English and Foreign.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XII, Issue 746, 31 December 1859, Page 3

English and Foreign.

LATEST NEWS TO NOV. 2nd,

The following telegram, received by the ' Sydney Morning Herald,' confirms that published by tho ' Avgus,' already published. — [BY ELEOm|iO TELEGRAPH.] London, Nov. 2nd. Wo regret to state that there is great political disquiet, both in Great Britain and on the Continent. . The hope of preventing war between Spain and Morocco, expressed in our telegram of the 18th ultimo, has been disappointed. War has been declared by Spain against Morocco, which will necessarily involve to some extent the French Government of Algieis. Italian affairs are presenting new difficulties, and seem to be insoluble. Paper returned above minimum. One hundred and eight (108) tenders, nearly two millions [supposed Victorian debentures], at 109 to 109 ft. It is satisfactory to learn that the Liverpool wool sales are one halfpenny above last quotations. The following arrivals are reported:—Dover Castle, Yorkshire, British Trident, tho Maiden Vale, the Koyal Charter (b), oJF Cork,]) Consols at 95f. i (From the'Times/October 18.) The following telegrams have been received afc Mr. Reuters office: — Paris, October 17. " Prince Napoleon, who left Havre on board the steamer Dauphin, accompanied by Viscomte Cler, M. Ferri Pisani, and M. Hubaim, is expected to visit the Great Eastern at Holyhead to-day or tomorrow, where it is anticipated he will meet Her Majesty the Queen of England." Paris, October 17. "The Treaty of Peace between France and Austria has been signed to-day at Zurich." 12.10 p.m. " French funds open firm. Eentes, 69f. 90c." " 2.15 p.m. " In consequence of the report that the Treaty of Peace had been signed, Rentes rose to 70f." "3.15p.ra. "The Bourse closes animated, but less firm. Rentes receded to 69f. 80c, the same as Saturday." "Zurich, October 17. " All questions, including the monetary settlement, have now been definitively arranged by the plenipotentiaries." EXPBESS FROM PABIS. The following is the letter of our Paris correspondent, dated yesterday (Monday), 6 p.m.: —

" The delay granted by the Spanish Government to Morocco to comply with its demands expired the day before yesterday. To-morrow, if reparation has not been made, hostilities are to commence. The world will, therefore, soon know how the matter has been decided — whether diplomacy has triumphed, or war is to ensue, and an end will be put to the conjectures and bickerings in which some of the French papers have lately indulged upon that subject. They are making the most of the last days of doubt. The ' Debats' of to-day has one of those snarling anti-English articles —not by one of the usual writers, but signed by that mysterious personage, the Secretary of the redaction —which from time to time find their way into its columns, and which, strike one by their contrast in tone and spirit; in taste and in ability, with those that proceed from the juster and more genial pens of a Paradol or a Letnoine. People are puzzled to understand how it is that the 'Debats' inserts such articles to the detriment of consistency and reputation, and some account for it by a tale of a bilious shareholder in the paper, who, besides drawing his part of the profits, has the right of inserting, at intervals, articles in support of his own unhealthy opinions. I am ignorant how far this explanation is founded in fact; but if it be correct, then it is evident that the gentleman with the liver complaint took his turn last night. He occupies nearly three columns with what he manifestly intends for a lucid and comprehensive exposition of the Morocco question, in all its bearings. He says:— "' jEn attendant that we (France and England) unite to endeavour to reach Pekin together, there to exchange, with accompaniment of cannon shot, a treaty of peace, we shall probably meet much sooner and much closer in front of Tangier. In what dispos'tion on the one part and on the other ? This is what we propose to ourselves to examine in few words, and. as clearly as possible, in order to arrive, according to our custom, at a conclusion favourable to justice and to right.'

'' The writer then gives a sketch of French conquests in Africa, and of the relations of France with Morocco, and expresses his satisfaction at seeing Spain in a position at last to chastise the last pirates of the Mediteranean, who, he insinuates, are under the protection of England, He continues:— ■ "' Because the hazard of war or the caprice of fortune one day delivered over to England a Spanish fortress, is Spain—already so inconvenienced by the neighbourhood of this entrepdt of contraband goods, which inundates the country with English merchandise to the great prejudice of its manufactures, and so humiliated at seeing a foreign flag float over her territory—is Spain to see herself for ever interdicted from revenging her injuries and making her African possessions respected, under the pretext that Gibraltar might thereby lose sovuq prestige and some confidence ?'

"That a Frenchman should find fault with smuggling from Gibraltar is rather amusing, when we remember that the supply of Spain with French contraband goods is openly and avowedly the chief business of Bayonne, Oleron, and the other French frontier towns, and that there are commercial houses in Paris who do nothing else but supply the smuggling trado with Spain. Through the passes of the Pyrenees on mule and man's back, along the coasts of Biscay and Catalonia by luggevs and chassemartcs, a deluge of French goods for the most part of an inferior description, is continually pouring into Spain. The object of the article in the ' Debats,' however, is neither truth nor fairness, but simply to attack England; and to do this it drags in the Perim fable by head and shoulders, and is even so silly as to hint a doubt whether England has not designs on the independence of Spain, Had it appeared in certain journals which are wont to write in that strain, tho article would have attracted no notice, but it has been talked about to-day merely on account of its boing published in the ' Debats.' The state of the French Press is worse even than is generally imagined, if, as somo suppose, a journal besides being restrained in the expression of its own opinions, somotimos finds itself under the necessity of going against them by the insertion of an article communicated from an influential quarter. "The 'Patrie' has an article on tho same subject, but conceived in a fairer and better spirit, and with which tho chief fault to bo found is that it seems disposed to attribute to the whole English Press views and statements which havo certainly been put forward only by a part of it, and that part not tho most influential. It commences by saying that if tho English Government, as is gonorally understood and belioved, has advised tho Emperor of Morocco to mako to Spain the amends she demands, it is clear that that Government acquiesces in the justice of that demand, and consequently admits' tho right of Spain, should the demand be refused, to extort by arms tho satisfac*

tion to which she is entitled. This is logical enough. # The ' Patrio' considers it probable that there will bo no war. On this head it in hardly worth whilo to speculate, since doubt will be ho soon removed—although a rumour has just j reached mo that Morocco lias obtained a little longer delay. The ' Patrio' does not share the opinion o{ those who maintain that if peace be preserved ib will be a check for Spain, and if war break out a check for England. It does not identify the conduct of the English Government in this affair with what it calls the recent fanfaronades of London papers. I make the following extracts : "' Wo cannot admit that the Court of Madrid has everything to lose by deferring its legitimate reprisals (the ' Patrie' argues upon the assumption that Spain will, sooner or later, be compelled to make war on Morocco, who will not' respect diplomatic conventions) if it now obtains equitable satisfaction. Spain daily grows greater; political parties are becoming appeased, her agriculture developes itself, her credit improves, her industry progresses, her army (always heroic by individual courage) becomes supple to discipline and apt for combined operations. A country in this condition may, without fear, postpone a serious affair. "' Neithor can wo admit that England shows signs of weakness, when she is, after all, only giving pledges of wiedora and equity. Unreflecting journals and imprudent orators may, by calculation, make ill-sounding professions of faith, and put forward intolerable pretensions; it does not follow that the English Government, under pain of diminishing its importance, must follow that forlorn hope of the pen or of the tribune in its adventurous flights.'"

The ' Constitutionnel' has also an article on the dispute between Spain and Morocco. It looks at it from the commercial point of view, and argues that, although the trade of France with the Moorish ports is infinitely inferior to that of England, war is not likely to improve the situation, and it therefore desire 3to see peace preserved.

The article refers more particularly to the trade of France with Morocco, and after showing that, although not great at present, it is capable'of being extended, proceeds thus:—-

" This situation, precarious as it may be, shows that the hostilities of Spain and France with Morocco must have a prejudicial elfect on our manufactures and maritime trade, but it is evident that the consequences of the war and of the internal revolt will be more especially felt in England. We have, therefore, no doubt whatever that the protection of their interests has not been neglected by British diplomacy at Madrid. We, nevertheless, share the desire expressed by our allies to see the new Government of Morocco satisfy the just susceptibilitiesof Spain, and prevent hostilities."

(From the ' Globe,' Tuesday evening, Oct. 18.) Breslaw, October 18. According to an official announcement, the Emperor of Russia will arrive at Breslaw on Saturday morning next, and will take his departure on Sunday evening. His Royal Highness the Prince Regent of Prussia will arrive here on Friday next.

THE CONGEESS,

Some of the German journals state. that the governments which are to send representatives to the approaching congress are eleven in number, viz.—France, Great Britain, Prussia, Russia, Austria, Sardinia, Spain, Sweden, Portugal, the Roman jStates, and the two Sicilies.