The New York herald., 1877-01-21
England and the Conference OF Com
stantinOple.


tinople, and the precise relation of the sew
eral governments to that body and the posi-
ton and presumed functions of the Confer
ence itself are, therefore, points OF a GER
tain importance in contemporary history
They appear to be misunderstood in places
where ignorance on these points might seem
scarcely possible if we did not know how,
in an intense interest in the phase that
events present to-day, we often forget alto
gether the phase they presented yesterday
and the day before. and how the regular re-
currence to little remembered bits OF news
is necessary to correct an erroneous drlit OF
opinion.
In the London Morning Post of the 10Th
occurs the following reference TO turkeys
course toward the Conference:'-'At time
when treaties have been torn to rags ana inter-
national equity disre garded, when the might
of huge Powers and overwhelming armies
are terrorizing smaller States. when each
giant is restrained by no consideration OF
law or Justice, bnt only by calculationsoi
brute force and the weighing OF alliances
pro and con, it has been reserved for Turkey
to stand forth boldly rs the champion of
treaty rights and European order. These
are very remarkable words i'll view OF their
source. Although the Post is not an accred-
tied organ of any element in British politics
it's tory sympathies are recognized as an in
separable part OF its existence, and its opin-
ions derive T. certain consequence from the
fact that it is commonly believed to
know what is thought In the
circles that glory in association with all
very highly placed perscnages IN the
British government and TO be eager to give
value to its columns by making them the
vehicle of such thoughts. II views like this
are held in the circles whose thoughts the
Post endeavors to express these opinions
are approved and conversation anything
like this is current in those circles--then
there is dissenson in the tory party itself,
and n storm is imminent for important
elements of the party are fiercely opposed
to the course to which the party has COM
mitted England in the recent negotiations
Some appearance of probability is given,
moreover, to the whisper which is spreading
itself throughout Europe that England Mt
Constantinople presented herself with two
faces-one for the Conference and the
world. and one for Midhat Pacha in private.
Turkey, in the words quoted, is plumed
as the solitary nation in Europe that stands
up for freedom and independence rs an
ideal figure of national chivalry: as the
only champion of treaty rights and Euro
pean order" One of the Powers against
which she defends these excellent things is
England. If by the refusal to accept the
advice of Europe as formulated ut the Con-
ference Turkey has become defender Of
order in Europe and the sacred obligation
of treaties, then the Conference must have
proposed the violation Of some treaties and
an inroad upon that order: and if the Con-
ference did this England did it, for the Con-
| ference acted in no particular without the
assent Of England's representative; for the
Conference was peace-making machinery,
planned and produced by English states
men.
An assumption, behind the expressions
| of the Morning Post. is that the Conference
was held in violation Of that clause in the
Treaty of Paris by which it was declared
that q certain communication made to the
Congress Of 1856 should not become prec-
edent for the intervention Of the Powers
between the Sultan and his subjects, that
clause being interpreted as guarantee Of
Turkeys independence But the clause
was not such guarantee, as was shown on
the authority of Lord Palmerston, and if it
~ (.
garded as violation Of it, which may be
seen by slight reference to its history
This Conference was proposed by Lord
Derby in instructions to the British Ambas-
sador at Constantinople dated October 5,
1876 1t was the suggestion of England,
therefore, made in n spirit Of good will
toward the Ottoman government in order to
exhaust the endeavor to find a basis on
which Europe could support Turkey under
the Treaty of Paris against the supposed am
bition of her northern neighbor. All the
endeavors of the Andrassv note and the
Berlin memorandum had failed. There was
war between Turkey on one side and Servia
and Montenegro on the other, and it was
hourly imminent that Russia would be added
TO the number Of belligerents for Russia
in common with all Europe, was greatly
excited over Moslem dongs in Bulgaria.
Lord Derby had declared that ''no political
considerations would Justify the toeration
Of such acts. i" If this view was held in Eng
land it could not be supposed that the con-
sideration of the Treaty Of Paris would re-
strain nation of Slavic people. Mediation
was then made by England between the bel
ligeren.s. At Ensland's suggestion Servia
invited the mediation. England acted and
Turkey consented to treat Tor peace in that
way. Ont Of that mediation grew the Con-
ference almost inevitably, for the war was a
conscauence Of the fnilnre OF the Powers to