New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-21
FOREIGN NEWS.
ENGLAND's FOREIGN POLICY.

| ENGDANDS FORElON fOllCI.
IMPORTANT DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS
| SPEECHES BY THE bUKE OF ARGYLL AND THE
| EARL or DERBY.
LONDON, Tuesday. Feb 20, 1877.
In the debate in the House Of Lords to-day
on the Eastern question the Duke Of Argyll pointed out
that the object the Marquis Of sasbarys mission had
been peace IN Europe and reform Ia Turkey.
Neither OF these objects had been attained Turkey was
not reformed and there was no prospect Of peace In
Europe. He deprecated the unreasonable suspicion OF
Russia which actuated English policy up to August last
He admitted that England had great interest In the
| neutrality OF Egypt and In preventing Constan-
tnople from falling into the hands OF any
great European Power. But except on these
points he could conceive OF no injury TO Great
Britain by any transfer Of power from the Turkish En-
pre He pointed TO various the instances where European
Powers, while processing TO respect the independence
to Turkey by the Treaty OF Paris had inter-
fered in Turkish affairs in way that showed they re-
gar,led Turkish justice utterly unworthy OF conf
dence 1t necessary to carry this argument further
in the indicated by the Marquis OF Salisbury when
declared the independence Of Turkey might at tho
present time be interpreted to BIO consistent with
the Joint military and diplomatic action OF the giaran-
teeng Powers The speaker concluded with an eoquens
appeal to the Earl Of Beaconsd to mark the close OF
his by procuring measure OF liberty for the
Christians In Irkey.
Earl Derby asked II 1t not premature to say
the Conference had failed He could not yet say the
peace OF Europe be broken and relative to inter-
nal reforms IL must be remembered that Turkey had
lately introduced very comprehensive reforms. We wero
not justified concluding because particular mode OF
efecting reforms not adopted. that Turkey there
fore had fixed purpose Of rejecting all reforms lie
pointed to the fact that the Government had never been
willing to fight for Turkey, and had Informed the Turks
80 az far back a. last May. He admitted that
although the Government had never changed its
policy they had in one respect changed their course OF
action, that is to say, that having to deal with the
danger of European war which at one time appeared
imminent they had done and accepted many things
which they would have thought 1t impossible to do OF
accept IL had not been at stake than the suppress
sion OF petty instruction. The Government had sd
all along that the Turkish Government could be main
tanned only by amelioraon OF their internal admin
istraton He agreed with the Duke Of Argyll that inde,
o b was World states Which by their were
exposed on the part OF stronger eigupors
which those neighbors would not adopt toward more
In to the charge Of undue suspicion Of Russia
he said his duty wish to anything or tho
Russian Government. But it was perfectly well known
that official pesonages, personages connected Win tne
IN Stirring np the disturbance in herzegovina Lord
Derby cited passages from former blue pooSs showing
that in Russian consulate was tnc hedaquar
ters of the insurgents The Bulgarian outrages had only
secondary influence on the change OF the Governments
eOtered asht with an army Of which the lighting ele-
ment was almost entirely Russian Russia was IN the
field III fact though not in name. Russian ieehns was
so excited that there was very great tear OF war
Lord Derby gave detailed account OF the EFFORTS 70
procure an armstjce He was never much surprised
In his life as when Russia refused the nye months
armsee. II the Duke Of Argyle or any Other member
adyisabiity of coercion, he he speaker would under
take 10 show that would be unreasonable unless
IN meant war, aud war would be fraught with
every possible danger TO Europe. Since the
Conference the Government had been unremittinS
IN pressing the expedcncy of on serva, Moneae-
gro and Turkey-a days would show with what sue
cess II they we're successful half the work vi the on
ference would be done. There would Of course remain
the question of internal reform. He was not prepared
10 give a definite opinion this subject, but he was
much struck with the suggestion made by the turkish
at the taat the Porte shoad be
given a reasonable time to carry out reforms Ia It's own
way and then IL nothing was done the Powers would
have the right to demand guarantees THIS was adnlt-
ted by MidIat Pasha ana he lord Derby thought tho
idea was moderate and fair one.