The text of Earl Russell's despatch to St. Petersburg, on
behalf of Poland, was published on Saturday. It is dated June 17th, and written with unusual conciseness and force. The Foreign Secretary lays down the principle that no permanent end can be foreseen to such a struggle until confidence is re-established between governors and governed, and law is supreme over arbitrary will. To secure these ends he suggests the well-known Six Points as bases of negotiation, an armistice to be decreed by the Czar in the interests of humanity, and a conference of the eight Powers who signed the Treaties of Vienna. The answer will not be received till the middle of next week, but it is assumed that it will be favourable, and on this assumption Earl Russell uttered the defence of his policy analyzed in another column. His speech, however, pledging himself to avoid hostilities, would reach St. Petersburg by telegraph before the answer was sent, and may materially modify its tone.
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