The Marlborough Press. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1860.

Marlborough Press, Volume I, Issue 40, 6 October 1860, Page 2

The Marlborough Press. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1860.

By the arrival of the Alert, from Wellington, and the Mary, from Nelson with the English mail, we are enabled to lay before our readers European intelligence to July 26th. The general tenor is, we think, calculated to allay the gloomy anticipations to which previous rumours had given rise, of supposed complicity between France and Russia, and the consequent probability of a general European war. It may appear presumptuous, in this secluded corner of the remotest dependency of the British Crown, to hazard an opinion on great questions of European jj^licy; but let it be borne in mind that New Zealand is an integral portion of the British Empire, and one which, in case of hostilities, will most certainly be the object of attack. We shall therefore give expression to the ■views which we conceive our present information is calculated to suggest. From the reign of Peter the Great, and probably long before that period, aggression upon Turkey has been the traditional policy of Russia, and she has omitted no opportunity of acquiring territory in the direction of Constantinople. In order to prevent the undue aggrandisement of that power (and the consequent danger to the peace of Europe) France, Sardinia, and England united in 1854 to maintain the integrity of the Turkish dominions, and the curtailment of the power of Russia in the Black Sea and the destruction of Sebastopol were the results. But Russia has always claimed the protectorate of the members of the Greek Church within the Turkish frontier, and the late frightful massacre of Christians by fanatical Mahommedans narrated in another part of our paper were likely to furnish a too tempting opportunity for Russian intervention to be let slip, and “ it is feared that these circumstances will seriously complicate the Eastern question, and that the old plea of Russia for her demands on Turkey will be renewed this time with an avidity which the Western Powers will not be able to dispute so successfully as of old. 11 The Emperor of the French, however, true to his former policy, has announced that “ the Turkish authorities not being capable of protecting the Sultan’s own subjects, France will concert with the other powers the most efficacious means for preventing the bloody scenes of which Syria has become the theatre.” The correspondent of the Sydney ‘ Herald 1 says, “ France is perfectly willing, in the interest of the European powers, to take up, singlehanded, the cause of the Christians, and immense armaments, &c., aie being prepared at Toulon for an expedition to Syria. The urgency is great, and France is the only power that can send troops at once for the emergency, but it is impossible to suppress the apprehension that regards this expedition as a preliminary step to Egypt, although a convention is to be signed for determining the character of the European intervention in Syria.” Of course the alarmists see in all this an insidious design on the part of the French Empeior to obtain a military footing in the East, under the pretence of fulfilling the wishes of the other powers; but if the wary and astute Emperor entertains the designs attributed to him, more especially as regards England, is it likely, is it possible to suppose, that he would be thus demonstrative of tire immense aggressive resources at his disposal, in order to balk his supposed ally of her meditated prize ? We are disposed to give him credit for more tact and consistency, and adopt the view of the subject thus expressed by the correspondent of the ‘ Sydney Morning Herald 1 : “There is a report that England impedes the policy of France in the matter of Syria. This is not true. France and England are in accord and concur upon this matter. Affairs have arrived at a crisis when the interference of the Great Powers in the East has become absolutely necessary. Russia only a very short time back took the initiative,

and drew the attention of the other powers to the state of affairs, showing that the Turkish Government had failed in its promise and duties, and pointing out ithe expediency of interference. France now takes ’the initiative by arrangement, lest it should appear that Russia was about to resume her policy, and take advantage of the opportunity.” In reviving the Empire, Louis Napoleon necessarily revived its prestige, which was essentially military. Great military establishments are to him a necessity, and yielding to the exigencies of his position, he has, like another Frankenstein, evoked a power which almost defies his control. He must pander to the French appetite for military glory. We believe, however, that the prompt action he is able to take in the present emergency, in anticipation of the other powers, will be as acceptable to it as Magenta or Solferino, without endangering the general peace of Europe, and that he is willing on that ground to take the initiative, without necessarily entertaining any ulterior designs not in accordance with his declared intentions. It is presumed that war with England would be popular in France, and with the army it would probably be so ; doubtless the memory of Waterloo still rankles, but all intelligent Frenchmen know that Jena, Wag-ram, Austerlitz, the occupation of Vienna, Berlin, and Dresden, have left bitter memories in the heart of Germany, and that her sympathies and interests are with England. The Emperor has given a guarantee of his sincere desire to cultivate a friendly feeling in the French nation towards England, by his late fiscal arrangements, of which his people are already reaping the benefits. Cheaper fuel, cheap and substantial clothing, cheap and tasteful earthenware, are now accessible to the French, which they have never been before, and will be fully appreciated by them. On the other hand, their great industrial pursuits, especially in the vine districts, have received a great impulse, and there is hardly a home in France which will not be greatly benefited by the boon thus conferred, and in time learn to estimate justly the hand that bestowed it. When that consummation is obtained, we may hope that the warlike instincts of the nation will not so completely as hitherto override its true interests and more pacific intentions.