The Sun.
London, England, 1870-12-02 00:00:00

THE EASTERN QUESTION.

The Daily News, after alluding to the chief features of
Prince Gortschakoff, reply to the communication of Lord
Granville's remarks :—Fortunately the more we know of
the course which the two Governments have been per-
suaded to take, the more cheerful does the immediate
future appear. We cannot believe, looking to the charac-
ter of this correspondence, and the proposals which have
followed it, that war is possible between the two peoples.
Russia is understood to have given her consent to the
Conference which has been proposed by Prussia, and
which has been accepted by a majority of the co-signatiory
Powers. England enters upon the discussion of the
clauses to which Russia objects absolutely unpledged ;
but the sentiment of the nation is not unfriendly towards
a revision of the more stringent stipulations. Our
Government, indeed, could not enter into the arrange-
ment proposed by Prussia on any other terms ; and the
obvious preliminary to a Conference was the withdrawal
of the Russian Note. It is now affirmed that the Powers
are willing to make this exhibition of penitence as light
as possible for Russia, and that, should the Conference be
held, the Plenipotentiaries will agree to consider Prince
Gortschakoff's summary announcement as non-existent.
Russia will come forward and prefer her requests in
proper diplomatic form. She will assume a more
modest demeanour, and conduct herself as though she
had never strayed from the paths of virtue. It is by no
means a necessary inference that all her demands shall
be granted ; that, like an incorrigible infant, she will
get what she wants if only the will ask for it prettily.
But we may at least express the hope that the
Governments who take part in the Conference will do
as they would like to be done by. As for England,
her interests and her dignity are in safe keeping;
and it is to be remembered that she will have additional
weight given to her opinions by the fact that her repre-
sentative will be President of the diplomatic meeting.
Already we hear of a proposal for a new Treaty, to take
the place of the old one concocted at Paris in 1856. There
may occur to some an uncomfortable doubt whether
Russia will be more inclined to respect the new 'Treaty
than the old, should the former also become obnoxious
to her.

The Telegraph, says : All the signatories to the Paris

Treaty of 1856, with the single exception of France, have
informed us that they are willing to seek the solution of
the difficulty so abruptly raised by Russia in a Conference
which is to meet in London. France has been invited to
send a representative, and there is no reason to suppose
that she will refuse, though her answer has not yet been
given. The fact is that France saw the dawn of a new
hope in the complications which were likely to arise out
of the premature reopening of the Eastern Question.
She had nothing to fear, but, on the contrary, everything
to hope, from a general European war. It cannot

be a matter of surprise, therefore, if she give a
reluctant consent to a mode of settlement which, how-
ever conducive to the general interests of Europe,
would tend to damp the reviving spirits of the
French people. The hesitation of the Government of
National Defence is natural under the circumstances, yet
our Government anticipates a favourable reply. Mean-
while, we must be patient, and not conclude that
delay means failure. The exceptional condition of the
country may well excuse any tardiness in our negotia-
tions with its rulers. The meeting of the Con-
ference is now morally certain, and the adhesion
of France is only deferred, not refused. A conference,
though perhaps less palatable to our neighbours than a
general war, which might give them allies in their presen
distress, would still be a great gain to them by adding
that moral prestige of which the Provisional Govern-
ment stands greatly in need. Some Frenchmen
have complained that the British Cabinet has
not recognised the Republic ; but our Ministers have
no right to anticipate the verdict of the French nation.
Our Government has all along practically recognised the
present de facto Government of France, and it has now
given a fresh proof of its friendship in the invitation
to the Conference. If the Provisional rulers were to
reject that invitation—which we do not at all expect
—it could only be on the ground that they had no
right to represent the nation. If, on the other
hand, they consent—as there is every reason to believe
they will—their position will be immensely strengthened,
for their representative in the Conference will be recog-
nised as the representative of France. A few days more
and every difficulty will probably be removed. Such, at
least, is the present belief of those who command the
fullest and most authentic information.
The Standard thinks there is every reason to suspect
that the Gladstone Ministry, in spite of Lord Granville's
protest, are intending to abandon the field to Russia, and
that they will take their blow . lying down." If they
were actuated by the ordinary instincts of Englishmen,
and had any proper notion of the gravity of the trust
reposed in them, they would have admitted the public
before now into the secret of these frequent and
prolonged Cabinet Councils. What have the Ministry
been debating during the last week? Why do they not
enlighten the public as to the result of their delibera.
tions ? What room is there for any prolonged delibera-
tion on the question submitted to them ? Do they or do
they not intend to submit, not only to the Russian
claims, but to the Russian manner of promoting those
claims ? That is the plain question. What good
reason can there be for the withholding from the public of
Prince Gortschakoff's reply ? Is it to be war, or is it to
be peace ; and what steps are being taken to meet either
contingency ? Surely, on all these points, the public
ought to be taken into the confidence of Mr. Gladstone.
These are the very men, we may remember, who used to
denounce the secret ways of diplomacy when they were
out of office. Many eloquent speeches have
been delivered by Mr. Bright and his fellows against the
practice of deciding great national questions
in the dark, and of only permitting the public to know
what is being done when it is too late to recall the deed,
But there has never been an occasion in modern history
when it was so necessary for Englishmen to know what
their Government is doing as it is just now, Upon
the decision which Mr. Gladstone's Cabinet may
arrive at during the next few days, if, indeed, they
have not arrived at it already, rests the gravest possible
issues. It is something more than an issue of war or
peace. It is a question of whether England is to retain
her position as a great Power, or sink beneath the burden
of her duty.

sent two telegraphic messages from
Castleston Wednesday, inquiring in the kindest
manner
er the health of Su. Roderick Murchison, who
has replied that he is deeply grateful for this act of
gracious sympathy on the lAA of his Queen, and has
Vhi de rs
o Mr
a# ter
tiey
stated that, whilst already he has made some good pro-
gress, he is persuaded that this kind act of her Majesty
will go far towards the completion of his recovery. Sir
Roderick passed a more tranquil night on Tuesday, and
was considered somewhat better on Wednesday, but there
is no decided improvement in his condition, which is still.
extremely precarious,