THE PEACE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 368, 14 May 1856, Page 4

THE PEACE.

RUSSIA ACCEPTS THE AUSTRIAN PROPOSITION FOR PEACE. London, Saturday, Jan. 19, ISS6 —London and the country generally was thrown into a state of great excitement early on Thursday morning by the announcement in a second edition of the Times, as follows: —"W e have the following telegraphic despatch from our Vienna correspondent;— "Vienna, Wednesday, 10 p.m. Russia has unconditionally accepted the proposition of the allies. This is authentic." The Royal Exchange was thronged throughout the day by persons eagerly watching; the issue of the other'journals for more news, but it was latefin the afternoon before the Morning Post came out with a third edition, to the effect that our Government had received corroboratory despatches to this effect, however ; —'Hi at Russia unconditionally accepts the Austrian ultimatum, as the basis of propositions frtpectce. You will here see a " juggle" in these, buc^ more anon — Correspondent ifS. M.Her<rfd. jT The following are the five points, submitted by Austria ; — [Translation.] " 1. DAJfUBIAIf PRINCIPALITIES -' Complete abolition of t!in Russian protectorate. The Danuhian Principalitk'* shall receive jvn organisation conformable to their wishi's, to their interests, to their wants, anil this new organization, respecting? which the population, itself -will be consulted, shall bo recoenised by the contracting Powers and sanctioned hy the Saltern, as emanating from his sovereign initiative. No state shall be able, under nuy prstextwbatßver, under auy form of protectorate, to interfere in the question of the internal administration of the Principalities; thny shall alopt v definitive permanent systom tlemandeil hy their jfeoffraphicsil position, and no impediment can ho mads to their fortifying?, in thp interest of their safety, in such manner us they deem advisable, their territory against foruicrii aggression. In exchange for the strong places and territories occupied hy th«> allied armies. Russia consents to a rectification of her frontier with Turkey in Europe. It would commence ia thi? vicinity of Clntyra, follow the line of the mountains, whii-h extend iv :i so-ith-castorly direction, ami terminate at Lalca Sasik. The linn (trace) shall be definitively regulated by tho general treaty, and the conceded territory would retimi 10 the Principalities and to the suzerainty of the Po-.to. 11. The Danube. Ths freedom of the Danube and of its mouth shall he efficaciously assured by European institutions), in which the contracting Powers shall he equally represented, except the particular positions of the lord.-i of the soil on the banks (ties riverains), which shall he regulated u>ion the principles established hy the act of the Congress of Vinnna :is rearards th« navigation of rivers. Each of the contracting Powers shall :iavi- the right to koup one or two small vessels starinjK-d at t:u* mouths of tlie river, destined to assure the execution of the regulations relative to the freedom of the 111. Neutralization of the Bt.ack Sea. This a".a shall he open 'to merchant vessels—closed to war navies (marines uiilitairo*) ; consequently no naval military arsosii'ls shall bo create*! or maintained there. The protection of tho commercial and maritime interest* offall !iHtin!!s shall hens-iiireil i:i tho rnspectivo ports of the Black Sea hy the establishment of institutions conformable to ; international law, a:i<! tn the customs sanctioned in snch Kiatinrs. The two l'.uver.s which held the -:0:1st eugaga t!ic;.->iio!vo» to !i):i.intaiti only the number of light vessels, of :i n-xed force. nc.-L--:iry for'their coast service Tliis convention, concluded Huiiarately hetwuen these two Powers, shall form j.art, as an annex, or the iresmral treaty ufter recciviiiK the approval of the cnntracthis,' parties. This separate convention cannot be annulled or modified without tin- consent of tli« 'signataries of the general treaty. The dn-tin.'.' <A the strain will admit tlir- exception uppHcabh; to thu'stationury vosouls menuoued in the preceding article. IV. CniMS-rrAN Subjects of the Porte. The inrnnnitif's of tho Rayah subjects of the Porto shall be religiously preserved, without infriniruinent on tlio iaden.'ude'ic(> fif the Sultan's crown. A.s deliberations aro 'taking place between Austria, France, Grout Mritaiu, and the Sublime Porte, toassinn; to the Christian subjects of the B.iUan tii.'ir religious and poliM.-al riglits, Russia shall he invited, when peace is made, l<> n.soeiate herself thereto. V. The helliwriMit Powers rcsx-rvis to themselves tho right whi.-h appmaiiw to t!iv:n of producing iv a Knropeau inlercHt special conditions over and above tho lour guarantees. _ The (incision of the Emperor Alexander toact^'p 1 unconditionally thesu propositions appears to have been come to very nudtkiily. A lon- correspondence in the nieantiniu h;ulbcen goini; on bctw.-en the courts of Austria ;md Russia, and Buy.si.i ,ho<« oven sub-niitlc,-l a scries of counter propositions. It is supposed tliitt the views of Russia, as slie«n in the counter-propositions, will he brought forward in the conference hy the representatives of ih;it P°werThe correspondent of the Sydney Morning: Herald says on the subject;—«lt is characteristic ot the craft and wiliness of our foe, that the conditions lie now proposes to the allies are such as an? necessarily more disagreeable to the two hesitatir.fr neutral ' powers of Austria and Sweden than to the actual belligerents, Turkey, France, and England. # Xno rclusal to cede the strip of frontier territory in uio

Danubian provinces is really not of so much consequence to Turkey as to Austria, whose interests on the Danube are equally great with the former power: and the maintenance of the forts in Aland is dangerous only to Sweden. Thus, it was sought to dissever the alliance of the Western Powers with Bwed-n and Austria, and to hold out a baic to the original belligerents to make peace at the expense of their tardy allies at Vienna and Stockholm. The dodge, however, has failed; and the only effect of the Russian proposals will be to unite the allied powers still more closely together in the attainment of their common object. It is confidently believed thatHipon the return of her ambassador from St. Petersburg, Austria will take the field against the enemy, and it is reported that the Swedes are .making active preparations for the next campaign iv the Baltic." This was written before Russia had accepted the propositions.

The conferences will be held in Paris and are expected to commence on the 20th Feb. The following paragraph from the Times of the 15th Feb. announces the arrival of the Plenipotentiaries.

Paris., Wednesday, February 13,6. p.m. —Baron Brunow arrived here last night, at half past 10 o'clock, by the express train from Strasburg, and took up his quarters in the hotel'of the Russian Embassy in the Fauborg St. Honoie. Some groups were collected at the terminus to see him. I have reason {(Siciiovv that three days ago he was not expected hsfore the end of the week. The Russians appear to have " stolen a inarch " on us ; I hope we shall not have to say the same at the end of the month. M. de Bourqueney has already arrived, but has left for Biois to bring up his family. It is to be hoped that LordCowley will, on his return to Paris, bring Lord Claiendon with him. The gentleman who remains in temporary charge may, for aught that is known to the contrary, be a match for Baron Brunow, or Count Nesselrode himself, but it is remarked as odd that hardly had the English Ambassador arrived in London when the Russian Plenipotentiary rushes in breathless haste to Paris. He will have the field to himself for two or three days. The English Plenipotentiaries are expected at the end of the week ; the sooner they come the better. Count Buol will be here ou Friday or Saturday, so, at least, it is given out. M. Cavour leaves Turin to-day, and will probably arrive on Friday, but the Resident Sardinian Minister, the Marquis de Villa Marina, is on the spot, and keeps a good-look- out. Count Buol, will not, it is feared get so easily into his apartment at the Hotel de la Terrasse as was supposed, as the party occupying it declines to give it up, notwithstanding the mighty interest involved in having the Austrian Plenipotentiary comfortably housed. A disappointment of the kind sours a man's temper, and it is important to Europe that those on whom its destiny depends should hold their first meeting in a calm condition of mind and stomach; Early this afternoon some calls were made at the Russian embassy ; but Baron Brunow was said to be reposing after the fatigues of his journey. I have no faith in the repo.se of Russian diplomatists. Such men never sleep ; or, if they do, it is with both eyes open. AH Pacha, the Ottoman Plenipotentiary, will not arrive before the 18th or 19th. Turks do not travel by the electric telegraph like Russians. It is still doubted whether it be possible for the Conference to begin on the 20th.