CONTINENTAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XI, Issue 684, 28 May 1859, Page 3

CONTINENTAL.

-' ' FBAUCE." ".'■ The question of peace or war, in connection with passed through several phases since our last inteliligence. It appears, however, to be as far removed the relations between France and. Austria, has as ever, from a definite settlement. On the one hand Aye have a number of official deprecations of hostilities; but on the other the fact is patent that both sides are making preparations for war. In the first place, official announcements of the pacific intentions of the Emperor appeared in the ■' Coustitutionnsl' and ' Patrie.' Both journals said that bis Majesty bad ordered tbe withdrawal oi the French Forces from the Eoman States, and that the steamers which would embark them at Civita Vecchia were already on their way ter that port. The very next day the ' Moniteur' stated that these announcements were premature; and the only consolation vouchsafed to tbe victims of delusion was that " tbe administration exercised no preventive action upon tbe press (!)":— " Public opinion in foreign countries does not clearly understand tbe present regime of tbe press in France. Tbe belief appears to. prevail too generally that the journals are subject to a censorship, and thus an importance-is ascribed to tbem which is .unfounded. Tbe administration, it ought to be known, has no preventive action as regards the press.. The public should, therefore, be on its guard against tbe inductions founded on, the language of the journals. Whenever a grave question presents itself, or any important act is accomplished, tbe Government addresses itself directly to the nation through tbe official journal. That is a duty which it has always imposed on itself, and which it will accomplish the more scrupulously under present circumstances, as public opinion is now more than ever taken unawares and misled." Another very remarkable article in the ' Moniteur' relates to Italy and tbe intentions attributed to the emperor. The drift of ,t is, that Italian af- [ fairs have of late, without tbe aid of the emperor, ; assumed a. peculiar gravity—that bis majesty's j attitude is that of a disinterested but not an irresponsible,, and therefore of a studious observer of the difficulties which beset tbe situation of tbe Peninsula. But-the words and style of the official writer are so characteristic that we quote tbe paper at full length :— . "The state of things in Ifaly, although of old date, has, in these lattor times assumed in the eyes of all a character of gravity which .lias naturally struck the mind of the Emperor; for the chief of a great power like France cannot isolate himself from questions which interest European order. Animated by a spirit of prudence which it would have been culpable not to have possessed, be directs his attention iv the most loyal manner to the reasonable and equitable solution of these delicate and difficult problems.

;' _ "The emperor has nothing to disguise, nothing, to disavow, cither in the objects of his anxious deiiber-. ation or in his alliances. French interest guides his policy and justifies his vigilance. "in presence of the disquietudes—we are glad to believe unfounded —which have agitated public opinion in Piedmont, the .Emperor has promised the King of Sardinia to defend him against any aggressive act on the part of Austria. He liaa promised nothing more, and it is well known that he keeps his word. " Is this to be considered as a dream of war? Is it not more in conformity with the rules of pru« dence.to foresee difficulties more or less near, and, to weigh all their consequences ? ■ "We have just indicated whatarethe real thoughts duties, and tendencies of the emperor; and all that; the exaggerations of the press have added thereto is pure imagination, falsehood, and delirium. " France, it is asserted, is making considerable warlike preparations. This is a completely gratuitous imputation. The regular effective force of the peace footing, adopted two years ago by the emperor, has not been exceeded. The artillery is purchasing 4000 horses to attain the regimentary limits. The infantry regiments are 2000 strong, and the regiments of cavalry 900. " It is affirmed, also, thnt the French arsenals are displaying extraordinary activity. But it is forgotten that we have to change all our artillery and to transform our entire fleet. This last undertaking, long since decided on in order to give our fleet its normal strength, is sanctioned by the annual votes of the Legislative body; and, notwithstanding the most praiseworthy activity, several years will still be necessary to complete the operation. "Lastly, uneasiness is felt at the preparations in. our navy. All these preparations, however, consist in fitting out four frigates for the conveyance of troops from France to Algeria and from Algeria to France; and. four screw transports destined to provide for different eventualities, especially for the service of Civita Vecchia, and for the re-victualling, by way of Alexandria, of our expedition in CochinChina.

" Such are the facts, and they should fully reassura sincere men as to the projects ascribed to the emperor, and lead them to treat as they deserve the allegations of those who are interested in casting doubts on the most unobjectionable measures, and, clouding the clearest situations. . "Is it not time to ask when these vague and absurd rumours, spread by the press from one end of Europe to the other, will end—rumours repre« senting everywhere to public credulity the Emperor of the French as exciting to war, and throwing on him alone the responsibility of the disquietudes and warlike preparations of Europe? "Whp can have a right to mislead public opinion so shame fully—to alarm interests so gratuitously ? "Where are the weirds—where the diplomatic notes —'where the acts which indicate a desire to excite. Avar for the passions Avhich it'satisfies, or for the glory which it procures ? Who has seen the soldiers—has counted the pieces of cannon—^estimated ;the supplies which are said to have been added with so much cost and haste to the ordinary >state of a peace footing in France? Where jjra the extraordinary levies, the anticipated calling out of soldiers ? On what day were recalled to service the men now absent on renewable furloughs? Who in short, can show the elements, however slight they may be, of the general accusations which malevolence invents, which credulity hawks about, and which stupidity accepts ? "'No doubt, as wehave said, the emperor watches over-the various causes of complication which may appear on the horizon. It is the duty of all prudent policy to endeavour to conjure away the events, or questions, which are of a nature to trouble that order without which there is neither peace nor commerce. It is not a respite which real business (veritables affaires) requires; it is security and; a safe future. " Such foresight is neither agitation nor provocation. To "sfctxdy questions is, not to create them ; and to divert attention from them would be neither to suppress nor solve them. Besides a '.diplomatic examination of -these questions has been commenced ; and nothing warrants the belief that the issue will be unfavourable to the consolidation of public peace." The * Constitutionnel' publishes an article signed by its political director, A. Keneo, on the above article of the ' Ivfoniteur.' It "contends that the publication of the 'Mohi^eur' article miist^ not be regarded as a retrograde movement, caused by the ..crusade which an active propaganda had succeeding in raising against the Emperor in Germany, as some persons have asserted. The article proceeds : "Government has loyally submitted to European diplomacy the charge of discovering a means to solve the different political' difficulties of the day. The emperor has expressed his hope that the solution will Tje peaceful, arid when such a, declaration is made by a government which is well assured of its own power it ought to be believed and not regarded with suspicion.as an instance of reticence or weakness." -

In connection with the pacific tone adopted by the 'Hqniteur,' stands the resignation by Prince Napoleon of the ministry of Algeria. The prince has been known to give his support to the vrac party from the beginning. His retirement has, therefore, been regarded as an indication that, pacifies counsels at length really prevail with his imperial cousin. The Paris correspondent of the ' Daily Hews r writes that Prince Napoleon's resignation " means that in his opinion the policy indicated by the official article is inconsistent, with that his imperial cousin had pledged himself toC It does not, however, follow that the cousins .may not at some very proximate time fall together. It is already given out through various channels that the emperor, having abounded \:\ firmness in his speech to the Corps Legislatif on Feb. 7, is now exhibiting, out of deference to .European diplomacy, a necessary phase of moderation." A third article, published in the 'Moniteur^ of March 15, helps to throw some light on one important side of the question, namely, the importance attached by France to the fact that the German States have sympathised with Austria. The article endeavours to show that the mistrust of n part of Germany springs from roSeetious unjust and painful to France and shows contempt for tho independence of her policy :— "The existence of a great nation like France is not restricted to her frontiers, but manifests herself-in the world at large by salutary acts. France used her endeavours for the benefit of her national power and the advantage of civilisation. When a nation relinquishes this character, she relinquishes her rank. To contest her right to this legitimate influence would be to mistake tho rights of France. The Emperor understood how to overcome all prejudices when he ascended tho throne. What' would have happened if, by acting otherwise, he luid rejected through, distrust the servants of the former dynasty, and if, instead of establishing tho tran ■■ quility. of Europe on a* firmer footing, he had shaken it by redeeming at the price of European security find independence the recollections of IShiand'ls. • Such, however, he lias not dona. Tho emperor does not hold the whole of Germany responsible for the errors and mad violence of certain manifestations which spring ralher ii'om mean resentment than from serious fears. Germany has. nothing to anticipate from us for her independence. We sympathise with her nationality. % showing herself impartial she will show herself foresighted, and will do better service to the cause of peace. Prussia understood this lino of pi li:y when sho united herself with England, in ordir to promulgata

counsels at Vienna at a time when agitators were endeavouring to arouse angry passions, and to form a .coalition-amongst the States of the German •Confederation against us. The attitude of Prussia is certainly more advantageous -to Germany than the excitement of those who, appealing to the malice'and prejudices of 18.18, expose themselves to the risk of irritating national feeling in France. The French people are susceptible in regard to their honour, but at the same time moderate in tho employment of their strength.' If threats will arouse it, it may nevertheless) be pacified' by conciliation.

An important'commuriication was recently-made to the government by the Finance Commission of the Legislative Chamber appointed to examine and report-on' tho'budget fortlie'next year. The commission call upon the government to declare whether that 'budget is • seriously meant as a peace budget, as they could not be expected to occupy themselves with any but bond, fide estimates, and they cannot believe • that they will be called upon to vote supplementary, credits. They repeat that they cannot believe that -any addition to the ordinary expenditure will be demanded, particularly as they know of- no just cause and of no just pretext for war. The commission, it may be stated, is namecT by the whole chamber, and the chamber is

assumed- to -represent the nation; we may therefore ■•■ consider the declaration of the commission as the - exact expression of the wishes of the country. Thus we find that, in spite of the efforts made to awaken •" the passions of the country to a war policy—in spite of M. Delangle's circulars, in spite of the small war coterie of- the Palais Koyal, peace is still the order of the clay with the nation. The committee sent a message to M. Baroche, requesting him to attend them to give the required explanation. He, with that hauteur which councillors of state display towards the humble members of the legislative body, refused to come. The committee, however, giving out that they persevered in their resolution, Count de Morny came to them, and made a very pathetic speech, dilating upon the wisdom, prudence, and virtues of the emperor. He entreated •■•them to go on withthe'budget without pressing for any explanation. The committee, however, was firm. They told Count de Morny that they had no jurisdiction as to foreign affairs, arid that'if they voted the budget, the question •of peace or war would be out of their hands. Next day Baroche -came, and tried in vain to talk them over. At last he said he must see the emperor before he could tell them anything. He came again the day ■afterwards and said, in a vague way, that the -emperor hoped there would be no occasion to «. depart from the estimates of the peace budget.