignorance Of what
provisions there in Paris not knowing whether
the Germans were prepared to. make an attack al
not on that caplal-in ignorance also OF the
political state Of Paris, ana not knowing the re-
sources on which either Delligerent reed-how was
tt possible Tor any of the neutral nations to begin
discussing conditions which 1t was obvious could
only be properly discussed by the represen-
tatives Of both the belgcrents and per-
sons acquainted with their Intentions, their
wishes and their res0urcesf tHear, hear.)
Her Majesty's government have received
absolutely no official Information to the course
which the negotiations have taken no information
as to the manner In which they were broken OIL or
as to the circumstances attending them. 1t is
therefore, impossible for us at this moment to FORM
still less to state, any opinion as to the cause Of the
failure Of those long and frequent interviews. But
we cannot regret the contrary, we rejoice-that
we, with the concurrence OF all the other neutral
Powers have made this effort. (Hear.) Her Ma
JeSys government, ardcntly desiring to see the end
OF this Terrible conflict, would be glad to contribute
to an honorable and permanent peace. We desire
to see Germany come out VI IL strong In her unity
We deprecate seeing France unnecessarily humilia-