The measure of withdrawin...
The Times, 1824-10-21T00:00:00

The measure of withdrawing a conisiderable portion of th e French troops from Spain is stated, in the letters re- ceivet yesterday from Paris by express, to be fully resolved on, at the expiration of the existing treaty,which takes place in January next. The mocde by whichl the dtiminution will be effected, according to the most authcntic accounts, is by placing in the principal fortresses about one-fourtlh of the troops at present in Spain; by leaving another fourth cn the frontier, as an army of observation; and by disbandling the remaindler. On the application of FERDINAND, which will no doubt be made, for the extension of the term of the occupation, this is to be the reply he will receive. It his fears of the consequences that might result to himself per- sonally from withdrawing the French troops should dictate a renewal of the request in more pressing terms, which is extremely probable, he will, it is said, be referred to Eng- land, whose mediation on that subject may be received by France, but without whose sanction the occupation of the territory by the present body of French troops will be no longer continued. The cordiality that subsists between the French andl English Cabinets on this and other subjects is said to be extrcme. Such is the purport of the information whichl we have received from Paris; and which we also think highly probablc. The denotuem2ent of the Spanish piece, there- fore, approaches. If the French can really retain mili- tary possession of the Peninsula, with one quarter of' the present army now on foot there placed in the fortresses, and another quarter on the Pyrenees, the Spaniar(ds of the present day are a people hardly worth contending for: they would, for theinseives, deserve ino better a conidition than that to which they are now subjected. We trust, however, that if a reference be rmade to British inediationi, in order to r elieve the French from the pain of giving a direct refusal to FERMNAN)'s request for thc continiuance of the present army, Mlr. CANNI NG wvill insist 117,u011 the smaller force, in ordter tO show the Spaniardls in their tiue colours. Should they submit, then will the policy of the British Cabinet, in refushitg to tmeddle by an armed force in their favour, be justified ; auid should titey now at last rouse themselves, their chanice of success will be greater, as the troops against whonm they will have io contend will be less. The appedl to tus is just also, iipont the general principles of putblic law ; for whatever may be the present value of Spain, her unioti witlh Franc,,, or ra.qier her final subjuga- ticri by that Power, and( reduction into a Frencil province, is a measure wvhich, ever since the peace of Utrecht, we stand pledgedl to resist. We cailiot suffer France to possess it domittion extending fromr the- Cbhnnel to the Straits of Gibraltar, without dianger to our future safety, anid wide- ;weeping izlijuy to cGr commercial interests, whenever we ;hall have any hiostile discussions with France Proper. Hatl the Peninsula beet united to France at thc comimettcc- ment of BuoN;Ai'Aa-r L's care,r, lie ldigt)t have stood firm: it wa6 the attetnpt to eflect that union that ultinately brought about his f'all. 11!c rejoice to hear of the good understandin.g wEhich subsists betwecn the French and British Cabinets; and Nve tre glad, also, that the formerr. has adopted such saving arincipIes, and is anxious for the dinminution of her stand- .ng arimy. We hope this her policy will extend itself to ,ler neighbours. It is a biting reproach to us, that after a ,lossession of but yesterday, she can withdraw three quarters of her troops from her foreign conquest-for such, in truth, Spain is-whilst the British force in Ireland, a !o:ltitucnt part of the emtpire, admnits of no dirninulion.