The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-06-13 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN CONFERENCE.

The state of affairs on the continent is critical. The
secret negotiations which a fortnight ago we announced
were in active progress, with the view of terminating the
Turkish war, and yet saving the honour of Russia, have
beenbrought to a successful conclusion, so far as the
German powers are concerned. Austria, who claims to
act as principal mediator, has agreed to propose an armistice
t) the belligerents, preliminary to a general congress
which is to settle the terms of a pemanent peace. Russia
has admitted that, by the change which has recently taken
place in the condition of the Christian subjects of the
Porte, the original cause of war has been removed. A
security for these Christian privileges which will not inva-
lidate the sovereign rights of the Sultan will engage the
solicitude of the congress. The free navigation of the
Danube is secured by the great treaties of Vienna in 1814;
and if any doubts have arisen as to the interpretation of
the subsequent convention between Russia and Austria,
repecting especially the mouths of that important water-
course, Congress will give to this document that- clear in-
tention which both parties to the convention have always
desired. The treaty which prevents the ships-of-war of
foreign nations from passing the Dardanelles was not in-
tended to give any advantage to Russia, nor is it an act
between Russia and Turkey alone. All the great
powers, on the contrary, are parties to it, and one of
its principal objects at the time was to rescue France
from the diplomatic isolation in which she had been
placed by the imprudence of M. Thiers, by facilitating her
European co-operation, and thus formally re-admitting
her to the transactions of La Haute Politique. Where
general interests are so obviously concerned, if revision
become necessary, a Congress of the high contracting
parties offers a natural tribunal. The treaty of Kainardgi
is a treaty between Russia and the Sublime Porte alone ;
but if any doubts exist between the contracting parties
respecting the tenor of some of its clauses, Russia, acting
according to diplomatic precedent, will not decline referring
those ambiguities to the solution of a properly constituted
arbitration. Russia will mature arrangements for the
evacuation of the principalities the moment that Austria
and Prussia make a requisition to that effect. In acceding
to these overtures, Russia has only expressed her willing-
ness to accomplish a purpose from the first frankly admit-
ted. A proposition for an armistice was made by Austria,
at the secret suggestion of Russia, so far back as the
autumn of last year, before the Western fleets entered the
Black Sea or the Baltic (ride leading article of the Press,
Nov. 26, 1853, where information to this effect was exclu-
sively given.) If the invitation by Austria to the Western
Powers to join in this arrangement prove unsuccessful,
Germany will remain neutral until the development of
events indicates its line of duty. It is considered not im-
probable at Vienna that if the armistice be not agreed to,
and any event occurs which draws
.the war out of the
Greek and Sclavonic limit, Russia will be invited to join
the alliance, offensive and defensive, :which has already
been formed between Austria and Prussia.—The Press.

THE PROCEEDS of a "fancy fair" at Drury-lane Theatre
advertised as for the benefit of soldiers' wives and children
are as yet, it appears, mysteriously unaccounted for. A
long correspondence has been published in the daily
papers between a lady contributor, Mrs. Bligh, the Lord
Mayor, and Mr. Robert Pilcher, the latter being the
person whose name was advertised as hon. sec. to the pro-
ject. Mrs. Bligh, who had been steward of several
articles for friends in the country, wished to have some
account of them, and called at the theatre. Mr. Robert
Pilcher said she " would see it in the Times on Monday."
Monday came, and Thursday, but no statement appeared,
and, in answer to another inquiry, the hon. sec, said the
ladies had not yet sent in their returns. Mrs. Bligh
then wrote to the Lady Mayoress, whose name appeared
as one of the patronesses, but was informed that she
knew nothing of the matter beyond the proceeds of her
own stall. Mrs. Bligh then applied to Mr. Pilcher for the
names of the committee; Mr. Robert Pilcher "begged to
state the fancy fair was entirely arranged by himself, of
course, under the supervision: of E. T. Smith, Esq." In
a subsequent note the hon. sec. states that a debtor and
creditor account had been made out and forwarded to the
Lord Mayor ; the Lord Mayor, however, on being again
applied to by Mrs. Bligh, repeats that he knows nothing
of the matter beyond an account of the amount taken at
the Lady Mayoress's stall. In her last communication,
Mrs. Bligh asks Mr. Pilcher to "explain this discrepancy,"
but no answer has been received.