"INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION."
TO THE ED/TOR OF THE SPECTATOR.
Miteside, Cumberland, 25th June 1$49. Six—Will you allow me through your columns to ask -Mr. Cobden-a plain ques- tion?
He writes thus to Joseph Sturge, on the 15th instant—"! have no doubt that success will crown your efforts at no distant period; and that the Government will be authorized by a vote of the House to hold out the olive-branch to other nations, inviting them to a mutual pledge that under no circumstances will-they go to war. When such a pledge bhall have been entered into by this country with all the Governments, you will have taken the best possible means for secur- ing universal and permanent peace. I do not pretend to say that, even then no wars will occur; but at least we shall have done our best to prevent them:" The question I would ask Mr. Cobden is this—Supposing such a pledge taken tomorrow by all the Governments in Europe, what would that do to prevent arca wars as those now raging in Hungary and Italy—wars between peoples and governments, more of which may yet be expected I Such wars are not chosen by governments, but forced upon them. What is it Mr. Cobden really means? Would he propose to the Austrian Go- 'imrnment (for instance) to abdicate; since for that Government to proclaim that " under no circumstances" it would go to war, would be to proclaim the dissoln- lion of the Empire, everywhere disaffected, and kept under only by force of arms? Or is the "international" a misnomer, and, throwing peoples altogether out of h consideration, does he desire "universal" peace only between governments! —a -"peace" coexistent with wars in India and Algiers, with Gallician and with the bombardment (for the good of-trade) of half the capitals of Europe? 4er is the whole scheme nothing more than an attempt to pledge England to peace asserali circumstances, whether honourable or dishonourable,- to give a saintly colouring to the Atheistic policy .of nonintervention; biding the abnegation of Slaty under a pious name, and insuring the Shop from any possibility of loss :through speculating in those unconsidered trifles—the interests of Humanity, and the universal and permanent assertion of Bight'? I am, Sir, your obedient servant, , 'W. 3. Immix
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