The New York herald., 1878-03-29
Lord p.rhx,s Reslsn.s.on.


time as Lord Carnarvon and for the same
reason-the order sent to the British feet
to enter the Dardanelles. That order was
recalled and Derby withdrew his resigna-
ton, but Carnarvon was so out of sympathy
with the whole drift of Lord Beacons-
fields policy that the change of orders to
the fleet did not restore his Cabi-
net relations. Lord Derby has as
sented to the later naval demon
STATIONS in Turkish waters, and though
lukewarm, he seemed, nevertheless,
steady supporter of his official chief. He
resigns now, not on account Of the recent
demands on Russia relating to the Con-
gress, but because he disapproves of the
calling out of the reserve. That is to say,
Lord Derby has resigned because his judg-
ment condemns q resort to arms in the
present stage of affairs The natural infer
ence is that he thinks Lord Beaconsield's
policy tends to precipitate the country into
q war with Russia, and regards the danger
as too serious and too immediate to be will
ing to share the responsibility for its con-
sequences.
Victorious Russia is apparently in no
mood to be influenced by British menaces,
but Derby's resignation may perhaps con-
vince her that the British military pre- para
tons are not idle buster Lord Derby, at
least, believes that the Ministry is in earn
est, and no man is better qualified to Judge.
His retirement removes moderating and
retarding clement and his successor is
likely to be of such type as will render
the Cabinet more vigorous and harmonious.
In still another view Lord Derby's res
ignation is not favorable to peace. If
England were about to make great
effort Of diplomacy, if she expected to
take part in the Congress and aspired
to influence it's action, she could
not very we'll dispense with Lord Derby's
knowledge and experience. He has been
in control of the Foreign Office since the
beginning of the quarrel between Russia
and Turkey and has, doubtless, more per-
feet mastery of oil the facts and oil the col
lateral information than any other English
statesman. If q peaceful solution were to
be sought through the action of the Con-
gress his unequalled acquaintance with the
questions involved would be of such value
that Beaconsfeld would have made conces-
sions for the sake of retaining him. But,
if recourse is to be had to arms, the Foreign
Office becomes Insignificant until the new
war approaches its close, when the knowl-
edge now possessed by Lord Derby
will be less applicable. His resignation
can hardly be regarded otherwise than as
premonition of early hostilities. Notwith-
standing his reserve in his very guarded
remarks yesterday in the House of Lords
and his attempt to quiet public apprehen-
sions, he was obliged to admit that in his
judgment the course of the Ministry did not
tend to peace, and that for this reason he had
dissolved his connection with it. Lord Bea-
consHeld frankly admitted that he had
ceased to hope anything from the Con-
gress and that Her Majesty had accord
ingly been advised to resort to other
means for protecting the interests of
her Empire, and that Lord Derby
resigned because he could not consent
to calling the reserves into service. The
plain meaning of this explanation is that
Lord Derby resigned because he disapproved
of measures looking to immediate war. The
extensive preparations for transporting
troops, horses and ambulances, which were
so active yesterday, look in the same hostile
direction as the calling of the reserves into
service.
This seems an ill-selectcd time for Eng
land to plunge into war. 1t is both too late
and too early--too late with reference to the
cooperation of Turkey; too early with
reference to pending questions. 1t required
DOT much forecast to see that if Turkey
went single handed into war with
Russia matters would come into their
present posture in consequence of the i'm
mense preponderance of Russian resources.
The time for England to fight, if her i'm
perilled interests were worth fighting for,
was when Turkey could have acted with her
as an efficient ally. With England support
ing her Turkey could not have been beaten.
and the questions which are now so trou-
blesome to England could not have arisen.
She has given Russia the great advantage
of coping with her enemies one by one in
stead of contending against their combined
strength. All tho assistance which Turkey
could have given to England in war with
Russia has been annihilated, and as the
present state of affairs might have been
foreseen England missed great oppor-
tunity in not fighting year ago if she was
to fight Russia at all. But having let that
great opportunity slip, and having waited
crushed. it seems fresh blunder to precip-
itate war now without waiting to soc what
might be done for the protection of English
interests by the action of European con-
gress. Since there is not the slightest
danger that Russia will declare war against
EnolopJ eipra 1icfapcc and bar iooular