The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1895-09-12
ENGLAND AND FRANCE
Napo1eon's Reason for Nego.
tiating for Peace.
SOME RETROSPECTIVE HISTORY

The Assassination of Gear Paul Changed
the Attitude of Russia Toward
the Other Powers.
Whatever form the struggle between
France and England for ascendancy
had taken throughout the long centur-
les it had lasted, it was ever and al
ways bitter and envenomed. The
French revolution had offered the En-
glish tories an opportunity, as they be-
lieved, finally and literally to crush
France, even to the extent which Lord
Chatham had always declared neces-
sary for enduring peace.
The younger Pitt inherited his faith
er's idea and conquering policy of the
republic had enforced his position, so
that since the beginning of the present
struggle between the two countries the
British nation had reposed unbOunded
confidence in his leadership and policy.
Unfortunately, he used this popular
feeling to retain power after his own
convictions had changed. But gallant
and successful as the war had been, it
at last seemed to many as if there were
no limits to its duration, and to timid
minds the lavish subsidies of the sue
cessive coalitions, combined with the
establishment, augured bankruptcy.
Pitt fell on the question of Catholic
emancipation in Ireland, matter in
which he disagreed with George Ill,
the small-minded and feeble king; but
the Addington ministry which succeed
ed was none the less popular because
it was understood to be in reality and
about all else peace ministry.
When, in 1899, Paul, of Russia, fur
ious at the perfidy of Austria and
weary of the tyranny exercised by
England over the seas, had instigated
renewal of the armed neutrality,
with Denmark as it's nominal head, the
delicate attentions of BOnaparte, of
which mention has already been made,
coupled with offers most gratifying to
the cZar's ambitiOn-such, for example,
as the grandmastership of Malta-cOm-
pletely won the heart of the quixotic
Paul. Early in 1900 confidential
Russian agent appeared in Paris, whose
mission was to urge Bonaparte to de-
clare himself king, and, in addition to
the peace already negotiated, arrange
terms for an alliance between the two
rulers for the purpose of destroying
English power in India, according to
the plans already arranged by the czar.
An agreement was quickly reached,
which resulted in a treaty of friend
ship. For the attack on India Paul had
worked out an elaborate scheme.
There were to be two expeditions: one
Russian, by way of the Don and across
the carry to Volga, thence through the
Ural Mountains to the Indus, and from
the Indus to the Oranges; the other
Franco Russian, to proceed by the Dan
ube, the Black Sea, the Don, and the
Volga to Astrakan and Persia, where
it was to combine with the former and
open hOstilities. The latter, in partic-
ular, was worked out in the minutest
detail, and every item was carefully
concentrated by Bonaparte.
England's reply to the armed neu-
trality of the Northern powers was the
dispatch to the Baltic of a. powerful
feet, which reached Copenhagen in
March, 1901. Negotiations were open
ed by Sir Peter Parker, who, because
of his diplomatic abilities. had been
made first in command, and lasted for
some weeks, but failed. On May 2
Nelson, who was second in command,
opened fire on the city. The great adj
miral's success was only partial, and
he was only too glad to accept
an inconclusive truce. England S
object, however, was reached in an
other way. During the night of
March 1924 Paul was assassinated in
his bed, not without suspicion of con-
nivance on the part of his son Alexan-
der, who succeeded him. The new
czar did not inherit his fathers policy.
On the contrary he Immediately liber-
ted the English ships in his harbOrs,
and, further, waived his fathers claim
to the headship of the Knights of st.
John, and to the island of Malta as
their domain. The league of neutrals
fell by its own weight, but England
was left without supporting Cont
mental coalition in the face of Marengo
and Luneville.
The death of Paul likewise seriously
affected the positions of France, which
in an instant again became insecure.
This disposed the first consul more
than ever to yield to the universal
clamor for peace. Addington's over
lures had at first been coldly received,
for Bonaparte wanted the restoration
of all the colonial conquests England
had made during the long war. But
the death of the car and the attitude
of his successor changed the situation.
Still further came news that since Kle-
ber's death one disaster after another
had overtaken Menou in Egypt. He
had been compelled to surrender Cairo
in June, and the fall of Alexandria
was only question of time. Abdallah
Jacob Menou, as the convert to Mo-
hammedinism styled himself, found
little grace at the hands of his core
ligionists. Negotiations with England
were thereupon seriously resumed.