The Press. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1896. LORD ROSEBERY AND ARMENIA.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9596, 10 December 1896, Page 4

The Press. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1896. LORD ROSEBERY AND ARMENIA.

Nothing in Lord Eosebery's political life became him so well as his leaving it. This is the reflection that suggests itself on reading the dignified and statesmanlike speech he made in Edinburgh on the occasion of resigning the leadership of the Liberal party. He felt himself out of touch with his late colleagues on the Eastern question, and above all at variance with Mr. Gladstone. There must be no division in the leaders of the party ou such a matter, and next he felt he must speak out to the English people the truth that was in him. He took the logical and patriotic course—freed himself from party trammels, aud then spoke his mind with the candour of a private citizen aud the wisdom of an experienced statesman. His review of the Eastern question, and his hearty approval of the cautious policy of tbe Salisbury administration will do much to save England from rushing blindly into a disastrous. war at the bidding of Mr. Gladstone, who has emerged from his retirement to be the Peter the Hermit of another Crusade. Lord Rosebery shows conclusively that, however much we may shudder at the atrocities in Armenia, for England to rush single-handed into a war to suppress them, would not only be Quixotic folly, but a national crime. It would probably plunge Europe into a war, whose fatalities in a week would outnumber the Armenians massacred in a year, and yet not save them. He deals categorically with the proposals and suggestions made by Mr. Gladstone and others, and urged upon the Salisbury Government by Jingo newspapers and hysterical public meetings. The most popular suggestion perhaps is that England should declare it her policy and then to depose the Sultan. It. would .only be a case of Amurath an Amuf.ath succeeds. It is the whole system of government in Turkey that is bad. The deposition of the present Sultan would only touch the fringe of tho question, and though it might teach Turkey a lesson it would be soon forgotten. Another suggestion is for England to refuse to pay the Cyprus tribute. As well, said Lord Rosebery, tickle a tortoise on the back to make it laugh. The. tribute, in fact, is not paid to the Sultan. After defraying certain expenses of administration out of it, the remainder goes to form a sinking fund for certain Turkish loans, and is really a guarantee to Turkey's creditors. It would be English bondholders, and not the Turkish Sultan, who wpuldgbe punished by such a course. A proposal that is gaining favour is to give Russia the control of'the Dardannelles, ' and in fact allow her to attain her ambition and be mistress in Constantinople. This, as Lord Rosebery points out, is as popular as any proposition generally is, which involves giving to another something that does not belong to you. Not to mention the fact that England could take ho step in such a direction without, the consent of Europe, the English people, who are clamouring for the adoption of this course, have evidently forgotten the Russian persecutions of Jews, Poles and Stundists. It is very questionable if the Armenian Christians would in the long run be much better off under Tartar than under Mussulman rule. Mr. Gladstone's proposal is, perhaps, the least practical and feasible of all. He advises that .the English Ambassador should be withdrawn and diplomatic relations suspended. Such action, unless taken with the >full intention of following it up, if necessary, by the declaration o£ war, would be absolutely futile. If it produced no effect on the conduct of Turkey, and were unsupported by the consent of Europe, it would only make England the laughing stock of the world. A threat, which is not merely not acted itpon, but not even intended to be acted upon, is the surest sign of weakness. The only result would be that what influence England at present possesses over Turkey, and what pressure she can bring to. bear through her diplomatic representatives, would be abandoned, and the Armenians, as far as she is concerned, left to their fate. It would render futile all efforts to bring about the concert of the Powers, because it would be tantamount to England's withdrawing from that concert, and declaring for isolation as a fixed policy. Her commercial interests in the East would be leffc to take care of themselves, and her subjects must depend for their safety on the protection of the Ambassadors of other Powers. But the most telling objection to the course urged upon the nation by Mr. Gladstone is the danger of England, by adopting such measures,- drifting into a war without intending it. If the country is to be plunged into a war in defence of the Armenians, it is at least well she should enter on it with open eyes,, and not be forced into it as the unpremeditated result of a diplomatic blunder. Lord' Rosebery's attitude, therefore, is a defence of the policy of the party that ousted him from office. He can justly claim that on foreign politics he has never been a party man, and that is the proper attitude t>f a patriotic statesman. He urges the English nation to be patient and trust its Ministers. There are hopeful signs that the concert of Europe may yet be brought about on the question. The change of public feeling in France; the friendly relations with Russia induced by the Czar's visit, both point in the same direction. The stumbling block in theway of. concert is the Continental jealousy of England, and Continental suspiciousness as to her motives in the East. Aβ a step towards allaying that jealousy and suspicion, Lord Rosebery approves of the proposal to abandon Cyprus and hand it »oVer to

Greece. That would be an unmistakeable indication to Europe that " perfidious Albion" has possibly other views in the Bast fehan self-aggrandise-nient and the extension of her territory. Meantime, it is fortunate for the peace of Europe that the statesmen who now rule England's destinies are too cautious and levelheaded to be carried away by any popular outburst of hysterical jingoism.