Year: 1878

Germany's call for special conference to
consider what shall be done to give effect to
the Treaty Of Berlin is the first official rec
ognition Of the failure Of that document
to accomplish the purposes for which it was
ostensibly made BY this call q practical
intimation is given TO Europe that Ger
many is Of opinion that the British theory
of dealing with the Sublime Porte having
been tried and proved unsatisfactory the
cabinets must answer forthwith whether
they are prepared to try the Russian theory
Russias plan is the application of force,
but Englands theory is that her dear
friend the Sultan must be left alone that
amiable recommendations may be made, but
that beyond that Europe ought not to 60 in
the coercion of the Porte to any schemes or
projects Of change, even though they rest
on treaties. All British diplomacy, as ex-
ercised with regard to Turkey, has for its
object the reduction of all projects
to consistency with that theory. Indeed,
the "great success of Earl Beaconsfield at
Berlin was more clearly perceived in Eng
land than elsewhere simply because it was
a success in the spirit of this theory. 1t
changed the letter Of tho San Stefano
Treaty very slightly and in that particular
was of no great account but what it did
do was 10 deprive that treaty in some de-
gree OF its Immediately and necessarily op-
erativo character. Once more it came
between the Porte and the inevitable appli-
cation OF ultimate pressure. Under the
Treaty Of San Stefano, for the execution Of
which Russia was responsible, Turkey
would have been held to it's stipulations by
the force then actually in the field and at
the point of contac.. Russian armies would
have given effect to the treaty as the public
force of a country gives effect to the dec
larations of its laws and the DEGREES
Of it's courts. But the British Premier
played upon the vanities and jeal-.
ousies of the cabinets as juggler
with his apparatus fools an audience !;
and under the influence of his dexterous
manipulations the governments were in
duced to set aside the treaty for the enforce
ment of which Russia was responsible, and
make treaty for which no one would be
responsible, and as to which Russia would
be Indifferent If even she would not regard
its failure with satisfaction. Russia would
herself take her share, of course but as to
points in the treaty made against her will
she would leave their enforcement to those
interested in them. Turkey might cheat
Greece and Russia would laugh and she
might give handed countenance to the
revolt in Bosnia and Russia not be disoonso-
late. She might do very much as she pleased
with the people of Eastern Roumelia,
and Russia would ut most say, II told you
So" All this is what came to pass, and
Germany now takes the initiative for O
remedy. Her declaration strikes ostensibly
at the recusancy Of the Porte but as the
German Cabinet strikes Tor realities
through shadows and subterfuges the blow
must TALL in fact upon the policy by which
England has always proceeded in defeating
aud discouraging all attempts to set that
part Of the world right. How this conference
will end none can say, but we may be sure
that it will not be satisfied with putting
Greece in the hands of the Sultan, with a
recomm endatlon to mercy.