NON INTERVENTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 244, 24 August 1864, Page 6

NON INTERVENTION.

[From the " Times.] i The question, divested of tho obscming circumstances which months of discussion and passionate reerimmination havo thrown round it, is simply this':—ls England liourd by positive stipulations, or 'morally, or in honour, to go to war with Prussia'and 'Austria for tho ] iivposc of driving their troops from ScTilcswig, or In m that part of it which lies north of tho, lino of the Schlei, or from that part of it which' w'e misconceive that un arbitrator would have awarded to Denmark if such n mode of settling tho dispute hnd been adopted ? In thus putting the question wo dismiss, as unnecessary to bo discussed, the consideration whether tin: soverence of Schlcswig ntu! Holstoin, or any part of them, frcm Dci.maik would bo to injurious to ourselves that wo ought to enter into a Continental war to avert it, lot; no reasonable man can imagine that it will make the smallest difference to England, or to any State in Europe, if Schleswig bo added to tho Con federation ns Uolstein was, or if tho two bo governed with or without political connexion with Copenhagen. Whether there he an Augustenhuig or a Gluckslmrg on tho throne, tlio inhabitants will bleed their cattle, and wo shall buy tlic-m; their modest wants and the way of manufactures will bo equally supplied by English exporters ; and they will keep the even tenour of their way pretty much as they have done before in tluii- sequestered corner of Europe. Tho German Confederation with all its theatrical enthusiasm, tho Prussian State with nil its propensities to military domineering, are not dangerous to tho world, llie would-be Muscovite policy of Berlin is a weak imitation and need frighten no one, for both Ihussia and her sister offender Austria aro far more likely to loso than to gain, to bo tho victims than tho spoilators of tho next ten years. So far from seeing with tenor the addition of Schleswig to the Confederation, it will not, wo lielievo, givo the slightest uneasiness to ordinary Englishmen. Tho material interest, therefore, of England in the campaign which was to begin yesterday is absolutely nothing. However much wo may sympathize with Denmark, and regret tho violence and contempt for public law shown by her adversaries, it can make no difference to ns how the calnpaingn ends, provided that it is contincd to the main land.

Such l)citt£ the state of nfVmvs, wc have Veen called upon to mediate, in conjunction "with France and Bussia, between the contending parties, with the viow of bringing them to tonus. Wo have found Piussiu overheurirg, and Denmark obstinate. We have failed signally in our endeavours to make peace, and have earned the usual rewaid of mediators— the hostility of both tho combatants. What, then, lemains to be done't When a man tees a fight between two others so unequally niatehed hi fcize and strength as to leave no doubt as to the result, his liist impulse is to interfere on behalf of the weaker M*de. lie does not, however, rush pieeipitately into the conflict, but endeavours to separate the combatants arid lcam the cause of tho quarrel. His interest in the atlah is gieatly stiengthencd if ho iinds (hat both paitits arc not very distantly related to himself. Under these circumstances what tan he do better than try to pacify tho combatants, and induce each of tlicm to abate homcwhat his pietensions ? Should one, however, prove obstinate and tho (ther oveibearing, and both agree in refusing his mediation, what (an he do but aetiie fum the thankless i thee of peacemaker, and leave thtin to fight it out by tluinselves 1" lie inay feel, indeed, that the cause of the Weaker side in justice to pievail ; but, uiihss ho is aimed villi legal autluuity, he will ]robably abstain 1 jcm any iuither inteifcrcnee, and content hiim-elf with taking any precautions that maybe necet-saiy to pievcnt the stronger side hum abusing his victory, frueli is pretty iriueh the jiosilion of ICnglajid at this moment. AVe have not disnist cl our ejmiion that Geimany is puiMiing a seifif-h and unsoupulous policy, which may one da\ iceoil en bi'ix 11, but, to long as she abstains fiom acts which would tliieaien the interests of this country, wc do not i»tl<ml to have auv light to conliol her conduct. We do not go to war for an idea. Wc d<> not say that then 1 may not. bo e'ircuniMance s under which the meic c< Tniuit-sion of a national wrong would demand tin- inte.i fen nee of other nations to redress it, J Jut these are oe-easions when the ambition of m'iuo ]< weiftd vState involves a common danger, and re intitules her a common em my. fcuch cannot 1 v said to he the. ease In the pn-M nt instant v. It is the inu iest <>f Kuioj.o that Ooim.Miy s)h uhl be sth ngilx m d lather than weaki ned ; ami though we diploic her internal divisions, and are disgusted'with her aiiognnt.tieatmcht of a weak though pugnacious neighbour, wo sjioidd feel a state ed hostility between us to Lo a calamity which nothing but the most ] aramount necessity would wanant us in iucuxring. f J he only i iwon, then, which could induce us tr» accept ihe aHonn:tivo oi war rs that we aie in some way hound to iJeiunork, and must conse quci.tly give its Gov(]iu)k jii aimcel assist;.nee-, or violate international obligations which should be sacied. We think that, tlie? most sriupule.iis examination of what has passe:tl he th in foimer years ami sine o the death oi the late K .iig of Denmaak will fail to tJ.ow any obligation oi this kinel. -It seems to us clear that the people of this countiy me pe-iJcetly masters of their own policy, and entitle d to consider their own hone ur j anil inteiests in the course they may take, it cer- , tainlv cannot be said that any claim to assistance can !he it'Undeel on tin* Treaty of JK-V2. Jt e< ntainenl no , iniaianU'e, and only bound us, in common with otliei lyiropcan ] owers, to re.-pi ct the Glut Ksbiil'g succession w hem ver it should acciu<\ lint do the recent n< gM iations giving the 1 lane* a LeU«r claim r We think not. li there w< i'<-any casual words which at the- beginning oj t lie; tli.'-j uto in.-.y h;i\e ijii-jniod tin l.)iijies with ial,e hopi-^ > theyhaVe hi g Mine; ht en ia uliali.-e el by the piudi nt aelvii t: wiiieh our (.■ uve Inincnt has tendered tluiti, and by the warning which it. has continually urged up< n them dining iln? j.iogiess oI the siiugglr ibal nuoiation ;uid peaceiid go«jd cilice .-> wuio tiie; limit <»f tho assistance- it could aflorel. Certainly, in advising the le-fiun.ent iiom Jlolslein, the repeal of the Talent of lUaieh and e»f the November Constitution, aval finally the surrender of the part of Sehleswig of the: 1 taniiewerke, tho liritish Got, eminent rather indicated to tho Danes its belief in their helplessness than held out to them a hope that their anus would he aide-d by those of England. The piyilocols of the Conleiem-o and the ensuing debate:** ivill, w«j helievb, jm.Vr that, whatever minor blots may be hit in the.conduct oi a long negociati(">n, the nation will be; lound t«» have et«nliat.'le<l no sue'h obligations as can make il for our honour to abandon a neutiality which e.\i;tiience Jias shown to be wise.