The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1854-02-21 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

THE EASTERN QUESTION.  The Marquis of ,CLANRICABD34 moved that an humble address be presented to her Majesty, praying her Majesty to direct that further information respecting the cessation of diplomatic relations with the Court of St. Petersburgh and the war, which appears imminent, be laid before this house. He spoke at great length, and said his quarrel with government was that they had not, at the moment Prince Menschikoff left Constantinople, taken effective measures to ascertain and resist the views of Russia ; but, after what had passed, he was unwilling to embark in the impending war without knowing for what object we were contending, and to what length we were willing to go. The Earl of CLARENDON said the object of the motion was to create disunion, and so to damage the government. He defended the whole policy of government. It had been asked whether we were at peace or war with Russia. This was an important question. We were not at war, because war was not declared, .nor were we strictly at peace. We were in that intermediate state when the desire of peace was just as sincere •as ever, but when the hopes of government were gradually dwindling away, and they were drifting towards war. So long as war was not declared, the maintenance of peace was not impossible. Negotiations might be considered at an end, and as a state of war might ensue, he would only say that preparations were being made for carrying it on with vigour and rapidity. Lord ELLESMERE hoped that any force despatched to the seat of war in the East would not be subjected to diplomatic control. The Earl of MALMESBURY, after quoting various despatches, declared that the conduct of the premier reminded him of a very timid master of the ceremonies, in a town near his residence, who, upon being requested one night at the assembly to turn out a very ferocious-looking personage who had entered the ball-room with his hat on, replied—" Oh, have patience ; no doubt he'll take his hat off by-and-by." Earl GREY at great length condemned all interference on behalf of the Ottoman Empire. The Turks were a horde of barbarians, revelling in cruelty, rapine, and murder, and he did not believe one word as to their modern improvement. The Earl of DERBY contended, that at the very time the government had assured parliament that it was satisfied that Russia had no aggressive intentions, and that the peace of Europe would be preserved, the ministry had correspondence in- its possession which ought to have shown them that the real truth was the very reverse of what they had stated, and no doubt believed. The Duke of ARGYLE defended the policy of the government. The Earl of ABERDEEN said, it little mattered what the conduct of government might have been, as far as the reproaches of Lord Derby were concerned ; for, let their conduct be what it might, it would have been certain to be characterized either as rashness or timidity, and, of course, as a sacrifice of honour. He earnestly hoped that the peace of the world might yet be preserved ; but, at the same time, he thought it right to add, that in order to meet any emergency that might arise, the government were making the most active and energetic preparations for war. After a few words from the Duke of ARGYLE and the Earl of ALBEMARLE,  The Marquis of CLANIIICARDR, in reply, repudiated any notion of asperity in what he had stated, and still adhered to his assertion, that the conduct of the government towards parliament relative to this question was perfectly anomalous, He concluded by withdrawing his motion, after which their lordships adjourned.