Yesterday week, too late for our last impression, Mr. Auberon
Herbert made an admirable speech in the House of Commons on the ostentatious neutrality of Her Majesty's Govern- ment, concluding by moving a resolution to the effect that the House was of opinion the Government ought to act in concert with other neutral powers to obtain moderate terms of peace, and to withhold acquiescence in all terms likely to " impair the independ- ence of France and threaten the future tranquillity of Europe." He pointed out that England, by first engaging all the other neutral powers not to mediate without first communicating their intention to England and to each other, and then sedulously dis- couraging any sort of expression of opinion that would have been likely to moderate the demands of Prussia, had played the part of what is called in the dialect of flirtation, a ' detrimental,' i.e., an admirer who by his attentions prevents the attentions of others without having serious intentions himself. He showed how often we had really had overtures from other neutral powers to make representations to Germany on a basis that France would have been willing to accept, and how coldly Lord Granville had dis- countenanced them ; and he urged in eloquent language the mutual international obligation of the various peoples of Europe to save each other from dangers affecting the destinies of many generations.
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