The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-30
NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE.
ENGLIND's hCCEPTdNCE OF THE or
EJCE or MEDIATOR
The London Times Declaring u TO he the Duty
OF tho Government TO Act rs - Friendly
Intermediary Oniy-A German View Of II.

intermediary Oniy-A German View Of Il.
LONDON, Dec. 29-The Tines OF to-day, In
its leading article. says: Tho announcement
that the Sultan has invited her Majesty's Gov
ernment to approach tho Gar with view Of
bringing about negotiations for peace. will tend
to calm some OF the fears which have been ex-
citing the country. and to hold out the hope
that dreadful war may be brought to a close
more quickly than by tho shock OF battle. The
Sultan has taken the only course consistent
with q calm review OF what the war has already
done. and what II must do. II II should last
much longer. The circular to the powers
showed that the peace party ut the Porte had
for time got the upper hand. 1t proposed
terms which would no doubt have been mad
mssible. even before the war. and which would
not boar discussion after the terrible battles Of
the last six months but the Porte did not
intend the circular TO be taken as
its last word. Now that all the powers
have courteously but firmly declined to ap-
proach Russia with impossible conditions. tho
Sultan has wisely asked this country TO usc its
good ohlccs TO bring about negotiations for
peace. II is important that the Government
should conduct negotiations in q spirit abso-
lu,cy free from partisinship. We ara not par
ties 10 the present contest. "A mcdiators. our
essential duty is 10 convey message from one
power with which we have no quarrel. 20 an
Other power with which we hnyo no quarrel.
We have doubtless great inter esta at stake. po-
lrtira ~ well rs commercial. and they will be
urged nj the proper moment. But. meanwhile.
II II our duty To at ~ friendly Intermediary.
nni not as rulers OF the Indian empire. To
take n side with ono Of tho two powers which
W. must bring into contact would simply be- to
make our mission useless and destroy the pros
pcct of peace. Our Government will have H. as
certain whether Russia Il willing to open nego-
tia 'ous, and what ara her conditions OF peace
II viii then have W offsr Turkey such advice IA
may seem proper. and 10 present her answer.
~ mhy hnve Va r"n-on IN nm earnest spirit with
Doth helligerenis. IN order to secure n common
Eround. IL may o. oDllsvi tn urge IN. Porto. on
the one hand. 10 be wise in tine. aud hussio. on
the other. not to demand such terms IA would
gnad the Turks To desperate courses and thus
multiply the perils OF Europe. While mcdi-
ator may seem to net ms the advocate now Of ono
power. and now Of another. III" arguments
must he dictated purely by spirit of concila-
ton. No doubt the Goyernmcnt would have Ia
scntation of them would come in good time.
and th"r" Is not the slightest reason 10 fear they
VIII bc neglected.
The Dilly Nrcs says. Tho Ottoman Gov
.rnment declares its desire that negotiations
Tor peace may De- brought about on tho present
basis oi iais; and. as i,s Professions must be
cess IN s new policy II cannot be necessary
To- point out thnt even upon the most limited in
terprriatign OF the ofii - It has assumed, the
Oueen.s Government has assumed "A task Of
great d.lcaey. IN" present war primarily con-
Germs Russia and Turkey. but the Eastern
question II one which must be considered by
Europ" Bs It's present action our Government
has taken upon itself the character of an inter-
c"--or for one unfortunate belligercnt. while
acting also oiiciOusy for Europe; but II has to
huImonile this new character with declarat ions
which II has repeatedly made. and with n whole
course OF conduct of which the least that can be
Said l. that II has not prepared the world for the
pnri It has now undertaken to play. On her
Mne-iy's Ministers may very much depend
wi, ,thcr the Eastern question shall be now set
tied, at least for many years to come or this war
be followed hy mere truce. tho prelude 10 a
war even greater and NOR. disastrous than that
Ia hope that they Will prove equal TO their re-
sponsihilitcs."
BkkLIY, Deg. 29.-The North German Gazette
savs; II England merely socks 10 sound
Russia respecting nor Miiiinsn'--- - .,,"s.
peace nni the chances of success 81 direct APP
llication 81 the Porto 10 ~. Petersburg. credit
may bee awarded 10 Great Britain for her meri-
torious intentions. In any Other case the theory
of the iysHce Ritsse that mediation. unless So
lrtcd hy both belliserent., becomes lnterven-
ton. may assert itself. Regarding interyen-
tiou. Russia. IN the funlmcnt - her mission.
can scarcely be stopped even hy the clcverest
NOV On the lolltl AL chess board.
BIZ tHAHrsI. Dec. gN.-lt II inppss iOle 10 pro-
eur" fIll Information regarding tho cond dltion
ol the Rus-ian and kuumanian soldiers and
Turkish prisoners who were on their way 10
Bucharest during the snow storm, hut from dis
connected details to hand IL is evident that ter
Tlii" suileriug has ben caused among them.
BrLDKADE. Dec, 2y.-The SeryAn troops have
captured prut alout thirty-ilve English miles
south ast of N!schl. with quantity Of guns and
/ . D ten