THE PRESS AND THE PEACE PKOPOSITIONS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 376, 11 June 1856, Page 8

THE PRESS AND THE PEACE PKOPOSITIONS.

(From the " Quardiau" of Jan. 23.)

The announcement of the acceptation by Russia of the terms of peace was hailed by the English press with somewhat less cordiality" than in Paris. The " Times" doubtful of the sincerity of Russia, makes out, however, that anyhow a debt of gratitude is due to Lord Palnierslon •which, ought at once to be discharged. " Compare our position now with our position last April, when Gladstone, Graham, and Herbert, terrified at the effects of their own counsels, and unmanned byihe contemplation of the disasters for which they were responsible, were urging a base and ignominious peace ; ;uid when* Lord John Russell, in the character of ambassador, ■was but too faithfully seconding their efforts to degrade and ruin us in the senate. To the courage, the foresight, the unflinching1 firmness and unsleeping vigilance of Lord Pulmerston, we owe it that we escaped lhat danger and 'that disgrace which were so much nearer to us than ■we supposed, and that we are now in a condition to conclude a. peace or io wage a war of neither of which any honest English heart will have occasion to he ashamed. Such a peace will be a suitable termination to the long epoch of a life devoted, with but link support from political party or popular sympathy, to thwarting, counteracting, and overthrowing the designs of Russia, to frustrating and foiling her nT every point, with a firmness ami peitin.icitv not unworthy of the great founder of the liberties of Europe, whose name has just been illustrated by the pen oi the most eloquent of our historians."" The " Morning Post," the Premier's organ, warns us that the five proposals, as accepted by Russia, do not contain on the face of them ail that the Western Powers consider necessary for their safe entrance upon negotiation. "When the Cabinet of Vienna applied to England an.l

France to know the terms upon whi«;h they would consent to make pence with Russia, a direct and distinct reply was given. Upon (hat reply Austria founded the proposals wnich Russia has accepted ; but she has not represented to the Czar the whole and exact teuour of our demands, and it would not be fair in us, nor indeed just, either to ourselves or to Russia, to enter upon discussion before the preliminaries have been arranged so clearly and untnisiakeably that Russia, on the one hand, may not have it in her power to pretend that we have entrapped her into negotiations without making her fully aware of their import—nor we, on the other, be open to the manoeuvres of the adroit diplomacy which has already, in former instances, so cleverly amused our Ministers. To take an example. Iv the Austrian proposals, the name of the Aland Islands is never mentioned; but, nevertheless, we believe it will be found that Lord Clarendon had emphatically stated to the Cabinet of Vienna that we must insist on Russia's binding herself not to rebuild Bomarsund. This resolve, justifiable on the grounds of military success, and requisite as a matter of high import to the wellbeing of Europe, becomes imperative, when it

is remembered that we have only recently concluded an alliance with Sweden, and that it is ) our bounden duty not to leave our ally at the mercy of Russia, nor to permit the re-erection of a huge and menacing fortress within one hundred miles of Stockholm. Under these circumstances, then, it will be the duty oi the belligerents, before negotiations can be entered upon, to signify their intentions to Russia, and to require her acceptance of proposals totally free from the possibility of misinterpretation. These proposals, we trust, will have the support of Austria and the German Powers, and will, we are confident, meet with acceptance at St. Petersburg, if Russia be now nearly alive to her own intereus and anxious for the welfare of Europe. If ibey are accepted, then negotiations will follow, but not at Vienna, nor Paris nor Loudon. All preliminaries being once satisfactorily adjusted, some more fit place will be appointed for the conduct of conferences. "

The " Herald insists that the proposals originate with Austria, and are, therefore, not to be trusted. Nor is that all. "■ Russia has

not accepted any detailed proposals either of the allies or of Austria. She has agreed to enter on negotiations on the basis of a document drawn up in such a form as to be precise and positive in acceding-to all the requirements of Austria, but perfectly vague and indefinite upon those points upon which France and England must insist. What species of sanction the Cabinets of Paris and London have given to that document we are not informed. It bears on the face of it a statement that it does not contain all their demands. Before they enter upon negotiations they are about to send, or have sent, to Russia a statement of their demands. We protest we cannot share in the sanguine anticipations of those who see in such a state of things any solid prospect that the meditated negotiations will terminate in peace. The duty of our Government, and of every Englishman, is now plain We must not permit-Russia to escape by any artifice of diplomacy from terms that will offer some hope even of a respite from her designs ao.ivea 1, we must not listen 10 any proposal Unit will tolerate the creation or maintenance of a naval or military arsenal in any port, river or creek from which a navy could be floated to ' the waters of tlie Euxine. "

Ibe 'Less 'intimates that Ministers are not the wihing instruments of peace. "Those who were most forward in exciting immoderate expectations have, by a just retribution, been tie very ,ne.. inslrmnentttl in disappointing them Ine general character of the peace will satisfy the Conservative party—will it satisfy the Mnnaermlists ? How curious has been the <esti«y of die two last editions. Lord Aber,.e.?>B>. . leace Guvermneiii, ajyainst its will drifted mto war, and Lord Palmerstou's War Government, equally against its will, has .nf.ednuo peace. X» each case the reputation >f *«S».nd has somewhat sunk tbrun-.b tlie total want of principle mi the part of iis Tulcrs Equally strange is it thai the Conservative Oj.po.smon h« s supported both Governments in ""ling »«»i»st their inherent convictions and principles. We forced L.ml Aberdeen to engage in a war necessary to the honor of £u<r. orif". U>i il*SeCmhy, Enrupe; we have foiced Lord Palinerston's to agree to a peace now that the objects of the war are accomplished. A few weeks buck we W ere threatened with a

dissolution. What would be the prospects of the Government with a dissolution now?

In its postscript the same paper declares that it is in possession ofsomu authentic <ietaijs, jtot yet placed before .'lie public, connected with the acceptance hy Russia of the Austrian proposals. "The journey of Baron Seehach, the Minister of Saxony at the Court of Paris, to St. Petersburg1, lias excited much speculation. On his return to Paris, M. Seehacii brought back from the Cabinet of St. Petersburg an unqualified acceptance of the allied propositions, on condition that France and England would treat directly with Russia, and not through Austria. This proposition was favourably regarded by the French Government. The Cabinet Council on Wednesday last was held to deliberate upon it, when we have reason to believe that Lords Palniersion and Clarendon insisted, against the opinions of the majority of the Cabinet, on iheSeehach proposition beinorejected, as in their opinion another campaign was desirable. The astonishment of these statesmen at the acceptance by Russia of tue Austrian propositions, after their rejection of the Seebach overture, may be imagined. " This would appear to be confirmed by the following paragraph in the Paris correspondence of the " Post," published in the second edition of yesterday :—" AH ( can hear with reference to the approaching negotiations for peace is that the Governments of England and France are employed in signifying with the utmost precision the bases on which they will convene a peace congress. There is, or has been, some difficulty ; but whether it be at Paris or Vienna, or London, lam unable to say. Her Majesty's Government, are acting with a caution which circumstances demand, and with that fimine&s which I think tbeonuutiv will applaud when the time comes for making passing events known. The Austrian Government continues to use its utmost efforts to clear away difficulties, and the Cabinet of St. Petersburg, finding the allies firm, is gradually being brought to see the ne- ' cessity of approaching' peace in the spirit of the propositions. The latest official intelligence from Vienna, I am told, is more favourable than that which immediately followed the acceptance of the ultimatum. ' Meanwhile, France and England are prepared, at every step, to enfoive their demands whenever the slightest disposition i.s shown to evade the terms considered nece.-sary to ensure a solid peace ami accomplish the objects of the war. If all proceeds as favourably as the latest events would seem to indie He. an armistice will be proclaimed almost immediately. Still, I repeat, it is well to accept wiih caution the overtures of Russia uniil they are reduced to a definite form, and signed by the commoting parties." TiiL-" Monitenr" of yesterday publishes the names of ihe Plenipotentiaries" for the Conferences :— France, Count Colonna Walewski, and Baron de Buirquenev. England, E.rl of Clarendon, and Lord Cowley. Austria, Count de Buol-Schaueiistein, and Baron de Ilubner. Turkey, Ali Pacha,and Mehemed Djemil Bey Sardinia, Chevalier Massimo d'Azeglio. Rus-ia, Baron Bruloiv, and Count Orion*. Previous accounts added Count Cuvour giving Sardinia two representatives, the same as the other Powers.

The piessurc from Germany is said to have determined tlie resolution of the Court of St Petersburg. The King: () f Prussia is understood to have made more earnest efforts than lie has obtained credit for, to induce the Czar to adopt the oflier of the Allies ; and at the very moment when the proposals were accepted, his Majesty, as a last step, wns alum! to collect at Berlin "a Confess of the German Princes allied to Prussia, for the purpose of adding weight to his representations. The certainly thu. any further resistance would p >vil the friendship subsisting between Russia and Germany, presented an irresistible argument to the mind o f the Czar. Where reason, justice, and humanity had pleaded in vain, self interest prevailed. Nor was the situation critical in reference to Germany alone. Discontent bad risen in Russia to a fearful' height. According to the latest news (received within the last, few hours) a number of students of the University of Finland had been sent to prison for drinking "Success to the Allies" " Prosperity to Sweden." It was felt in St. Petersburg tl:at another campaign in the Baltic —and Finland was lost.— Home News.