OPINIONS OF THE FRENCH PRESS ON THE AMNESTY OFFERED BY RUSSIA TO THE POLES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XX, Issue 1112, 8 July 1863, Page 3

OPINIONS OF THE FRENCH PRESS ON THE AMNESTY OFFERED BY RUSSIA TO THE POLES.

Public opinion in France will not bo misled as to the value of the amnesty offered by Russia. This measure is a mere deceptive mystification, a diplomatic parade, by which Russia thinks to enable herself to reply to the note of the Powers, " What you ask is already done."

Let us suppose for a moment that the insurgents allowed themselves to be persuaded to lay down their arms, their situation would be the same as it was before the insurrection. They would not be shot as insurgents, but transported as conscripts. They have, therefore, the same reasons to persevere in their struggle as they had to revolt. Once more, what Poland wants is her independence. Anything but the recognition of her autonomy is not worthy of serious consideration.

While General Berg, in Warsaw, is perpetrating all the cruelties of the Russian regime, they talk on paper at St. Petersburg of Platonic clemency which binds them to nothing. This proves that Russian policy is either greatly embarrassed or intent on deception, and perhaps both.

But neither Poland nor Europe will be taken in by this farce.—VOpinion Nationale.

By a coincidence which will strike the political world, an Imperial manifesto published at St. Petersburgh decrees an amnesty in favour of the Polish insurgents at the moment when Prance, England, and Austria have made an attempt to intercede diplomatically with the Russian Government on behalf of Poland. That amnesty had been announced beforehand by letters from Warsaw. It is needless to say that Alexander 11. only signed it on the receipt of advices transmitted by his ambassadors at Vienna, Paris, and London. The Cabinet of St. Petersburgh has thus sought to forestal the demands of Europe, and skilfully baffle the combined efforts of the three great Powers. But this piece of diplomatic acting is, after a fashion, annulled by those who have prepared it. There is another coincidence which will not produce less impression 011 public opinion—it is the very day after the publication of an ukase ordering the confiscation of the property of the Polish insurgents and their families that the amnesty has been proclaimed The concert of the great Powers has taken place too soon; it has taken by surprise the Cabinet of St. Petersburgh, which in less than three times twentyfour hours has thus sent to Warsaw—first, an order for the sequestration of Polish property; secondly, the order to prepare an amnesty. This gives us the measure of the generous sentiments which the organs devoted to Russia will not fail to dwell upon in announcing that amnesty! This shows us the value we must attach to Russian policy ! It is all calculation, hypocrisy, selfishness, when the Russian despotism looses the bonds that connect it with the Polish nation. The same decree which proclaims the amnesty leaves all administrative and political concessions to the good pleasure of the Czar. It means that nothing is altered in the fate of Poland, and that there is but one more humiliation for that noble people in the crumb of pardon which is allowed to drop from the heights of the' Russian throne! Amnesty, when a whole people is fighting for liberty! Promises without any guarantee when whole provinces are rising ia arms to recover their indpendence! It is a bitter mockery which will take nobody in. Russian diplomacy has unmasked its batteries. The ukase of April 12 is but an additional weapon afforded to public opinion. The situation is wholly unchanged. The diplomatic action of the three powers is not in the least modified by it, and will be pursued in spite of the feeble obstacle raised to its progress by a c.lumsey stratagem. What will the result be ? The decisions of the Cabinet of St. Petersburgh seem to afford still less promise to-day than yesterday, but it is already an immense progress to have to record this eagerness of the Cabinet of St. Petersburgh to declare on the one hand those who fight against the dominion of Russia deserve an amnesty, and on the other hand that Muscovite policy will never willingly abandon the privileges derived from odious spoliation. The Russian Government has taken upon itself the duty to give the lie to the pliant defenders of its magnanimity.—La Patrie.

We must not be deceived. The amnesty offered by Russia is not a solution. The name of complication is more fit for it, for it upsets the understanding between England, Austria, and France. It is a game which will have to be begun with fresh cards; but will fresh cards in the hands of the same diplomatists—Count Eechberg, Viscount Palmers ton,, and M. Drouyn de Lhuys have more chance of success? We doubt it. —La Pres.se.

It is certain that the Poles will not be satisfied with this amnesty and these delusive promises, and that the struggle will continue without truce or mercy. What will be the attitude of the powers then ? We expect nothing from Austria; little from England; and we know nothing positive respecting the intentions of the French Government.—Le Temps.

All the papers are filled with the manifesto of the Emperor Alexandra relative to the amnesty, and in general give it but a very poor reception There is certainly some little precipitateness and prejudice in some of these comments. The act of amnesty is only known to us by a telegraphic summary: why should it be condemned thus a priori, and without reserve, before we have the exact text ? The decree of confiscation does not apply to the kingdom of Poland; it only concerns the border provinces, in which the Emperor has doubtless wished to anticipate the movement spreading. .... The Polish question is serious enough in itself without being still more complicated, and it arouses but too legitimate sympathy in the whole world, without adding to it excesses of passion and prejudice. Certainly, the act of sequestration of the 15th of March was much to be regretted and condemned by our age and our civilization ; but this measure appears to us to be annulled by the act of amnesty, which extends to the border provinces of Poland as well as to Poland itself. As for the amnesty, we are far from thinking it the realization of our wishes, and we see great defects in it, to which we shall recur when we have the exact text; but it is a beginning, a point du depart, which diplomacy might avail itself of to obtain the completion of the work commenced by it, a,nd greater concessions of a nature to entirely pacify the revolted provinces.—La France.

In conclusion, the Paris press have condemned the conduct of the Cabinet of St, Petersburg, with a unanimity which the silence of the ' Constitutionnel and the satisfaction of 'LaPrance' does not alter. The trick is discovered, and public opinion, already indignant at the persecutions of Muscovite policy, puts this last act of generosity on a level with all those which for thirty years have called forth the animadversions of Europe on liussian rule m loland.—La Patrie,