, 1877-02-07

IL ~ GeneTal jshGltH tOo NCl E'''"'.IS =
which has had 10 be- moderated. NVh"dy
naturally understands better than he how
urgent it is that the Conference should
end in one way or other, for as
long 90 il lasts no body can tell whether,
IN spite Of every effort 10 the contrary
it will not be necessary to make war
Now, the Russian diplomatists, and, 1t may
be added, those Of all Europe, know what
Russia reckontd en- at the b~egjnnisg OF
the present phase Of Eastern affairs. The
object she set before herself, and the first por'
ton OF which has, Unfortunately, been attained,
was not 10 deceive he Turks on the forces at
her disposal for this justice must be rendered
to the Turks, that from the outset lhrY have
been, as il were, intoxicated at the idea OF a
trial Of strength with Russia, and one OF their
most thoughtful Sldtesm,n said to me not lrug
ago, A we ask is to be left alone face to face
With Russia" RusSia's object was not, there.
fore. TO deceive the Turks as to her strength
or TO frighten them. What she wanted was to
produce profound deluSionS in the mind OF
Europe, to induce Europe 10 enter on common
action with her against Turkey, and TO obtain
by that collective action all that che could rot
hope to obtain alone. People remember very
well tbs strange affair Of The u1ttmatum dts-
patched frcm Liyadia- an affair which at the
time procured for General 1gnali+f on the part
Of the Turks the nick nsme General Ultima.
tum," whence is now derived The itOn cal APP
pellation mentioned above. When that WIflmG-
e@m left Liyadia it was known that The ARMS.
tice was accorded, and it was just because this
was known that that imperative demand was
hasarded which General Tgnatieff at FIRST
would not present, and which he afterwards
presented, because all Europe had hastily heeh
Informed Of it. This, indeed, was tbs fist
Russian act which induced the adhesion Of
Europe to q general Conference. II was
thought that the NHtmdtNm committed Russia
10 . course leading inevitably to war, and from
that moment the Governments most opposed 10
q Conference began to consider that the idea
vas, after all. a good one, moi for The purpOss
OF driving the Turks to concessions, for a
serious resistance by Turkey did not enter The
mind Of Europe. but for the purpose Of arrest
ing The Irresistible enthusiasm of Russia. On
recalling what then passed, it will be seen that
IN proportion as The prospect Of collective in
tyrvFnt10n got nearer, Russia eh0wsd more
RrdouT in preparations for war, and that on the
very eve Ct the Conference her troops, under
Tie command of an Imperial Prince, were
lnAssed near the frontiers Of The Empire.
1t must freely be allowed that up to this
point RusSia's clever and AudaciouS game was
crowned with full success. All the Powers
hastened to COnStantinople, mastering round
Russia, cOnjuTing her rot to give free scope TO
Der warlike srdour. and looking threateuIugly
at Turkey when she appeared disinclined to
subscribe with enthusiasm to the will Ut
Russia, who generously oontented herself
with the famous programme with which the
general Conference opened. For it must
not be forgotten that the illusion Of the
Powers was maintained during the whole
time the FIRST Conferences lasted, and that
everybody was convinced united EarOps had
only TO dictate its will to a Turkey terrified at
the unanimity of the European concert. What,
however, was the surprise, first Of the PlenipO.
tentiaries. ard next Of The civilized world.
when the full Conference met, and citing Vur-
key to its bar. it was found that. far from sub
scFlbing unhesitAlingIy to its suprems will. she
refused even to discuss. and confinod herself to
reading . protesting Note, which was like an
indictment against the decisions Of the prelimi-
nary Conference. That surprise, mOreo yer,
changed TO stupefactiOn on its bying perceived
that Russia not only RETAINED from going TO
e%xtremities, but suddenly altered her tone and
attitude, ADD showed greater anxiety to Halm
the other Powers than inclination to evince her
Cwn evaporation. Up to that moment-and
] am now speaking according to declarations
omanating from actual members of the Confer.
enos-there was a conviction on its part that
It Turkey had the audacity and imprulenoe 10
show an intention Of resistance, General Igna-