BRINGING “PEACE WITH HONOUR”

Southland Times, Issue 23648, 25 October 1938, Page 5

BRINGING “PEACE WITH HONOUR”

EUROPEAN DIPLOMACY IN 1878 RECENT CRISIS RECALLS DISRAELI’S MISSION l , Hector Bolitho’s new book, “Victoria and Albert,” contains an interesting account of the Berlin Congress of 1878, to which the British Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) made an indirect reference when he returned from the four-Power conference at Munich. Lord Beaconsfield (formerly Mr Benjamin Disraeli) returned, . like Mr Chamberlain, to be acclaimed a hero. It was Lord Beaconsfield’s “peace with honour” return.

The political facts leading up to the British Prime Minister’s Berlin mission were: Russia and Turkey had clashed. The signing of the Treaty of San Stefano was the “death warrant of Turkey.” It also brought Britain, fearing Russian ambitions in the Mediterranean, near to war. Under British pressure Russia agreed to the framing of a treaty by the, Powers at a Berlin Congress in June and July of 1878. . , Mr Bolitho says:—“The first senous interview between Bismarck and Beaconsfield lasted for an hour and ahalf. The second talk was, according to Beaconsfield, a ‘monologue, rambling,, amusing, egotistical autobiography’ Beaconsfield did not guess the object of the second interview, but Odo Russell had warned him that it was possiblv to ascertain how ‘squeezable’ he was. In view of this, Beaconsfield did ‘net open on any point’.” There were also dinners and evenings parties; Beaconsfield was wearied by them. “I begin to die at 10 o’clock, and should like to be buried before midnight,” he said. As the actual business of the Congress wore on, Britain declared the terms which would safeguard her interests in the Near East. “Russia,” says Mr Bolitho, “struggled against the treaty, but in the end she surrendered. Once more, Beaconsfield played an actor’s trick, when it seemed that Russia might falter and cause the Congress to fall to pieces. He ordered a special train to be in readiness to carry Lord Salisbury and himself back to Calais. If he had boarded the train, the only result could have been war between Russia and Britain.” Bismarck recognized the move as an ultimatum—and that night before he went to bed Beaconsfield received the news of Russia’s acceptance of the treaty. In the morning he was able to telegraph to Queen Victoria: “Russia surrenders, and accepts the English scheme for the European frontiers of the (Turkish) Empire, and its military and political rule by the Sultan.” The Queen’s answer was telegraphed across Europe: “It is all due to your energy and firmness.” Beaconsfield returned home tired and gouty. A rest restored his good spirits, and when he went to Osborne his admiring Queen gave him the Garter. But she did not think it enough. “Would he not accept a marquisate, cr dukedom in addition?” ' Says Mr Bolitho: “He refused the added honours. Everybody was delighted, it seemed, except Mr Gladstone. The Queen told Beaconsfield that Gladstone was ‘frantic,’ but this only added a touch of fun to the victory.”