Year: 1878

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anxious for war.


LORD DERBY RESIGNS


Associated press kilograms of March
2Sth announce the resignation of Lord
Derby, English minister of foreign af-
fairs. The dispatches say many mem
bers of the lower house were present.
| Lord Derby entered soon after five
o'clock and took a seat below the gang
way instead of on the treasury bench.
He rose almost Immediately and an
nounced his resignation as secretary
of foreign affairs, which he said had
been accepted by the queen and he on
ly continued to hold Office until the ap-
pOintm ent of his successor. He said
that under the circumstances it would
not be justifiable for him to follow the
customary course of explaining in de-
tail the difference which led HIM to re-
sign. The cabinet had arrived at GER
tain conclusions of grave and impor-
tant character in which he WAS not able
to concur. To prevent needless alarm
he would say he did not consider these
measures as necessarily tending to
bring about war. He gave the cabinet
credit for sincerity, desiring European
peace, but he could not regard the
measures which have been resolved up
on as prudent in the interest of peace
or necessary for the safety ofthe coun-
try. He lamented the obstacles to the
meeting of the congress, but the fault
did not rest with the government of his
country.


lord BEACONsFIELD'S SENSATIONAL DEC


LARATION.


In addressing the house of lords this
afternoon Lord Beaconsfield said:


So much mischief might occur from
unnecessary mystery that it was his
duty to say that in consequence of the
belief Of the government that the con-
gress would not be held and that the
hopes of ratifying the disturbed balance
of power in the Mediterranean by means
of a congress seeming to have alto
gether ceased, it was the duty of the
minister to consider what steps would
be taken to prevent impending mis-
chiefs. They had, therefore, advised
her majesty to avail herself of the ser
vices of her reserve forces. A message
to that effect would be laid before
parliament. Lord Beaconsfeld deeply
deplored that he would not have the
support of Lord Derby when he sub
mltted the measures, on which. the cabi-
net had resolved, to parliament. He had
felt o late that the political ties between
Lord Derby and himself must soon ter
inmate. He had believed that it would
be in a very different and more natural
manner, namely, that he Lord Beacons-
field would disappear from the scene,
while Derby would remain to take the
leading part in public affairs. He was
sustained at the present moment by the
confidence that the policy of the govern
ment, recommended to her majesty,
would tend to the maintenance of her
empire, of the freedom of Europe and
the security of the conntry. The op-
position, in the absence of definite in
formation, abstained from raising any
discussion for the present.


THE PERILoUs SITUATION.


A London correspondent telegraphs
under date of March 28th, that no hope
of the meeting of the congress is now
left, and there seems to be no means of
estimating what will be the outcome
from the present diplomatic muddle.
Gen. Ignatieff7s visit to Vienna shows
the evident intention of Russia to con-
ciliate Austria, but it is questionable
whether Hungary can be induced
to recognize the treaty of San Stefano
until important alterations have been
made in its provisions. Your Vienna
correspondent states that Ignatieff has
failed to secure Count Andrassy's con-
sent to the plan proposed by Russia,
and that there are rumors there that
Andrassy is about to yield to Hungarian
influence, and openly oppose Russia.
Rumors however, are numberless, not
only in Vienna, bat in every other great
capital, and it is impossible to obtain
any certain information as to what will
be the next direction which affairs will
take. 1t is certain that England and
Russia have now reached the most
critical part of their intercourse, and
there is more probability of war than
peace. Russia is making every effort
to isolate England from the other pow
ers, and, if she can obtain the neutrality
of Austria and Hungary, it is not likely
that England can get any other ally.
Even Turkey is likely to be more favor
able toward Russia than towards Eng
land, and the Grand Duke Nicholas is
paying frequent visits to the Sultan.
AS soon as Gen. Ignatief arrives in
Constantinople direct negotiations for
benevolent neutrality, if not an actual
alliance, will begin. OF course, this is
not the first time that Russia and Eng
land have been nearly involved in war,
and, as heretofore, peaceful solution
of the difficulties may yet be found.
But the present crisis is decidedly worse
than any of its predecessors, and it is
quite probable that both nations may
find war less intolerable than continual
uncertainty and alarm.