Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-01-24
PUBLIC LEDGER.
INV ruRopEAN CONFERENCE,

sTae diplomats who are to take part III
the London Conference, with the exeep-
lion of M Favre. held their first session
on the Nth at the British Foreign Once
,nder the Presidency of Earl Granville,
hut adjourned, without proceeding 10
business to await the arrival OF the
French representative. This adjourn
ment was indispensable, since the Provl-
s;onal Government had warned Gran
Vile that "any settlement of the ques-
tions to be considered by the Conference,
with France unrepresented, would be
void" The non-appearance ofM. Favre
Mt the opening of the Conference was en-
tirelv owing to the refusal of Bismarck
~ grant him safe conduct through the
Prussian lines, and which he conceded
at the eleventh hour only upon the inter
cession of the American Minister, Mr.,
Washburne. The bad grace with which
Bismarck yielded this favor indicates
verv plainly that he would rather see the
representative of France excluded from
the Conference than otherwise, If ITS
members could get along without him.
Nor need we wonder at the anxiety oil
the Prussian Premier to exciade the
great French orator from the council
board. The deliberations of the confer
ing diplomats will indeed be nominally
restricted to the consideration of the
disabilities which the Treaty of Paris
imnoses on Russia in the Euxine, but
does any one suppose that this restrie-
lion will be respected or that the repre-
sentative of France viii confne himself
throughout the discussions TO the Mus
coyite question, while his own glorious
country is a prey to all the horrors OF
war? Perhaps the pathos and power
of the orator may induce that sec
ton Of the Conference to whom France
will give her support touching the
Euxine difficulty to put in a feeble
plea in her behalf, but beyond this kind
of timid expostulatiop with her adyer-
sary France need expect nothing. With
Russia at their back, what will Prussia
and Bismarck care for the empty pro
tests of Austria and England2 If the
Conference could induce France to hand
over Lorraine and Alsace to Germany,
probably Bismarck would condescend TO
relieve Paris from the horrors of q siege
and to grant peace 10 Prussia PROSTATE
rival, but on no other condition will he
hear Of a compromise. 1t is, indeed,
very evident that the two great Northern
powers mean to use this Conference as
aninstrument for the promotion Of their
ambitious designs, or to defy and ignore
its authority altogether. England, Au-
stria, and Turkey are the only States
that have gone into the Conference with
the intention Of abiding by its decisions
and this they have determined on merely
because they hope it will afford them a
decent pretext for keeping clear of an
expensive and periIous war. Never, il
fact, has Congress or Conference beer
eonvokod fer the settlement of interna
tional difficulties that has met undei
more humiliating circumstances, or pos
sessed less real independence. Fol
should it decline to be the servile tool o
the Prussian and the Muscoyite, an'
presume to arbitrate honestly, where il
the State that will have the hardlhoOd Il
draw a sword in support Of its judg
menfa2