Ixx1] M. ROUHER ON LOBD PALMERSTON'S SPEECH. 781

“M. Rouber spoke in indignant terms of the speech 1860.
lately delivered by Lord Palmerston in the House of Com- Zr. 56.
Mons when introducing the measure for fortifying the naval
arsenals, in which he founded his scheme entirely upon the
danger to be apprehended from France. He characterized
the policy of our Cabinet as a pitiful truckling to the
Popular passions of the moment, for the sole object of
Securing a majority in Parliament, in disregard of the interests
 of commerce and civilization and the higher duties
of statesmanship. He spoke at some length and with much
eloquence on this subject, and remarked that he regretted
there was not a tribune in France from which he could
Speak for half an hour in answer to Lord Palmerston. He
%aid that this speech had increased the difficulties of the
French Government in carrying out liberally the terms of
the Treaty, for it deprived them of the argument that it
Would ameliorate the moral and political relations of the
two countries. He denied the truth of Lord Palmerston’s
Ragertion that the French navy had been unduly increased.
Alluding to the letter which the Emperor had written to
Count Persigny in consequence of Lord Palmerston’s speech,
he remarked that it had wounded the susceptibilities of the
French people, who dislike to see their sovereign treat with
50 much consideration, and so much on the footing of equality,
4 statesman who had recently offered so many insults to
France. I hear from many other quarters that the Em-Peror’s
 letter has hurt the self-love of all classes of the
French people. It is a significant fact that it has not been
Published in the Moniteur.
August 27.—Called on M. Rouher in the morning and
had some conversation on the subject of our proposed
Arrangements for completing the French tariff. He mentioned
 that he had been speaking to Lord Clarendon upon
the language nsed by Lord Palmerston in the House of