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For all these reasons I would in any case advise the 

 postponement of overtures here till we have seen what 

 the French Elections bring forth. But even from a 

 Government less frightened than the present ... I 

 fear we should have but a very poor chance of obtaining 

 the participation of France — in the present state of 

 Europe, to the proposed extension of the Declaration 

 of Paris. In 1856 France and England were allies, and 

 the foreign policy of France was directed by a strong 

 personal ruler. In this Country no parliamentary 

 government could have carried the Cobden Treaty. 



It is most reluctantly that I come to these conclusions. 

 For the extension of the Declaration of Paris in the sense 

 you advocate would now be of incalculable benefit to 

 us, and I should esteem myself most fortunate if I could 

 contribute to the attainment of that object. 



If I may venture a suggestion as to the modus operandi, 

 I would recommend an endeavour to get the question 

 raised by some minor Power (Belgium or another) in a 

 general conference on some cognate matter. It would, 

 of course, in that case be advisable to have secured 

 beforehand by confidential negociation the concurrence 

 of a majority of other States. I don't see how America 

 could refuse to give up Privateering if the other Maritime 

 Powers agreed to exempt private ships from capture ; 

 although I apprehend that it would be impossible to 

 waive the right of search and seizure for contraband, 

 and the question of what constitutes contraband in 

 different circumstances would always remain a very 

 disputable one. I don't know whether advantage could 

 be taken of the Brussels Conference on the S.T. to make 

 some attempt in this direction. But if the object is 

 kept in view, other opportunities may occur. 



If the proposal emanated from some minor Maritime 

 Power it would provoke less opposition than if coming 

 directly from us. And, put forward by such a Power 

 on purely humanitarian grounds, it would appeal more 

 plausibly to the French Democracy. It is just possible 

 that rather than figure as the only Power irreconcilably 

 opposed to so great a mitigation of the reform of Maritime 

 War, France would in that case agree to it. I can't say, 

 however, that I think the prospect promising. All the 

 considerations which render it desirable for us to obtain, 

 if possible, such a recognised alteration in the conditions 



