Year: 1859

BY THE ARABIA.


THE DISARMAMENT OF FRANCE.


From the London Times, Jay 90


The 4Honlteur of yesterday contains the most well


come announcement that could come to English


ears from foreign land. The French Emperor has


Issued his orders to disarm. With the least posi-


Die delay the army and navy of France are to be re-
stored to their peace establishment. The people of


England reading these glad tidngs will take deep


breath, such as man takes when crisis of appre-


henslon is passed they will congratulate each 9TH
| er that the peril they dreaded has drifted away


ana that they may turn back to peaceful pursuits
! ana to the pleasant paths of human existence If


was not in panic fear but in grave and sad disouie-


t9de, that we in this island regarded that heavy
cloud, so charged with electricity which doomed


upon the near horizon. We felt that it must hurst
or must disperse, and if burst we had small choice
IN our eonJectures as to where only the bolt must
ial. Frankly, then, we acknowledge in this salu-
tary determination OF our neghbor and ally aproof
OF loyal adherence to the friendship which has uni
tea these two great nations, and gladly recognize
IN 1t pledge of future peace to Europe Undoubt-
euy tne resolution has been taken solely from con-
sloeraton for the true interests of France She has
/ had her season of new glories, and the Emperor


mas gained his first crown of aurels 1t is moderate
ana 1t Is wise to stop while the appetite still unsa-
| teu- Rten eputser' is a maxim of personal econo-
my, which is true also in public and national con-
! Germs. Napoleon III. has done, perhaps less than
ne might once have intended to do in Italy but he
| mas done all that he has chosen to ATTEMPT


We will not stop to discuss the short -comiuos or
! 10 anticipate what may be the ultimate result of
| the new system that must be there established


aGaVing. however, determined to close this chapter
| OF ms history, the Emperor has most wisely con-
suited the financial exgencies and the material ad
vantage OF his kingdom in staying the heavy ex-
pendlture OF men and money, and in giving France
| .c as we nope, long repose from the Improbable
coll oi war We have said upon former occasions that
LOT war TO be popular in France it must be short
ana IL must be successful. The war which has iust
closeo mas fnlhlled both these conditions. We re-
dIsoPmanapt fbo
emperor In gauging the temper of his people and
ior our own part we rejoice that we may now re-
turn to security and peace. We shall, of couse in
due time follow the example of our neiohSor We
are, however, much behind him in the completeness
OF our peace establishment. There are MANY
specks OF rust yet to be rubbed awav and many
mouiaerlng works yet to be repaired. But these
are merely the ordinary matters ofdefepce Having
no IDEAS OF aggression and being too careless of re-
mote possibilities, have let many things run into
dlsrepalr The careful housekeeper paints and ma
pers periodically and we have been stimulated bv
recent events to survey premises and make
good adaptations. Happily, there is now no fur
ther need that this should be done in haste We
nave handed the consideration ofthese matters over
10 commission, which is about to decide what il
the permanent defensive establishment which these
ISLANDS require in times of peace, as the basis
whence upon an emergency a full war establishment
might De quickly built up. By the report of that
commission we shall be guided, and we conoratu-
late ourselves and our readers that we NAV hereaf
ter deal with these questions dispassionatelv as
points OF mere engineering strategic science and
MitnGqt lear that the Notifications which England


IKE all other Powers, must necessarily keen m are in
danger OF being at an early day tested bv an enemy
mn From the London NeloS, july 291


Inc Erehch government announces its purpose
10 replace its army and navy upon a peace footing
Inc execution of this measure would he the most
valuable pledge that could be given for the peace
OF the world. 1t true that the measure EXISTS at
present only in intention; true also that we do not
know the extent of the reductions contemplated:
and true, moreover, that whatever their extent
they must still leave France mighty neiohbor-
But let us moderate our desires to what is possible


nor throw away great opportunity by unreason-
aoleness. The diminution of immense armies is
spontaneously resolved on before the armistice is
month old and while the peace exists only in its
preilminarles 1t is as the sign and earnest of a
pacific disposition that the worth of the announce
ment ought to be estimated. 1t will he accented
mere with candor, not indeed as a reason for fore
going the demand for those reforms in our beipe-
rent services of which we have been made to feel
the need so painfully, nor for acauiescing in
return to state of costly inefficiency but as
a reason Tor dismissing the lessons of dark dis
trust which have of late been nculcated as
the perfection of political wisdom Credu
hty may betray, but confidence is the life of
clYlllzatlon. We are aware that in some quar-
ers this declaration of intention to disarm will
berecelved as certain evidence that the plot against
England has become darker and deeper The apo-
cayptic interpreter would part with his life sooner
than give up his ''ttle horn:'' the prophets will
not quietly be banked Of their promised invasion.
the of
their prlora theory of the character of Louis Ma
poeon; but men of the world will try and make the
besto their age and ofis chief actors nor let exces
slVe caution consume the marrow of their life. We
nave TOO much lost ground to recover to permit US
TO abandon the reforms we have prosecuted in our
naval ond military administration; but we do not
aim at the nation would deprecate, anv great ex-
tension of our actual forces. What is, above all
Things, wanted is means of developing with n
rapidity corresponding the progress of the times
that reserve Of national force of the greatness
OF winch we have often given proof The
pursuit OF improvement of this kind such, for in
stance as the institution Of system of manning the
navy that should procure for us the ADVANTAGES
which the French derive from their requirement and
INSCRIPTION maritime, cannot possibly be miscon-
strued In France The pacific character of our mil
ICY IS too plainly traced by our commercial inter
ests, and by the growing disapprobation of war az
means OF promoting national objects to permit
these merely defensive precautions to become
temptations to aggression. 1t is the weakness of
the professional services, in appearance, throwing
the country upon itself for its own protection,
winch has lately done so much to disquiet the pub
lie mind here and next to the removal of positive
causes of Misunderstanding between the two coun-
tries nothing would contribute so much to the
maintenance OF peace the restoration of conf
dence in our means OF defence.


From The London Times Jatlv 29l


Lord John Russell had to address the House last
night under circumstances of unusual difficulty. If
he could show that England had not lost credit or
weight, that she had not damaged herself bv often
sINe anu telecteQ interference, that she was still
wanted in the settlement of Europe, and could do
good, this was so much gain to his hearers and to
the public. Although he SPOKE as the man who
strives some rock vast weight to throw" slowly
and aboriously, still he left the comforting conyic-
flon that there is trouble enough in italy to render
our presence at some future Congress acceptable if
not necessary. Indeed, the innumerable objections
to our taking any part in it only end it would SEEM
IN the thing being unavoidable. The two Emperors
have done without us as much they could; with
out US they rushed into war; without us tbey made
peace; without they would, if possible settle It.
aly or divide it. But, unfortunately v for them Italy
cannot be settled easily The Papa States are TAX
ing measures oftheir own; Tuscany Modena and Par
ma have thrown off their rulers and both France
and Austria disclam all intention of employing
their soldiers to bring back the old state of
things. There would seem then, little prospect
OF France and Austria settling italy by them
selves. The Peace of Villafranca binds none but
themselves, and only obtains for each certain terms
from the other 1t does not bind italy, it does not
BIND Europe. 1T can only pledge the two Empe-
rors to further the proposed Italian Confederation
IT they meet then, by their representatives Zu-
rlch to reduce to terms the rough notes of their
hasty peace, they must either confess all they have
done for Italy to be utterly abortive or they must
at the eleventh hour, invoke other Powers to con-
tribute their counsel and their sanction. The en-
barrassment, therefore, the Dash interference the
meddllng without settled purpose, all usually |
charged to England, are this time chargeabe en-
tlrely to the Continental begerents and it is their
tault-not ours-that at this moment Italy lies one
may say, IN the gutter as the Imperial Crown did
now and then; and the Italians likely to fight |
it out among themselves. If then, there is any-
thing discreditabe and perpexing in the present |
state OF things the reproach and the helplessness
belong entirely to France and Austria not to our
selves.


All that England is answerabe for is her own in
terference, which, it was Ineffective so NAV be
considered harmless. The general effect of our
counses was to represent to France that if she
pushed her too far she might find herself
in collision with all the neutral Powers and so in
volved in of uncertain consequences and to !
Austria, the other hand that, as the neutral |
Powers would not interfere to establish her domin-


ion South of the Alps, she must attempt it at her
own risk No doubt this has touched the pride of
both combatants; but, both aege that they |
have made hasty peace in consequence of these |
untriendly and threatening communications, it can
not be said that the neutral Powers have done
harm, or done nothing at all. Lord Palmerston
gives, as we trust, the right version of a current
tale, that England had heedlessly put it into the
power of Napoleon III. to show to Francis joseph
the hard terms were ready to recommend to
hlm He says we have simply performed the friend !
iy office OF communicating to Austria the terms on
which France would make peace However, all
this will be cleared by time; and trust the For
eign Secretary will come out of it better than the
Envoy Extraordinary to Vienna.


What the peace of Villafranca happily did is one
thing; what it happily, unhappily could not do
is another. 1t could transfer province frsm one
Emperor to another, and enable them to consgn it
to third power. 1t could place another province
in somewhat political position to receive its
character from the will of the two contracting
powers. Ii cou'd also pledge them both to further