Year: 1877

Detailed reports of the speeches de
livered by Earl Granville in the House
of Lords, and the Marquis of Harrington
in the House of Commons, show that the
Liberal party intended to uphold the
view that England should cooperate
with the other powers for the coercion
of Turkey, and even cooperate with
Russia alone if the other powers de-
clined to act. Earl Granville said:


If the government influence were used
in persuading Europe in one body to
come forward and insist, as they have a
moral and just right to do, that Turkey
shall perform the promises she has so
long delayed, the result could not be
doubtful. 1t may be said you are not
able to persuade the European powers,
but I am not sure that the impression
does not prevail that England is the only
obstacle. At all events, you would not
be much worse off after making the at
tempt. Will anybody tell me that if
once the Turks got it into their heads IF
they really believed that not only Eng
land but the whole of Europe is abso-
lutely and seriously in earnest in the
matter-that Turkey, which up to this
moment has been influenced by one pow
er, could resist the united powers of Eu-
rope? I believe it would be utterly un-
necessary to resortto coercion; I believe,
if the government will follow that course,
they will meet with great success, and
they will receive the congratulations and
approval of all parties and all classes Of
this country. '- "


The Marquis of Harrington said:


There are some among us-I trust
that the government do not belong to the
number-who look with calmness, if not
satisfaction, at the prospect of leaving
Turkey and Russia face to face, and the
prospect of war between them. / ask
whether the danger of that position as
regards English interests has diminish
ed? Whether it has not rather increased
since the time when Canning, rather
than encounter the perils of such situ-
alton, rather than allow Russia to take
upon herself singly the task of enforcing
the proposals which had been agreed
upon between England and Russia as to
the affairs of Greece, was willing even to
go the length of proposing to cooperate
with Russia for the purpose of attaining
the end in view. Z am unwilling to be-
lieve that the resources of diplomacy are
exhausted by the failure of the confer
ence. Of this at all events am sure,
that the government will take heavy
responsibility upon themselves if they
do not strive to do everything In their
power to preserve concerted action
among the powers for the accomplish
ment of those benifcent ends for which
the conference labored, but unfortunate
" labored vainly to attain. ~a'z 90
The P4U Mall Gazette, in a leading
article, says: -,
Sir Stafford Northcote's speech in the
House of Commons can signify nothing
but this, that he cannot admit the great
powers have done with the proposals of
the conference because they have been
rejected by the Porte, nor allow that the
new Turkish constitution is to be taken
as an answer to the wish and appeal OF
the powers. ' -


The Pail Mall Gazette thinks that
the government in the Lords and Com
mons have spoken with different voices.
It adds:


Perhaps Midbat Pasha's fall and Ed
hem Pasha's accession may have sug.
gested to certain members of the admin
istration that Lord Salisbury's threaten.
ing language at the close of the confer
ence may be repeated with advantage
now