New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-12-26
EUROPEAN CONFERENCE.
ENGLAND DEEPLY INTERESTED.

CENT NATIONAL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. DIS
TRUST OF RUSSIA.
fFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIBUNEI
LoYD0x, Now 25.-Lord Salisbury's movements
are followed with a watcful eagerness that denotes
how much, in the opinion Of the English, depends
on his mission. The number of minutes he spent
with Prince Bismarck and with the Emperor, tie
hour at which he returned to his hotel at which ne
dined at which hc set off for Vienna these ana
similar facts are recorded with attention. )ne OF
the papers gives pretty full report OF his talk WIN
Prince bismarck. 1t can hardly be presumed that
correspondents were admitted to TINS III
terview, and the enterprising gentleman WHO
supplies this narrative omts TO state whether he OBJ
tanned it from Lord Salisbury or from Prince BIS
marclt. There is nothing In it which welllni0rheu
writer might not guess at. That the interview was
cordial, that Prince Bismarck expressed good Ieehhg
toward England, but remarked that Germany Is
bound by family ties, intimate relations, ana seht-
mentsof gratitude to the Emperor Alexander-surely
there needs no ghost from the grave 70 tell uS
this, nor even our own correspondent going To inc
expense of teegraphing it all the way from Berlin
to London. Prince Bismarck may or may not have
said that Germany could not take part with England
or give advice to Russia. As the attitude ana poilcy
of Germany have been for months an attitude anu
policy of rigid abstentiOn not much is rsked by say
ing it over once more. That Germany VIII support
England in all her efforts for peace Is an assurance
which. if made. has a flavor of Prince Bismarcks
cvnicism the efforts of England for peace having
thus far resulted in bringing her proteg6 Turkey 10
the ragged edge of with Russia, war oil
which, ifsEngland will withdraw her support from
Turkey there is 10 longer the slightest danger
These startling revelations conclude with dec
laration that Germany, in the event OF war, VIII
observe a strict neutrality Really, if Lord Sails
Al I,io tUna nrIl
his while TO take journey TO Berlin. The same
chronicler, descending to more domestic details
tells lis that at l o'clock Lady Salisbury lunched
with Lord Odo Russell at the British Embassy in
WiIhelm-strasse But when hear that Prince
Bismarck lin full uniform" called on her iadyshIp
at her hotel only two hours later and found her at
dinner with Lord Odo Russell as a guest, the tax Oh
human crcdulity becomes too great.
IL is of course most unlikely that anything is
known of the conversations between Prince BIS
marck and Lord Salisbury. Some hint OF the gem
eral tenor of it may have been communicated. From
the source most likely to be well informed no report
comes except safe generalites-that the Prince as
suTed the Marquis of Germany's pacific Intentions
of her friendly neutrality" in the event OF col
lsion, and of his hopes for a settlement, coupled
with an intimation that he regards tho clrcnm-
stances MS menacng. Remembering the doctrine OF
frlcnulN-pI
neutrality put forward by Germany in 1S70I71, IT
might DO pertinent to ask toward which side Ger
man bencvoencc is to be shown.
Much more to the point than all this vague gossip
about strictly private conversations Is the letter of
Prince Gortchakoff to Count SchouyalOh dated Nov.
49, This is written more than a fortnight after the
Cars pacific declaration TO Lord Augustus LOTUS
and ten DAYS after Lord Beaconsiield's staggering
speech at the Guildhall The Prince reiterates the
assurances Of his master. He sees with profound
surprise that ideas about the Russians Coveing Con-
stantinople and the will OF Peter the Great con-
Time TO haunt the minds Of some people IN England
II confess says Prince Gortchakoh 81 Thought
these absurdes beyond belief, and dismissed, with
the conquest of India by Russia, to the domain OF
politcal mythology He urges with force that the
natural combination for Russian interests is to leave
The KEYS of the Black Sea in feeble hands, like
those Of Turkey too feeble at present to close to
Russia that commercial outlet. Would England IN
the place Of Russia have any other wish than thatf
Then why deny to Russia the practical sense which
Englishmcn have thenselvcsf
IL is curious to note that Mr.. Bright, in his late
speech at Llandudno puts a similar question aud
though Mr. Bright, by his opposition 10 wa. as war,
wcakens the force of his demonstration against the
particular war the Government is suspected of medi-
taLing his speech has made deep impression. He
knows far better than Lord BcacOnsiied the temper
of Englishmen and there il solid ground for conf
dence when Mr. Bright says he believes the pcop
of England will not be dragged into war at the bid
ding Of the Prime Minister. The lesson OF the
Crimea has not been lost on England. Englishmen,
indeed, still permit themselves to be ruled 10y n
Government capable Of suppressing mornentons
declaration of the Car in order to keep up the deu-
sion that the Car want But the popular
"A NIT Vri.a
stems are taken to bring out real strength OF this
apti-yyar feeling Public men are slow to come for
ward. II Tories they must keep step with their
party II Liberals, they shrink from the reproach
of weakening the hands OF the Government in Its
dealings with foreign POweB-a foolish reproach,
no doubt but sure to be made. The Conference to
be held in London at an early date may do some
good but the names Of its conyeners are nos the
names OF men whom the nation will follow. Ihey
are for the most part well known to the world
of LETTERS but hardly known at all to tho mass of the
people. Mr.. Froude. Canon Lddon, Mr. brown
ing Mr.. Freeman, Mr.. William Morris, Mr..
William Black, the Rev. StopfOrd Brooke,
does All ybOdy suppose that nation which II, be-
fore all thing, practical, is going to take decision
ON question of peace or war at the bidding of his
toriaEs poets noyests and preachers, no matter
how famous In the whole list there is not single
name which has any political sgniicance-hardly
one man c0nversant with affairs accustomed to
public life. 1t is headed, indeed, by the Duke of
Westminster, and Duke is always a considerable
nersou The Duke of Westminster Is OF the
richest men in England. His character is above
rcproach, and he is political nOnentity. Probably
Mr. Edward Jenkins is another promoter OF this
Conference-at any rate, he writes to the news
parers ON the question. What can Mr.. Edward Jen-
kins contribute to such movement He can make
il ridiculous and he can deter better from join