THE REASON OF THE FAILURE OF THE CONFERENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 321, 3 May 1877, Page 4

THE REASON OF THE FAILURE OF THE CONFERENCE.

The lollowing extract from an article in the Spectator respecting the failure of the Conference three months ago, are of interest in connection with the cable mes*ages of the past week :—The plan adoptt d «ss of course weak, for it is characteristic of diplomatists among all mankind, that a group of them never agree upon an "extreme," that is an original course; but "still it was a reasonable plan, very like the sort of arrangement family lawyers often make in a family dispute. It settled nothing finally; but still it woiild work for a time, and it prevented a family lawsuit. . . ... The arrangenitnt, though disappointing to men who, like ourselves, knjw that while a Turkish soldier remains in a Christian province, the Christians will never be exempt from terror, seemed practicable and reasonable to most Englishmen.';' and the diplomatists were congratulated, especially by men intent on Stock speculations, on their admirable moderation. Then the "plan," carefully formulated and elaborated in all details, was submitted to the Turkish pashas, and then—the diplomatists discovered that they were all deceived. The Turks did not believe in their unity, did not care one straw about the moral force of Europe, did not see any bayonets, behind that moral force, and did not intend to yield. The diplomatists might as well have threatened the Emperor Theodore, who felt the rockets as appeals to his conscience, with the moraTeensure of all good men.'";'. . . iV , .-But many of our readers will say the Conference, if it has not protected the Christians, has at least prevented war. Where is the evidence of tbatl In what way has the Conference removed any of the conditions out of which war was expected 1 Are the Turks more humble? On the contrary; the failure of the Conference is to them new evidence that they can do as they please, that they are essential to Europe, and that any'agitation caused by atrocities that they may commit is sentimental merely. Are the Christians protected? Not-one whit. Midhat Pasha may order all Batak to be impaled for having had the seditious insolence to tell Mr. Schuyler the truth, and though the ambassadors will remonstrate,- nobody will fire. Are the Russians contented 1 On the contrary ; the Turks have laughed in their faces, have defied them even when they threatened war, and have threatened their own ports on the coast of the Black Sea. Has Europe announced its will? The Conference has S reclaimed to all the world that Europe as no collective will, or that if it has one, it is the will of a man who is only determined when there is no resistance ; but when there is, begs permission to retire before he is thrown out. Every cause d war which existed before the Conference exists now, and this additional one— the Romanoffs have publicly challenged Turkey, only to be defied, and if they do not fight, will, in Continental ey*s, be disgraced for years. The CmJerence, in short, by shrinking from coercion has inflamed the pride of Turkey, humiliated the pride of Russia, and aggravated the position of all Turkish Christians—and that is called diplomacy.