New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-12-02
THE EUROPEAN CONFERENCE
TILE PORTE pIsTRUsTFUL.

CONVENTION TO RE HELD IN LONDON
frRoN AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSE.l
IoSpoN, Nov. 1S.-As the time fixed for the as
,ombling of the Conference draws nearer the pros
meet Of its successful issue grow less assuring The
outIook certainly is not cheering. The diplomatic
nrelimnaries of the gathering being settled amid
rorarations for war-On the part of Russia, open
ond avowed and on the part of Turkey and some
otber Powers with but thin disguise But perhaps
tbe greatest difficulty, OF that which causes most
enxety is the delay the part of the Porte in ac-
,ontine the Conference When the proposal was
erst made by Lord Derby, none seemed to doubt
that the Porte's acceptance would come as matter
f course OF whether il accepted or not its refusal
ros NOT a contingency to be regarded with any de-
,roo of ALARM Ii seems, however, that the Council
&c Ministers which meets at Constantinoplo to-day
;,,, N give its assent TO Lord Derby's proposal,
I'D even If il should refuse it is assumed that the
Corference will be held all the same, though, of
oorrso not at ConstantinOple. 1t is hardly doubted
at all the DELAY which has arisen in the acceptance
~, the Porte arises from repugnance to the pro-
osol ON the part of the Sultans advisers. They do
- ike the idea of being put into leading strings
,Dd Of having TO govern their country in a manner
,vbicb other nations prescribe Even this might be
horne were il not for the fact that the Porte is at
Iorrb brought face to face with the necessity for
inc security for its promises, or rather of giving
sourty for the due execution of whatever the Con-
ference shall exact. II is at best bitter pill to
swallow. and one can fairly understand the hesia-
ton which the Porte shows in doing anything which
shall hasten the operation.
II is said that the movements of the Porte have
been fastened by representations from the British
Government Lord Beaconsfeld was hastily sum-
rnoned 10 town this week from the country seat of
the Earl Of Shrewsbury, cutting short a series Of
festivities that were being given in his honor and
Cabinet council is to be held to-day. The telegraph
hetyyeen DowninR-st and Pera has been vigorously
Of work nearly all the week, and Sir Henry Elliot
has made representations TO the Sultans Govern
ment of the valuable time which is being lost. The
only wonder. indeed, is that we have not had an
other Russian ultimatum to hasten the decision.
If the Conference does well at ALL twill probably
he in session by the time this letter is printed, ana
therefore any spcculations upon the proOaDihty OF
its assembling may he dismissed lmay say proauiy
that so far as one is able judge at the present mo-
ment, if il does not meet war Is certain but on
the other hand if it does meet, peace is not sure If
all the Powers are anxious as they profess to be
for peace, where. may be asked. is the difficulty
The difficulty doubtless is with Russia. Europe be-
gins to doubt that the motive which actuates Rus
STA is the alienation Of the suerings of the Chris
tian population. Russia apparently assumes that
the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of Turkey must happen ere long,
II not at the present moment, and that the present
is not an opportunity to be thrown away for favor
ing her interests and at all hazards she seems deter
mined to have her way. If she cannot carry the
Conference with her. she viii try conclusions with
the sword Russia is watching the present position
in much the same way as France up to 1870 watched
Germany. and Will probably make the smallest eX-
ouse suffice when occasion arrives. need scarcely
saw that this feeling has a chilling and depressing
effect on the prospects Of peace. If the Powers do
get INTO conference on a satisfactory basis, with
these facts before it requires an effort to imagine
speaceful result.
The news from Russia all the week has been most
confmatory of this view. First of all we learned
that few hours after Lord Beaconsield was making
his defiant speech at the Lord Mayors banquet in
London the Gar was enga zed il the operation
at Moscow. His Majesty, in that now memorable
speech declared that if he should not succeed in
obtaining what he considers he has right to de-
mand he is firmly determined to act independently
when he was convinced that the whole of Russia
would respond to his summons and he concluded,
"May God help us to carry on our sacred mission"
This, following so closely the intelligence of the
mobilization of the Russian army, was viewed as a
very significant utteTance, and was at first every
where spoken of as a reply TO Lord Beaconshelds
speech But this construction has since beenrepud-
ated by the Russian press, and it is more than
probable that at the time he spoke the Car not
aware of what Lord BeacOnsield had said the night
before in London. Then, again, we have heard of
other warlike preparations. The export of horses
has been forbidden and the railway companies
directed to place all their rolling stock at the dis
posal of the Government. Again, only Yesterday we
heard through Renter that the Gar at a review at
St. Petersburg, had used the words, " Let us wish
the best success to the commanders of our army"
words which were cheered to the echo The Gotos,
st. Petersburg journal, which, perhaps, is not at
all times the best exponent of Russian ideas, IS not
very far wrong when it says in the present instance,
&" the mobilization of the Russian troops leaves the
Conference no option except war or submission to
the Russian demands"
One important factor to be placed in the opposite
scale IS the news which comes to-day that Austria
has broken of the recent semblance of her alliance
with Russia. 1t certainly seemed all along strange
reversal OF the traditional policy of both countries
for them to be in alliance against Turkey, and
few will be surprised TO learn official confirna-
ton of the statement, which now is a mere runor,
that Austria no longer finds her interests inter
woven with those of Russia. In any case ray Of
hope NAV be discovered in the British Foreign Office.
II Lord Derby can only recommend the Sultan to
agree TO whatever in reason may be demanded OF
him be will efiectually cheCkmate the action OF Rus
sia IL must be admitted that, so far as the dplo-
matte action has gone, Russia has not shown dis
position to press eXtTavagant demands, or indeed to
make them. Gortchakof did suggest the occupa-
ton Of the provinces and the scheme Of a naval
demonstration before Constantinope, bu. when the
British Government objected it withdrawn.
Even Russia cannot fight DESTROYS she appears Of
doing So without some reasonable excuse and to
anticipate her demands is the surest means of pre-
Nevtir, bar from making them.