FOREIGN AFFAIRS: RELATIONS WITH FRANCE, AND WITH OTHER EUROPEAN POWERS THROUGH THE FRENCH ALLIANCE.
A.D. 1857-1858
The importance of the French alliance was acknowledged by all classes in England, but the maintenance of it was extremely difficult. The policy of the French emperor was considered capricious and dynastic, and not regulated by good faith and justice. His eagerness to create an alliance with Russia, at the expense of England, was obvious in every circumstance which brought the three powers into diplomatic connection. This was more especially the case as regarded the Danubian Principalities. On every question which arose in connection with those provinces of the Turkish empire, Russia fomented dispute between herself and Turkey, between the Porte and the Provinces, and between France and England. France fell in with the views of Russia, thwarted the Turkish government, bore herself affrontfully and dictatorially to the sultan, and peevishly and even menacingly towards England, by which nation the rights of Turkey were from the first consistently espoused. The boundary question was conducted so that it was difficult to believe that France and Russia had not conspired against the rights of Turkey and the policy of England, ostensibly to enforce which France made war upon the czar. Austria generally sympathized more with England than with France and Russia in these disputes, but no power could place confidence in the perfidious government of the kasir, any more than in that of the czar. Prussia showed neither justice nor magnanimity. Her policy was selfish and cowardly. Although the grandson of the King of Prussia was affianced to the Princess Royal of England, that circumstance made no difference in the pro-Russian sympathies of the king. He abetted Russia in all her designs. The Prussian people generally expressed disapprobation of the policy of the court, but did not show spirit or purpose to counteract it. On June the 19th, a treaty was signed at Paris, and ratified on the last day of the year, between Great Britain, Austria, France, Prussia, Russia, and Sardinia, relative to the frontier of Bessarabia, to the Isle of Serpents, and to the delta of the Danube. The policy of England, on the whole, triumphed in this treaty. The Swiss Canton of Neufchâtel, which appertained to the government of Prussia, revolted against that government. In consequence of that event, much diplomatic difficulty and discussion arose in Europe. The moderate plan of arrangement recommended by England influenced the decision of the contest in a manner satisfactory to the Swiss Confederation and the people of Neufchâtel. The King of Prussia submitted to the arrangement ungraciously, and did much in sustaining a selfish policy, which was calculated to create a European war. At Paris, June 16,1857, a treaty was signed, which settled these turbulent affairs. The parties to the treaty were Great Britain, France, Prussia, the Swiss Confederation, Austria, and Russia.
DIFFERENCE WITH THE UNITED STATES.
The “Clayton-Bulwer treaty” of 1850 was still the fruitful source of contention. It was hoped that the “Dallas Clarendon treaty” of 1856 would settle all disputes, but this hope was unsustained by events. The President of the United States recommended the abrogation of these treaties altogether, and the commencement de novo by the diplomatists of the two nations of negotiations for a new settlement. The gist of the dispute lay within a small compass. Both governments had agreed to acquire no territory in Central America. England affirmed that such a stipulation fairly assumed that she was to retain possession of the territory and protectorate she already held and exercised. America denied the correctness of this interpretation; alleging that the idea entertained by the statesmen of the republic was, that neither power should hold any territory in Central America. The Americans declared that if England acquired or retained territory in Central America they also would acquire territory there, and the result must be a struggle between the two nations for dominion in Central America. Whereas if England renounced all territorial possession, the United States would concur in a mutual arrangement for the neutrality of the great transit way across the American continent between the Atlantic and Pacific. The proposal of the United States appeared to be the only practicable one to secure peace. The discussion, however, was maintained with much courtesy and resolution on both sides, and the dispute remained open.
CHINA—PROSECUTION OF THE WAR.
In the last chapter the British admiral was left awaiting reinforcements at the close of the year 1856.
On the 12th of January the British fired the western suburbs of Canton, which continued to burn for two days. So weak was the British force that it was obliged to drop down the river, and the squadron took up a position near Macao.