New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-01-17

pened to be in Paris when this text got into PRINT,
and heard Continental diplomatIst say that Eng
land was the only great power N Europe The dd not
include America) capable of addressing another
great power on such occasion in language con-
veying taunt, and above all taunt which the EN-
peror of Russia could only take levelled at him
self. II is not the usage with dplomatists OF other
nations to remind Sovereign engaged in great
war; which was none of his seeking, that he has on
other occasions expressed liking for peace If this
seemed offensive to a neutral it is probable enough
that it might seem offensive to Russia though
whether Russia would to show that she thought
1t offensive is another question.
Putting these and other conjectures aside, the
known facts are but three That England has applied
to Russia with view TO stop the war; that Russia
has answered, in substance by saying that neces-
sary preliminary step to peace must be q request by
the Turkish generals to the Russian commander for
an armisticc and that the English Government has
sent reply to this answer The contents of the
English reply are not known but they are supposed
TO be request to know what instructions have
been given to the Russian commander in view OF
Turkish request for an armstice, and q more
or less distinct and urgent intmatiOn that Eng
land cannot III any case admit that peace should be
concluded between Turkey and Russia without the
know ledge consent of England. There is not the
slightest reason to suppose that the correspondence
has been anything but courteous and friendly on the
Russian side, or with the possible exception above
Indicated on the English side either. Diplomatic
intercourse would surely come to speedy end II 1t
were conducted with the stupcndOus swagger Which
is put by Lord Beaconsteds organ in the English
press. The really important papers, the leading
Tory organ the leading organ of the wal party it
SELF discountenance and disown the suggestion that
I.. Ion linn. ieh plu
be construed into an attront to England.
There must then, be a lull for the next few days.
Lord Beaconsfcl's first shot has missed fire. What
| conf ,ctured week ag0-that the original sugCes
ton of English mediation came from England and
not from Turkey-is confirmed and generally admit
ted 1t is admitted. also, that the Russian refusal
was loreseen. The real interest, therefore, centres
in the dispatch which has just gone off, which must
disclose the real object Of the original proposal and
Indicate moro or less clearly what attitude the Eng
lish Government means in the end to take mp. But
nobOdy-n0t any one single person among the null
tiudc of wcll-lnfOrmed persons you meet at every
corncr-prctends to know the contents Of the last
dispatch. II is inferred, with much probability,
that the Cabinet were able TO come to an agreement
on it, but that is ALL except that no date Is fixed for
the next Cabinet Council. Until Prince Gortcha-
kos rcOIndcr arrives, debates and disputes may be
proitaby suspended.
We come back, therefore, to the starting point of
all the weeks speculations; what is the actual con-
ditiOn of things i'll the Cabinet itselfl have re-
fcrrcd only in passing to what has been for the pub
lie in general, the event of the week, Lord Carnar
yon's speech. If it were possible to believe that
tins speech EXPRESSED the unanimous opinion of the
Cabinet nothing could be more important or more
satisfactory. But il VIGOROUSLY does not. The most
that anybody hopes is that Lord Crnarvon may have
spoken for The majority of his colleagues and am
ti,aro 4. Pc fO Goubf whether
even that hope is well founded. What he says is a
reiteration of Lord Derbys well knOwn declarations
in favor of continued though conditional, neutral
ity plus some observations adapted to the events
OF the last week. WatChlnl of All real
British interests, friendly as regards other atoms
neutral ~ regards the bclig"rcnts that is Lord
Carnaryon platform. lie defines, with far more
precision than seems to have been thought impor-
lani by loose writers IN the nn,StcfIal press mo
character of the appeal made by The Government 70
Russia. England has not offered to Mediate, still
less 10 intervene; she has simply conveyed over
lures Of peacc from hcligcrcnt 70 the other. lilo
rcprls the suggestion that the Russian answer was
an ailrUnt And he sums up--ior himself and his
party ~ he CahiHct-tho whole question IN the
declaration that " though wo arc not prepared 10
bolster M Turkish interests "a such. on the other
haad, We are resolved n0w, as We have been from
the very beginning. to have r voice IN the settle
mcnt of this question whenever It comes on Tor set
ticmcnt.p
If Lord Beacorsfcd vould say as much as that,
Enrlishmen might lay their head. on their pillows
with a sense of such security as they have not
known this many day. But he has not said it, and
will not say il, and does not mean 1t, bnt means
something very different from that and till Para-
ment shall be more in session. and till the pos
sblity of leap being taken III the dark shall DC at
an end there is and be security for anybody.
Lord Carnaryon speaks for himself for Lord Sails
bury probably for Mr. Cross also and perhaps orthat
majority of lis colleagues who have hitherto stead
fasty refused to follow their chief in policy of adj
venture. But there are sinister rumors that tins
majority is slowly giving way that the pressure Is
getting To be too strong for the weakened nobodies
on whom the numerical majority depends; that
Lord John Manners and the Duke of Richmond and
men Of that calbrc may yet have il in their power
Ia prcclptatc ENGLAND into war. 1t is said by some
of l:ord Carnaryons friends that his speech Is
net TO he interpreted ~ an assurance of
safety but as warming; that 1t was
made in order 10 proclaim his own views
once more before brttt-up in the Cablnot
should have become inevitable. hope that II Is not
SO: don't yctthnk there is much evidence that it
is SO only repeat what hear from peop;o Who
world Willingly believe otherwise. They add, what
il j. easy to believe, that Lord Beac0nsted Is per-
fectly prepared for split in his Ministry, and the
secession of Lord Salisbury and Lord tarnal' 0nuro'
vdcd they only should Sccedc; lie would go to his
party and 10 the country on the plea mat they had
seeded beforc-Were never true IOrleS-Were men
with whom it WAS impossible to get on; ana other
plausible talk Of that KIND. Bnt so long
s any one or two Others of the comparatively strong
men stand by these twO-still more 80 long "a hey
carry with them majOrily-Lord Bcaconsleld
must submit. or must appear 10 submit must bide
his time and, since Parliament meets on the 18th,
must probably strike hs long mcdiacd blow III be-
half Oi the turk before tndt date. or never. The
country is once more reused. The great cities and
towns are sending up fresh protests against war
the Liberal leaders will be heard from next week
the Liberal organization. OF which birmingham Is
the bead, has sounded an alarm, of which echoes
will resourd IN few days from all quarters, and,
spite of all gloomy progno'ilcs ana tnid forebod-
ines. | cannot but think that England will hold fast
10 her moorings, and the policy of neutrality remain
her policy to the end q. W. $.
CIV frnp InppKNNEl, nNINrr