, 1877-03-03

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one theory, Russia feared that Turkey
might delay the armistice for a few days
until her troops should push further into
Servia. According to another theory, Russia
sought to gaia the appearance ola triumph
without running any real risk of war, and
hence sent the ultjmG!3m only when she
knew that her demand had already been
granted in all but the form,
The Emperor of Russia was all the
while so anxious to keep on good terms
with England that lie took a most unusual
course to make the purity of his intentions
konwn to her people. In an interview at
Livadia, on the ID of November, with our
Ambassador, Lord Adolphus LOTUS, he
"pledged his sacred word Of honour, In the
most earnest and most solemn manner,
that he had no intention of acquiring
Constantinople, and that, if necessity
should oblige him to occupy a portion Of
Bulgaria, it would only be Professionally,
and until the peace and safety of the
Christian population were secured. "
The Car earnestly requested the Ambas-
sador to do his utmost to dispel the cloud
Of suspicion and distrust of Russia which
had gathered in England. Next day Lord
Derby te~legraphed to Lord Adolphus
Lotus that the English Cabinet had
received the assurances of His Majesty
with tn greatest satisfaction, On the
following day-tho. 4th-Lord Derby
signi6ed to Sir Henry Elliot the intention
OF the Government to renew its suggestion
that q Conference should meet at Con.
stantinople. Immediately afterwards came
the announcement that Lord Salisbury
would attend the Coufe ence "a special
Ambassador. The 9th was Lord Mayors
Day, and, at the Civic banquet 10 the
evening, the Prime Minister delivered a
speech which rufled the diplomatic rela.
tions Of Europe. He laid great stress on
the value of the Treaty Of Paris he found
fault with Russia for rejecting the offer of
u six months armiStice he ridiculed the
uAjmatuus which had been presented by
General Ignatieff; and, while the policy
of England was peace, no country, he
added, was 50 well prepared for war,
She is not o country )" he said, that,
whom she enters into a campaign, has to
ask herself whether she can support q
second or a third campaign" Lord
Beaconsield did not s1y a word about the
pacific message which the Czar had sent
nun AtFdu1u1 uOl luucCu5 Qlu tIt puDIlC
know that such an assurance had been
given. Next day, in speaking to the
Mobiles and Communal Council of Moscow
the Car delivered an address which,
rightly or wrongly, was supposed TO be
an answer to Lord Beaconsfeld. He
hoped, he said, that the Conference would
bring peace. "Should this, however,
not be achieved, ana should l see that we
cannot obtain such guarantees as are
necessary for carrying out what we have
q right to demand of the Porte, | am
firmly determined to act independently,
and I an convinced that in this case tie
whole of Russia will respond to my
summons, should l consider it necessary,
and should the honour of Russia require
it," These words raised a great commo-
ton throughout Europe, and, coming
after the speech of Lord BeaconsGeld,
they were supposed to imply even greater
risks than those of a war between Russia
and Turkey. AS the message from Liya-
dia still remained unknown to the
English people, the Russian Government
made formal request on the 21st Novem-
Der that it should be published. 1t
appeared in the London Gazette of the
same evening. In q despatch to Lord
Adolnhus Toftuc OuhIiShod Of 4bo -