The New York herald., 1876-11-19
ENGLAND md Russia.

The report that Turkey has uncondition-
ally agreed to a conference is not extraordi-
nary; but the consent may come too late
1t has been evident to all the world that the
irritation of the English government over
Turkeys obstinacy in declining a confer
cnce has been extreme. The Moslems for
their part see that Russia means war
as the alternative of Turkey refusing
conditions which they look on as
impossible. Lord Beaconsields speech
they took it committed England to their
side in the inevitable struggle and hence o
conference presented itself to them as a
needless piece of humiliation to nation
willing to meet it's avowed enemy at the
scimetar's edge and sure of powerful ally.
BY dint OF persistent threatening, after
sweet words had failed, England has, it ap-
pears, brought the Porte to its senses and
its knees. We cannot bo very hopeful about
the Conference now in sight England wants
it for various reasons She would, of course,
be glad to secure peace thereby but if she
cannot she may endeavor to put Russia
wrong in the eyes of Europe. She may
angle for the moral support of France she
may be able to place Italy definitely she
may sound Austria, and if she cannot get
she may test the strength of the triple i'm
perial alliance. She gains time. Beyond
these temporizing advantages it would be
vain to forecast. The temper of the
main disputants- and Russia
is not encouraging to lovers Of peace.
Either Russia must abate the demands
in favor of the Christian Slavs in Turkey
which she has announced herself willing to
enforce with the sword, or else England
must recede, with n long backward bound,
from her definition of the Independence
and integrity" Of the Ottoman Empire to
admit them. If the Conference meets there
will evidently be little use in pleading that
the Russian demands nre impossible.
Russia has announced that the reforms she
asks are just and necessary, and that calling
them impossible is simply compelling her
to enforce them. 1t is difficult to foresee a
peaceful issue from this.
Will England fight, then? She has already
we'll advanced her preparations for war.
The announcement is mnde and not denied
that if Russia invades Bulgaria or brings
her Cossacks TO the Danube England will
at once occupy Constantinople and "defend
it from all attack" This, it is argued, will
not involve her in war unless in
certain well-defined contingency. 1t
would leave her free to supply the
Turks who would have to do the fighting
with arms, money and officers. 1t is clever
plan to follow Russias lead in the Servian
insurrection and make war upon the elm
tied liability" plan. But will it work? 1t
failed of great part of its object in
Russia's hand-namely, of winning the
Servian campaign. 1t succeeded in
another-namely, making Russia fierce
unit for war on its own account. What
the Servian is to the Turkish soldier the
Turk is to the Russian. In the same de-
gree the ''!imited liability" plan would be
likely to fail England. On the other hand,
the English government can command the
support of the nations resources at one time
MS we'll as another. Her statesmen, there
fore, we may infer, would, if they had a
pretext for war, declare it MS soon MS Russia
struck blow. In the Conference, il all
else fails her, she may seek this pretext