FRANCE.

North Otago Times, Volume 1, Issue 1, 25 February 1864, Page 6

FRANCE.

Considerable discussion is now going on as to tho probable result of tlio British Cabinet having declined the invitation to join tho proposed Convention. What it will be no one can tell ! The probability, however, is that the abstention of England may prevent the Congress from taking place. If it holds, it will bo nothing moro than a gathering of minor potentates, to which will not attach much importance, and from which nothing good is likely to come. That discord and disunion among the powers of Europe will be the result, is highly probable. The Home News says :— " See what it, is that tempts Spain into the council of Sovereigns— the hope of getting back Gibraltar, which she is understood to be ready to demand. Greece may go in from vanity or even moro politic motives ; but whatever may bring her there, she will inevitably have something to saj about Corfu. ' These are ramll things, no doubt, but they are calculated to ruffle the surface, and \o

produce discussions that it would be more prudent to avoid. If this petty Congress cannot be productive of any actual results, common sense points out the wisdom of suffering it to die a natural death." The sympathy of France for Poland is still profound. M. Sequ d' Agueßssau, while speaking of the cruelties of the Russians, said that in the event of Russia refusing to come to the Congress, it wotdd be the duty of France to act, even if alone. The Marquis de Laraehejaequelin protested against the principle that it was the duty of France to go to war for the Poles. The part played by England in the negotiations respecting Poland, was to break off the alliance with Russia. The speaker contested the commission of cruelties upon the part of the Russians, and condemned the secret Government at Warsaw. The Moniteur of Dec. 9, contained the following :—": — " A lamentable discussion has been entered into relative to the works on the Isthmus of Suez. Not content with opposing an enterprise in which French interests are engaged, certain journals have committed the great mistake of seeking to make the public believe that thoy expressed the ideas of the Government. The Crovermneut meets this pretension with the most complete disavowal."