New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-04-19
THE NEGOTIATIONS FOR A CONGRESS.
THEIR RISE AND PROGREss-THE OBSTACLES WHICH
ENGLAND PLACED IN TIE WAY.

ENGLAND PLACED IN The WAY
The suggestion to hold a I European
Conference emanated first from Count Andrassy.
He sent out invitations February 81 to
Conference at Vienna. to consider the Euro
pean interests involved in the Eastern ques-
ton The British Government promptly accepted
the proposal. The assent Of the Continental
Powers followed. The project was lost sight OF
a while, owing to the general interest which the
peace negotiations between Russia and Turkey occa-
stoned. At length, however. on March o. the
Austrian Government proposed that Instead OF
Conference Baden Baden, as previously
contemplated, Congress should be assembled az
Berlin. The British Government replied mat tney ma
objection to this change but they considered That II
would be desirable TO have understood IN tnG rss
between Russia and Turkey should be considered as sub
ec to discussed the Congress, and that no atera-
ton IN the condition of things previously established by
treaty should be Acknowledged as Vad until IL mas re-
ceyed the assent Of the Powers"
on March IL Lord A. Lotus reported that lie had re-
ccved "a memorandum from Prince GOrtschakof stating
Russia and Turkey shall be textualy communicated to
the Great Powers before the meeting or the Congress anu
that IN the Congress itself each Power Will have the full
liberty Of It's appreciation and OF ITS action In dls-
patch received March 1s Lord A. Lotus stated that
Prince Gorschakof had said TO him that OF course he
but he could only accept discussion those portions
Lord Drby having sized Count schouvaio for re-
ply Prince GUrtschakoH, HIS ENcelency informed
him March 10 that he was charged TO represent 10
Her Maiesty's Government that the treaty of peace
concluded between Russia and Turkey-the only one
would be communicated to the Government OF the Queen
in ls entirety, aud long before the assembling or the
Congress The Government OF the Queen IN like manner
IA the ether great Powers reserved themselves at
the Congress their full liberty OF appreciation and
action. This liberty which she did not dispute 10
Others Russia claimed for herself Now 1t would be to
restrict her II alone among all the Powers, Russia con-
tracted preliminary engagement"
APPROACHING CRISIS.
On March 81 Lord Derby replied that Her Majestys
Government could not recede from the position al
ready clearly confirmed by them, that they must
distinctly understand before they could enter into
Congress that every article in the treaty be-
tween Russia and Turkey wOuld be placed
before the Congress, not necessarily for
acceptance but order that 1t might be considered
what articles required acceptance concurrence by the
other Powers and what did not Her Maesty'i Govern
ment unable to accept the view now put forward
by Prince Gorschakoif that the freedom Of
opinion and action IN Congress Of Russia more
than OF any other Power would be restricted Dy
this preliminary understanding Her Malestys Govern
OF willing that the communication OF the
treaty cer TO the various Powers should De treated
as n placing the treaty before the Congress, in order
that the whole treaty its relation to existing treaties
might lie examined and considered By the Congress
on March 20 Count SchOuyaOn wrote to Lord Derby
that the Imperial Cabinet deemed 10 Its duty To adhere
TO the declaration which he ordered to make TO the
Government the Queen, and which was stated In the
letter which no had had the honor to address TO him,
dated the 10th Of March. A different interpretations
tom which Russia thought 1t right to reserve to her
self at the Congress the Imperial CABINET denned the
meaning OF the term in the following manner: " IL
leaves the other Powers the liberty OF raising such
questions the Congress they might think 1t TT TO
discuss and itself the liberty OF accepting or
not accepting the discussion Of these questions
The negotiations were practically suspended.
Lord Derby retired from the British Cabinet and was
succeeded by Lord Salisbury, who; April pl l.
on the present position of the Eastern question;
This was followed by Prince GOrtschakohs reply and
the Intervention of Prince Bismarck III accordance with
the desire OF Russia The subsequent incidents are too
recent TO need reorganization