The New York herald., 1878-02-06
Russia and IN. Conference.

At least three great Powers-Germany,
France and Italy-have responded favorably
to the invitation to send repl esentatives to
a General Conference at Vienna. England,
Turkey and Austria, of course, will also be
of the party; and Russia cannot afford to
stay away, although the present opinion in
ST. Petersburg is that the Conference is u
device of England and Austria to
cheat Russia by diplomacy out of
the legitimate fruits Of her success
rs o conqueror. Indeed, Russia has no
reason to regard the Conference in II
favorable light, and would be justified in
''spiking" this diplomatic project if there
were any fair or feasible way of doing it,
since she has either actually gained by the
war all she wants or could easily gain it,
and might we'll desire. to be left to settle
terms with her vanquished enemy. But to
England the Conference is like a full suit
Of Boyton's life preservers thrown out to
drowning man. Over council table at
Vienna she hopes to gain all that she would
have fought for in the war, if she could
have fought at all. Her endeavors there
will be to reduce by all allowable or un-
allowable arts the advantages that shall be
accorded by common consent to the con-
queror and the endeavor Of Austria will
be the same in kind, but it will be pur-
sued timidly and with many furtive glances
toward Berlin in apprehension of how far
the omnipotent Power there may be pleased
to let Austria pursue her own inclinations.
But the date for the Conference is not
named, nor is there a definite understand
ing anywhere or q power to reach such ON
understanding as to the relation the nego-
tiations there to be carried on will
bear to the negotiations actually in prog
ress between Russia and Turkey This
Conference is not to make treaty Of peace
between the belligerents. Although it is to
consider the general interests Of Europe in
Oriental relations as the Congress at Paris
did in 1885, it is not, as that body did, to
make the treaty that shall end the present
war. Russia will no doubt push
the conclusion with Turkey Of a
treaty on the bases indicated, admitting
all the time with world of polite formali-
ties that any parts Of it questioned by
great Power shall not have binding force
until ratified by the Conference. But by
this means she will present to the Con-
ference not an Oriental chaos, out of which
it may create such an order as it pleases,
but On established order founded upon con-
quest and sustained by nearly million of
soldiers. and based upon treaty concluded
with the conquered Power Europe, and
every government in Europe, has respect
for accomplished facts and to ask Europe
to sustain an Ottoman Empire that exists is
quite another thing from asking it to re-
establish and reconstruct such an empire
when it has been destroyed by war and par
celled out between conquering States.
England will discover this great difference
in the deliberations of the Conference be-
fore it has gone very far. It must not be
forgotten that this Conference is only the
latest phase of a negotiation in which Rus
sia, Germany and Austria have been con-
stantly on one side and England and Turkey
on the other.