New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-17
ITALY AND THE CONFERENCE.

| The prominent part taken by Italy IN tne ne
eotiations for the Conference will not surprise
any one who is familiar with European politics.
Cavour's greatest stroke was his participation in
a war which did not concern his Government
! To send a few Sandman regiments to the
! Crimea to assist the Allies seemed at the time a
! Ouixotic adventure but when the European
| Powers were represented inethe Congress oil
Paris there was CavOur, fairly entitled to voice
! in the deliberations and in position TO raise
! the Italian question ut the first opportunity.
! This was a precedent, which his Successors
faithfully followed. The Italian Government
has never neglected any chance offered by the
| diplomacy of Europe. 1t has always thrust
! itself forward often in a spirit OF sheer au-
| docitv. and nv mpddlesomencsS and assurance
has steadily improved its diplomatic position.
| An Italian Ministry that is suspected of lack
of energy in the conduct of foreign affairs Is
speedily oyerthrOwn. II Is III keeping, ihcre-
fore, with the traditional policy " IN ambitious
! State that the Government should make an
ostcntatous display of its authority and IN
| hucnce in the forthcoming Conference. Ter
many and Austria find it convenient to support
these claims and aspirations, and Italy needs
little cnrOura cement to place itself on level
with France and TO insist upon its rights to dis
cuss fully the question of the international con-
troll OF Egypt.
The British circular discusses the financial
cmbarrassments Of the KhcdiyG's Government
and the necessity for revising the Law OF
Liauidation Since that international compact
was made. four years ago. the floating indebted
ness of Egypt has steadily Increased until 1t
now exceeds $40. 900. 900. The administration
cannot be conducted under the hsrdand fast
lines of the Liquidation compromise. The
floating debt must bc funded and sur
plus of revenues created by 4 reduction of
the interest account. Great Britain Is com
PEELED. therefore to ask the Powers TO modify
the existing arrangements, and fol This purpose
has issued the call for the Conference. it Is
easy to understand why EngliShmrn should be
anxious To have thr deliberations Of that body
confined to the financial question but it Is
dilicult 10 find ANY argument that would
Justify the Liberal Ministry in declining to con
slider the objections raised by Italy AMI France.
If the European Powers are consulted at all.
they must be left at liberty to discuss the
Egvptan question in its international aspects.
The Law of Liquidation is al international com
pact regarding the rights of European bondhold-
ers, and n Conference that.wiIl have authority to
modify this law must also exercise some diScre-
ton in regulating the course and scope of its
proceedings.
The European Conference which was in ses-
sion when Admiral Seymour bombarded Alex
andria offered an excellent illustration of the
helpcsSncSs of diplomacy. Weeks were wasted
in the discussion of trivial points of detail,
and the Italian representative frequently took
the initiative and offered ingenious sug-
gestions respecting international action and
guarantees. Only one Power was sufficiently
interested il the Egyptian question to entertain
the thought Of actual military intery entiOn, and
the idle talk went OH until Admiral Seymour
cut the diplomatic knot which the diplOmatists
were seeking aimlcssly to unite 1t is probable
that the deliberations of the new Conference
will be equally futile, if the entire Egyptian
question be submitted for discussion. II Italy
and France compromise the situation by Off
cious and meddes0me offers of Intervention,
public sentiment in England will preclpitate
speedy dissolution Of the Conference The prob
able outcome Of the Conference will be definite
action in regard to the Law OF Liquidation.
Europe will neither embarrass nor assist Eng
land in pacifying the SOudan and defending
Egvpt France will not care to make common
cause with Italy in placing difficulties III the
way of the Conference.