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July 29, 1854.] THE LEADER. 699 ^^^^^^^^...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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In The Commons, Lord John Russuxr., Usur...
of our alliance that lasting and honourable peace for Turkey and for ourselves which we were unable to procure by the means of negotiation . Sir , in adverting to the present state of Europe , every one is naturally anxious to learn what part will be taken by Austria upon this subject . I liave always maintained that , whatever might be the interest of England and France in defending and protecting Turkey that the interest of Austria is much greater . It is impossible to conceive the Emperor of Russia succeeding in what must now be acknowledged to be his desire , and establishing an effective control , if not aw acknowledged dominion , over the Principalities , and an increasing and predominant influence in Turkey , without his having complete command of the government of Austria . I cannot conceive that the independence of Austria would be maintained if Russia was to extend her power in the way in which she now seeks to extend it ; but , sir , in order to consider this question , it is necessary also to bear in mind the difficulties which Austria must have to deal with now that , on more than one side , the Russian armies can approach at no great distance from her capital , and that it would hare heen imprudent in her to commit herself to arms against Russia unless she had been fully prepared ; and that , with regard to two of the kingdoms subject to her sway , those kingdoms have been in very recent years so greatly disturbed as to make it more perilous to her to enter into hostilities than it would have been if no such danger had existed . It has therefore been the policy of Austria , declaring that she concurred with us in our object , to attempt , as long as possible , by negotiations to obtain a , settlement of these questions . She has more than once declared that , although the principles that her Majesty has laid down , and the object that her Majesty had in view met with her full approbation , she did not despair of the Emperor of Russia evacuating the Principalities and agreeing to fair and equal terms of arrangement , so as to maintain the balance of power in Europe ; and lately , she has sent a message which has been published in the newspapers within these foyr days , asking Russia-to evacuate the Principalities , asking her to fix a term for that evacuation at no l-emote time , and transmitting also to St . Petersburg the protocol of April , agreed to at Vienna between the four powers , in which it is declared , that it is the object of the four powers that Turkey should be attached to the system of Europe , that the empire should form part of the general balance of power , and that arrangements ouglit to be carried into effect by the general consent and concurrence of the powers of Europe , in order to obtain that settlement . " lie then referred to Russia ' s answers to Austria , characterising them as evasive , and as not adopting the indispensable basis to peace that the Sultan l > e recognised as an European sovereign , with all the rights of sovereignty over his own subjects . "We must endeavour to obtain , by the arms of those powers which are already engaged in war , such conditions as may be necessary for a just , an honourable , and a safe peace . ( Loud clieevs . ) With regard to Austria , with regard to the part that she may take when sho gives her answer , all I can say is this , that although , she might be mistaken as to her policy , although I thinlc she lias been mistaken in not joining sooner and more frankly with the Western Powers in the endeavour to curb the ambition of Russia , yet I cannot believe that she will forfeit tlie engagements into which she has entered . She has now entered into engagements not only with the Western Powers but with Turkey ; she has declared to the Western Powers that if the Principalities are not evacuated by Russia , she will use forcible meanF in order to cause them to bo evacuated . Sho has stipulated in a convention with the Sultan of Turkey that sho will endeavour to secure the evacuation of the Principalities by negotiation , but if those should fail by other means , and that alie will be ready to furnish the number of tvoops necessary for that purpose . I conceive that by this declaration and by these engagements Austria will be bound to take part in the attempt to drive back Russia from the unjust aggression which she has made . Whether she may , witli that hesitation which has been unfortunately protracted too long—( loud cheers )—attempt again to obtain from St . Petersburg some better and some more satisfactory assurance , I am unable to say . We have no control , of course , over the councils of the Emperor of Austria . With regard to the policy of Austria , as I have said , I hnvo no doubt ; neither liavo 1 any doubt tlmt she will honourably fullil her engagements . But with difficult circumstances surrounding her—with but half support from the kingdom of Prussia—she may consider it necossury to obtain a favourable answer from St . Petersburg . " "Warming with these cheers , Lord John plunged into indiscretions , and began to define the peace he would bo satisfied with j—being continuously cheered , and by both sides : — 41 1 say , with such « prospect in the pnat state of nfluirs wo ought to endeavour to obtain securities against t lie aggressions essential to it . I hold that it is impossible that the arrangement which wns made by the treaty of Adrinnoplo with rognrd to tho 1 ' rincipalHiea should bo again nsacntod to—an arrangement which gives to tho Kmporor of Itusaia upon tho merest pretence- tho power of assuming tho possession of tho two provinces of Moldavia mid Wallaohinj whiuh gives him tho power of occupy ing with an annod f ' orca two provinces containing 4 , 000 . 006 oi inhabitants ; and 1 my that undorHuoh circumstances it ia impoHsiblo that tho integrity of Turkey , or l , ho balanoo of power in Europe , can boHt'Cured by rovorting to thoao troutioH , or moivly restoring tho status quo ante . ( Cheers . ) liut thoro in niiothor mode in which tho nottliion of HuhhIii lum beou and it * menacing tho indo pmidonco of Turkey , and tho integrity of Kurono . Tlio os tub iHlnnont of a grunt forlroaH , pi-quircd with all tho combi « nation ol art , made kh impregnable as it ia poaniblo lor art . to accomplish , and containing within \[ a port a very lurgo IIolot liiwi-ol-baUlo bhipti ready at . any timo to coino down with a luvourablo wind to tho UoaplioruH , pluooa liuHain in a po sition which makoH Uur oxcoodh mly muimciuir to Turkey and therefore no treaty ol poaco could bo conaidorcul huIS which loifc tho hmporor of Kusoitt in tho muno menacing attitude . lh « t ia tho great project , tho existing treaties
, - - - I . - , . I have thought ife right to state , not particnlarly , but generally , the views of the Government with respect to the seen- L rities we ought to obtain , but what those special securities < J < will be , in what manner they will be signed , or on what a > terms tliey should be framed , is not a subject that I can go further into than I have already done . I believe we shall be ^ ready , as we have been ready , to communicate with the Government of France upon the subject . I have now reason , to believe that the views of the Government of the Emperor a * of France coincide with our own upon the subject . We shall J < be ready also to communicate with the Government of Aus- to tria wh « n they wish , to know our opinions with regard to such a settlement of the war as in our opinion would be alone o \ secure , honourable , and just ; but I must say , and I say it d < with regret , that I see no symptom of the Emperor of Russia g being at present disposed to grant such conditions as I ha"ve _ hinted at , or to give securities such as I have said are desirable for securing the integrity of Turkey and the inde- „ pendence of Europe . I cannot say that he is at all disposed * to depart in any respect from those demands which were "I made by Prince Menchikoff , and which aimed at subjugation , oi this is the great acquisition that Russia has steadily kept in U ! view , and from the time of the Empress Catharine down to n the present moment , she has pursued the same course to P attain her object . " . n-He added a phrase about " material guarantees" being required for the future . Appealing again to p the House to present a " unanimous" front to Europe , he referred to the question of the " autumnal re- tj cess . " He admitted Mr . Disraeli ' s right to do as lie a had done—suggest such a thing ; but the House must - ^ not be allowed to pass any resolution to that effect . M Her Majesty ' s advisers could not consent to shaekle tl themselves by any pledge as to - what they would c advise : summoning Parliament being her Majesty ' s s prerogative . He sat down , amid geneTal cheering , u greatly complacent . s Nobody of importance now rising , Mr . Aloogk t , presented himself ; and Mr . Aleock , though a very S 1 . able man , not being a Parliamentary personage ; the c House emptied . Mr . Aleock did not speak long ; lie t ] was dissatisfied . with the . slow movements of omr p fleets and armies , and recommended an early coup on the Crimea . . Mr . Bankes , a Tory squire , urged an autumnal session . He hoped there "would be no subsidy to Austria , ( Cheers . ) Mr . Hume , intensely Ministerial , praised everything , said nothing about an autumnal session , and only hinted at his conscientious objection to subsidies . Mr . BtiACKETT was delighted with what Lord John had said about Sebastopol . For the future , he hoped there -would be less diplomacy and more war . He did not desire the Austrian alliance ; and he feared that Austria meant to have the Principalities for herself . He also looked with suspicion on an alliance which might lead indirectly to England becoming a party to the oppression of " nationalities" crushed under the leaden sceptre of Vienna . Mr . Cobden , who re-collected a full House , commenced by a sneer at Lord John ' s sketch of a campaign , und at that attempt to turn the House of Corrimons into a council of war . The House had one advantage in that position ; the real power of Russia ( in attack ) was now ascertained , and ho reminded the House of the vituperation and ridicule to which he had been exposed for speaking contemptuously of Russian strength . Had he not predicted rightly that Russia could effect nothing without a loan ? In fact , her vast territory , over which she had to march armies , was the source of her weakness —that La , of her poverty . But Russia was as bad to attack as incapable herself of attacking * and he did not see what material guarantees could be got from her . Were the allied armies to attempt to march over Russian plains ? The Crimea presented a fatal climate to Europeans ; the Crimea , therefore , could not be occupied ; more especinlly as the population ha-ted ' the Turks . Besides , had not tho German Powers stipulated that if they joined us there should be no attompt to diminish Russian territory : how , then , could we take material guarantees , and yet hope for the German alliances ? " Ho then demanded consideration for tho Greek Oliristinns in Turkey ; for whilo admitting that the Greek monarchy was a mistake , ho contended that tho Greek race had worked 1 most remarkably in tho causo of progress and civilisation . Ho complained that Franco and England had taken every 1 measure to put down the Greek insurrection , whilo they ' bad mndo pledges and promises in favour of tho Christians ^ in Turkey . Tho timo would come when tho lights of tlieao L men , who constituted throe-fourths of tho population , and tho progressive and commercial part , must bo accorded . It 1 would bo n great blunder to alienato that class of tho popu' lalion from ourselves , tut wo had placed oursclvea in ' antugonitiin with them by our conduct in regard to tho j insurrection . Ho then ridiculed tho viowa of those who ' rognrdod this war n » enmud on for tho Interests of tho Italian " and Hungarian nationalitiun , uiul adverted to tho duluiiion 1 that Lord 1 ' nhnurston , to whom many looked ns tho individual to whom tho war ( should bo confided , had dono anything for Kuuh nationalities . " Ami how would tho peoplo of England endure a " Avar ¦ which was not for froodom , but merely for tho ^ Sull nn ' s sovereignty—which represented , in tho oaso , _ of tho Christians , tho oppression of nationalities ? , Lord John , ho said , hud taken the plunge that night : o but if ho had spoken for tho Cabinet ' , ho had said g too muuli to leave tho Government a clmnco of ina . tcrnal j . ) caco . L d wh to to ous for b p ti at st to c t ti b li t 3 ii o o ? il i-
¦ . . Mr . Latabd was satisfied , to some extent , with ord John ' s declarations ; but he would like more efinite information as to how this money was to l > e applied . What Lord John said was different from at Lord Aberdeen had said : and the House ought make conditions . Lord D . Stuart was decidedly in favour of an autumnal session , —and of Lord Palmerston . Lord John ' s was a " noble speech ; " and Lord John ought be Premier . Mr . DisitAEti then rose , and did the most dexterthing in parliamentary annals : made Lord John destroy the effect of Lord John ' s own speech ! The speech , and the scene , are thus admirably sumraa . * rised in the Morning Chronicle : — " He ( Mr . Disraeli ) said thathe had been listening , nearly six hours to strictures upon the Government y its principal supporters . He had not thought his own suggestions for an earlier sitting than usual an unreasonable one , and he supported bis view by a reference to the proceedings of last autnrrm . Had Parliament been sitting a short time before the massacre of Sinope , in all probability the fleet would have been ordered into the Black Sea in time to have revented that datastrophe . He considered that that night had "been pregnant with important declaraons on the part of Government . They had heaTd last a distinct announcement of the object of the war . He adhered to his previous opinion , that the war had been caused by the discordant elements of the Government , but he had never interfered with the conduct of the war itself . He had heard with conernation the statement made that night of the united resolution of the Cabinet . He proceeded to state what he had understood Lord John Russell say ; and , on Mr . Disraeli ' s coining to the destruction of Sebastopol , considerable sensation was aused by Lord John Russell ' s rising and explaining that he had only meant that Russia ought not to be permitted to keep so large a naval force in the Black Sea . Then ( exclaimed Mr . Disraeli ) for six hours we all have been in a fool ' s paradise . He dwelt for some time upon the difference between what Lord John Russell had been understood to say ( from which consolation had been derived for the language used in another place ) and what he declared himself o have said . -He had not thought the speech , as he had understood it , the most prudent in the world , but he had regarded it as an authoritative declaraon on the part of the Ministry , and it had been . received as satisfactory , and more than , satisfactory , y all the supporters of Government . After six hours it turned out that this statement was illusory , and now he had a right to demand of the noble lord what was his policy , if he had one . Nothing so extraordinary as this had ever taken place in his paramentary experience . After enlarging upon this theme , and showing how Lord John ' s supposed declaration had formed a basis for the arguments they had heard , especially those urged by Mr . Cobden . as o the German Powers being opposed to the depriving Russia of territory , he ironically took credit to himself for having prevented terrible misconceptions by his mist & ke , which had elicited from the Lord President the explanation that no new policy was being pursued , but merely tlie old one which -had been adopted all along . All he apprehended was , that the telegraph might already have taken the supposed announcement to St . Petersburg . Honourable gentlemen who had drawn such painful distinctions between the . policy of Lord Aberdeen and of some of his colleagues , would act unfairly if after what had passed they continued to do so , as it was now clear that there was no difference between the policy of Lord Aberdeen and that of Lord Jolm Russell . It was a consolation to know that the Cabinet , though a coalition , was united in . the intention to pursue tho war feebly to a mean termination . " Lord Palmerston attempted a reply , but Mr . Disraeli had bewildered the Ministerialists , and Lord Palmorston was , not successful . Lord John had said , in elicet , that Sobastopol was to be destroyed ; and Lord Palmerston refused to back out of that hint , stating that Lord John spoke for all his colleagues—which tho House didn't believe—and > vas , at any rate , of opinion that Lord John had blundered . As to the German alliances , whilo Franco and England actod together , he did not care who stood aloof . ( Cheers , ) Tho question of a prorogation must bo loft to the Government ' s discretion . Thon commenced tlio confusion , which left Lord John in sv pitiable position , having to give up another night to an explanation of what Monday night haul meant . Lord D . Stuaiit said that na Lord J . Russell luid mado a retractation of what ho luulauul , and as Lord Abordoon was reported to have mado n speech nearly diamotrlcnlly opposito to that of Lord J . Russell , tho House ought to havo t imc to obtain further inforiaa .-tion . I Co moved that uroffresfl bo reported , Lord J . RiiHSKM , deniod that ho had rotniotod anything ; and after somo explanation professed his inability to » eo why tho votu should not bo doci-Mr . IIiBNLHY concurred in tlvo view that Lord J . RuhboU had accidentally lo < A tho House into a naivterial mistake
July 29, 1854.] The Leader. 699 ^^^^^^^^...
July 29 , 1854 . ] THE LEADER . 699 ^^^^^^^^^^ " ^^^^^**^^^^^*^^^^^^^^ L ' ' - ¦—¦ ¦ ' ^ ^ i . . . — . __ _ _ - ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ P *^™^^^^^ M ^^^ " *^^^^^^ fc ^^^^^ M ^^^ M ^^^^^^^^^_
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), July 29, 1854, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_29071854/page/3/
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