The New York herald., 1871-03-02
SIR ROBERT PEEL ON TIE WAR.
Timid and Selfish Policy Of
England.
DESERVING AN OLD ALLY.
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The Uni6cation Of Germany the Greatest
Peril to Europe.
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DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT
A Republic the Only Government That COuld
Prevail for Good in France.
SAVAGE WAYS OF GERMAN WARFARE.


duct Of the government all tnrough deserved the
strongest condemnation and. chiefly, ne blamed
the 'moral neutrality" which had been invented by
our Foreign Ofice-the abnegation OF everything
like wish or an opinion AZ every stage of the war,
and their determination not to act In concert with
the other neutrals. He accused the government
OF PLAYING towards France the part OF '.detri-
mental'-that is, OF having prevented the other
neutrals from coming to her assistance. and II the
neutrals had acted together Mr. Herbert firmly
believed that peace would have been restored
before now. These opinions Mr.. Herbert supported
by numerous references to what he called "the
colorless pages OF the Blue Book As to the future
he did not wish this country to take up arms but
express openly ana straightforwardly our sense OF
the great evils which must result from immoderate
terms Of peace; and violent annexation OF terri
tory was not only an immoderate condition. but
would be fatal gift" to Germany herself Mr.
Herbert concluded by movlng:-"That this House ls
OF opinion that 1t Is the duty OF her Maestys gov.
ernment to act In concert with other neutral Powers
10 obtain moderate terms OF peace. and to withhold
all acquiescence In terms which might impair the
independence of France threaten the future tran.
quity OF Europe"
SIR ROBERT PEEL'S SPEECH.
Sir r. PEEL said he thought the honorable mem.
Der mad done good service in the present critical
state Of Europe by bringing that question before the
House. The honorable member asked the govern
ment to act sin concert with neutral Powers ~
Where were they to find any friends In Europe to
act with themS He (Sir X. PeeD had read the pa-
pers and asked himself in the most impartial spirit
''Dnes the public opinion OF the country endorse the
feeling OF the governmentY He admitted tnat their
task had been o difficult one, but they had sur.
rounded themselves with difficulties. In the last
few months
THIS COUNTRY HAD BEEN MENAcED
no Pms
spoke frankly-despiscd our government and
laughed 1t 10 scorn. Poor France our faithful any,
was ut this moment drinking the Ditterest cup or
national humiliation and sorrow. and he should
like to know II policy OF selfish isolation could be
advantageous to this country. No doubt the difti.
cuies OF the government were great; but he would
tell the House and the nation that one diff
fculty with which they had grapped with most
complete success: they had succeeded, in the eyes
OF Prussia and in the councils OF the world within
the brief space of about twelve months in humIll-
ating the character and the credit of this country.
We talked OF our national pride and OF the moral in
nuence of this country but the right honorable gen
tleman and the government mad counsellea the na.
POLICY OF oBLITERATIoN,
and he lsir X. PeeD believed that at that moment
this country more unpopular IN the councils Of
Europe through the acts OF the last two years than
sne had been made by the acts OF any government
go to Ger aany, go to Belgum--coun.
they would lind that the universal eXpresscS OF pub.
lie opinion Of all classes OF society was Il these
IOUteJI0UtevI A
homie" One ielt ashamed OF TINS policy; but that
was what one heard IN these countries, as he knew
from experience But what had been the attitude
OF this country throughout the war; He only re-
ferred to the attitude OF the government because he
would say, by way OF parentnesis. that he separated
entirely the attitude of the government from that of
the country. tHear, near.J They all had admired
the splendid philanthropy which had been exhibited
by this country: When l, one had witnessed, as he
victims Of this war, thrust INTO Switzerland, manned
and wounded, and then thought Of what England
had no haf faltrr
country But he referred TO the political attitude OF
the government; France knew pretty well
Maestys naI aaee opnoa sr
pretty we'll about France de recollected when he
was in that country the painful impression created
by q most ungenerOus taunt, as he (Slr X. PeeD
thought 1t, the part OF the Home Secretary; hut
he glad to find that the right honorable gentle
been badly reported. He wished only to show
THE ESTIMATE IN WHICH THIS COUNTRY WAS HELD
Take the United States Take Russia. AS for
Prussia, 1t was quite remarkable. The German
ODTcaal Gazette which was said to be inspired by
Count Bismarck, in December last spoke in this way
of the government OF England-'lt Is perfectly idle
talk OF the attitude Of England, inasmuch as its
obteratlon.u The right honorable gentleman at the
head OF the government, however, pretended that
we had not followed policy OF selfish Isolation:
had ventured to do and what they had not ventured
to do, he really thought that the government
had not acted in that resolute and earnest manner
which the country might have expected. He would
read q few extracts, and the House would find in
every one of them the expression, .'We venture to
do this, and we venture to do that" In one 1t is
said, ''We ventured to dsapprOve OF the demand
made by France OF the King OF Prussia as pro-
spective engagement respecting the candldattre OF
Prince HohenZcllern to the throne OF Spaln but
there 1t was our misfortune to fall." Again, "We
renee to some competent tribunal with view to a
settlement OF the dispute between Germany and
snt ad mot a
But lie. the House observe the next extract:-"We
expressed in language SO respectful-cneers and
taat Prussia would not have recourse the extreme
measure OF the bombardment Of paris.'
ENGLAND COULD ONLY VENTURE.
SIR r. PEEL ,reading)-"But we faiIed, gain,
"We ventured-Qaughter)-t favor the calling to-
seher Of an assembly, fully to
point out that little good kelly arise IRON the
multiplication OF abstract declarations III reference
TO how venturesome the government had been.
Cheers and laughter.) Once more: "We ventured-
u,enewed laugnter.to suggest TO the government
eral welfare they found themselves In position 70
make known what were the terms OF peace they
deemed to be requred.n In fact, this expression or
ave venture' occurs throughout the whole or the
correspondence and he resp ctfully submitted that
that was not the language Lord Pamerston would
have used.
SUCH LANGUAGE WAS UNWORTHY OF POWERFUL
MINISTER OF GREAT COUNTRY
How did the Foreign Minister maintain the policy
OF selfish isolation? Lord Lyons writing To Lord
Granville SAID, "Under Instructions informed the
government Ol PdTlS IUdI ueT MHlcStJ BONciumch
had no desire to intrude their mediation on France
or Prussia, but that their good offices would oe
freely given and zealousy exerted for the
OF peace IL at any time recourse should be had to
them" That was no doubt, an excellent sentence,
and had it been followed up he (Sr r. Peell should
have been as jealous III cheering the government as
the honorable member for Perth tMr. kinnairdl
loud aughter.) Well on the 6th OF september M
Favre invited the good Olces OF the Engi5h govern.
ment towards that object, but the reply oI L0rd
Granville TO Lord Lyons was, "You Will inform Jules
Favre that her Maiesty's government would oe more
likely to 10 harm than good in the cause OF peace.
He (Sir r. Peel should think 1t very likely lndeeu
with their
vENTuREsoME POLICY.
Then Lord Granville, in letter TO baron brum, .
now. said that he had informed LORD Lyons INA. Nc
should not attempt, either alone or with other
Powers, to offer mediation unless he had reason 20
believe 1t would be accepted. But tne government
declined to take any initiative, and whenever pro-
posaIs were made TO them they withdrew. lHear,
hear) M. Thiers came ~ this country charged WIN
q diplomatic mission and Lord 0ranvillc wIooe , 70
Lord Lyons, saying, 81 have had an interview VIII
NJ Thaers and he Impiorcd ne Malesty's govern.
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