The Cannock Chase Examiner. — 1876-05-19 (Cannock, Staffordshire, England)

FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1876.  TILE CONFERENCE AT BERLIN.  We hear that Count Andrassy's voyage to Berlin was delayed by the news from Salonica. He was also reported to be suffering from influenza. It may be that there is no truth in these reports,' but the former indicates a disposition to give a little more reflection to the Eastern question, and to modify in a way the basis of an understanding that had been agreed upon when the interview at Berlin was arranged. There is no doubtthat the problem has been rendered a great deal more difficult by these later complications- RUssia finds in them some strong arguments in favour of the extreme measures which she proposes, and Austria's reasoning in the interests of the Porte, apparently, at least, has been materially weakened. The intention was to have a meeting of the three Chancellors—Gortschakoff, Bismarck, and Andrassy—before the Emperors came together. According to some of the German journals, the latter goes to Berlin by invitation of the Emperor William and at the express desire of the Emperor, Alexander. This shows a disposition to have an understanding with Austria, and, even if delayed for a few days by the Salonica affair, the meeting will doubtless take place. Two important points have to be examined by the Chancellors of Russia, , Austria, and Germany. They have first to decide , upon the utility and opportunity of an armed 1, intervention in behalf of the Herzegovina and Bosnia. They will then have to discuss the Programme ef the guarantees which may be judgedl indispensable for the pacification of the Balkans. , Before the massacre of Salonica it was proposed to throw aside the question of armed intervention, and give Count Andrassy an opportunity for enlarging his programme, and revising it so as to make it acceptable to the Christian populations  of the provinces. It now remains to be seen what direction has beenigiven to the negotiations by the murder of the Consuls. The principle of conditions, or guamnte2s from the allied Powers for the honest carrying out of the excepted reforms, has always promised a good deal but produced no results. The difficulty has been to discover a way for carrying that principle into practice, or to find some form for giving guarantees without wminding the sensibilities of the Porte. And this difficulty was found so great that each of the parties was ready to give the principle up. It may be that the great Powers will now have fewer scruples and less desire to proceed with delicacy. One of the schemes proposed, and upon which there was some prospect of an agreement, was the complete reorganisation of the provinces now in insurrection. They were to continue in. tegral parts of the Ottoman Empire, but administered by a Governor-General belonging to the Christian religion, chosen by the Sultan, but approved by the great Powers, The Governor would share the responsibility and authority with a Council elected by the people. Thus formed, the local Government would enjoy a great deal of independence in all interior affairs, such as the gathering of taxes, the police of the country, and the appointment of district functionaries. The Ottoman troops would continue to occupy the larger towns and fortresses. There is still another project, said to be favoured by Russia, which is to organise three provinces into one under the Prince of Montenegro, but Germany and Austria do not appear to favour this idea. From these facts it will be seen that the great Powers have a gigantic task before them in the settlement of the Eastern question, and perchance it is not within their means to find any satisfactory arrangement short of the violent dismem.