"us to know what the Cabinets with which we have acted in concert "until now intend to do in reply to this refusal, and to ensure the execu"tion of their wishes. You are requested to ask for information on "this point, and to read and give a copy of this despatch to the Minister "of Foreign Affairs.

(Signed)

"GORTSCHAKOFF."

To this despatch no definite answer has been made public, although it had been announced that shortly this coming document would be laid upon the table of the House of Commons. It is to be regretted that the opportunity was not grasped to withdraw altogether from any participation with the Great Powers in the partition of Turkey, upon which all excepting France are bent, and at the same time a categorical demand should have been made upon Russia for an explanation of the reason for despatching several men-of war, in first-rate order, to the "benevolent neutral" port of San Francisco on the Pacific, and another squadron of war-ships, under the Grand Duke Alexis, to the equally benevolent neutral Atlantic ports of the United States. This warlike demonstration is not made against either the Turkish navy or its mercantile marine. Against whom, then, is it made? Why, a child must know that it is aimed at England, which, at this moment, has in the Pacific seven vessels flying the pendant, two of which are useless, and the rest mere gun-vessels; and, moreover, that the only coal depot belonging to England is at Vancouver's Island, which could be laid in ashes by the boats of one of the above-named Russian corvettes just as easily as we destroyed the Russian stores in the Sea of Azof.

Punch, on 17th February, 1877, has a cartoon,—the Russian bear asking the English lion what he intends to do in reference to the circular of Prince Gortschakoff. The English lion, consistent to the Liberal training he has undergone for the last generation, says, "Bless'd if I know." One thing is certain, the "bless'd if I know" policy will not be tolerated much longer; it really seems

"At dæmon homini quum struit aliquid malum
Pervertit illi primitus mentem suum."

The fate of the Circular is best explained in the following letter:

My Lord,

The Earl of Derby to Lord A. Loftus.

Foreign Office, March 3, 1877. The Russian Ambassador called upon me to-day and said that he was authorized by his Government to request Her Majesty's Government to delay their reply to Prince Gortchakow's Circular of the 19th of

January until they received certain further explanations which the Russian Government had to offer.

These "certain further explanations which the Russian Government had to offer" were embodied in a Protocol, the authorship and explanation of which, so far as the Russian Ambassador thought expedient, will be found set forth in the following letter :

My Lord,

The Earl of Derby to Lord A. Loftus.

Foreign Office, March 13, 1877.

The Russian Ambassador, when handing to me the draft Protocol inclosed in my despatch of this day's date, accompanied it by a statement of the views and wishes of his Government to the following effect:

"The object of General Ignatiew's journey, Count Schouvaloff stated, has been to furnish explanations as to the real views of the Cabinet of St. Petersburgh, and to facilitate a pacific solution.

"After the sacrifices which Russia had imposed upon herself, the stagnation of her industry and of her commerce, and the enormous expenditure incurred by the mobilisation of 500,000 men, she could not retire nor send back her troops without having obtained some tangible result as regards the improvement of the condition of the Christian populations of Turkey. The Emperor was sincerely desirous of peace, but not of peace at any price.

"The Governments of the other Powers were at this moment preparing their answers to the Russian Circular. The Russian Government would not express any opinion by anticipation on these replies, but they foresaw in them the possibility of a great danger. For if the replies were not identical, what would be the position of the Imperial Cabinet? The agreement of the Powers, so fortunately established at the Conference, might be broken up in consequence of the shades of opinion manifested in the replies of the several Cabinets ; would not that be a determining cause to induce Russia to seek for a solution, either by means of a direct understanding with the Porte, or by force of arms?

"Under these circumstances it appears to the Russian Government that the most practical solution, and the one best fitted to secure the maintenance of general peace, would be the signature by the Powers of a Protocol which should, so to speak, terminate the incident.

"This Protocol might be signed in London by the Representatives of the Great Powers, and under the direct inspiration of the Cabinet of St. James.

"The Protocol would contain no more than the principles upon which the several Governments would have based their reply to the Russian Circular. It would be desirable that it should affirm that the present state of affairs was one which concerned the whole of Europe, and should place on record that the improvement of the condition of the Christian population of Turkey will continue to be an object of interest to all the Powers.

"The Porte having repeatedly declared that it engaged to introduce reforms, it would be desirable to enumerate them on the basis of Safvet

Pasha's Circular. In this way there could be no subsequent misunderstanding as to the promises made by Turkey.

"As a period of some months would not be sufficient to accomplish these reforms, it would be preferable not to fix any precise limit of time. It would rest with all the Powers to determine by general agreement whether Turkey was progressing in a satisfactory manner in her work of regeneration.

"The Protocol should mention that Europe will continue to watch the progressive execution of the reforms by means of their Diplomatic Representatives.

"If the hopes of the Powers should once more be disappointed, and the condition of the Christian subjects of the Sultan should not be improved, the Powers would reserve to themselves to consider in common the action which they would deem indispensable to secure the well-being of the Christian population of Turkey, and the interests of the general peace."

Count Schouvaloff hoped that I should appreciate the moderate and conciliatory spirit which actuated his Government in this expression of their views. They seemed to him to contain nothing incompatible with the principles on which the policy of England was based, and their application would secure the maintenance of general peace.

I made a suitable acknowledgment of his Excellency's communication, reserving any expression of opinion until I had had an opportunity of consulting my colleagues.

I am, &c.,

Protocol.

(Signed)

DERBY.

The Powers who have undertaken in common the pacification of the East, and have with that view taken part in the Conference of Constantinople, recognize that the surest means of attaining the object, which they have proposed to themselves, is before all to maintain the agreement so happily established between them, and jointly to affirm afresh the common interest which they take in the improvement of the condition of the Christian populations of Turkey, and in the reforms to be introduced in Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Bulgaria, which the Porte has accepted on condition of itself carrying them into execution. They take cognizance of the conclusion of peace with Servia.

As regards Montenegro, the Powers consider the rectification of the frontiers and the free navigation of the Boïana to be desirable in the interest of a solid and durable arrangement.

The Powers consider the arrangements concluded, or to be concluded, between the Porte and the two Principalities, as a step accomplished towards the pacification which is the object of their common wishes.

They invite the Porte to consolidate it by replacing its armies on a peace footing, excepting the number of troops indispensable for the maintenance of order, and by putting in hand with the least possible delay the reforms necessary for the tranquillity and well-being of the Provinces, the condition of which was discussed at the Conference. They recognize that the Porte has declared itself ready to realize an important portion of them.

They take cognizance specially of the Circular of the Porte of the 13th of February, 1876, and of the declarations made by the Ottoman Government during the Conference and since, through its Representatives.

In view of these good intentions on the part of the Porte, and of its evident interest to carry them immediately into effect, the Powers believe that they have grounds for hoping that the Porte will profit by the present lull to apply energetically such measures as will cause that effective improvement in the condition of the Christian populations which is unanimously called for as indispensable to the tranquillity of Europe, and that having once entered on this path, it will understand that it concerns its honour as well as its interests to persevere in it loyally and efficaciously.

The Powers propose to watch carefully by means of their Representatives at Constantinople and their local Agents, the manner in which the promises of the Ottoman Government are carried into effect.

If their hopes should once more be disappointed, and if the condition of the Christian subjects of the Sultan should not be improved in a manner to prevent the return of the complications which periodically disturb the peace of the East, they think it right to declare that such a state of affairs would be incompatible with their interests and those of Europe in general. In such case they reserve to themselves to consider in common as to the means which they may deem best fitted to secure the well-being of the Christian populations, and the interests of the general peace.

Minutes of a Meeting held at the Foreign Office, March 31, 1877.

Count Münster, Ambassador of Germany, Count Beust, Ambassador of Austria-Hungary, the Marquis d'Harcourt, Ambassador of France, the Earl of Derby, Her Britannic Majesty's Principal Secretary_of State for Foreign Affairs, General Count de Menabrea, Ambassador of Italy, and Count Schouvaloff, Ambassador of Russia, met together this day at the Foreign Office, for the purpose of signing the Protocol proposed by Russia, relative to the affairs of the East.

Count Schouvaloff made the following declaration, placing, at the same time, a pro-memoria of it in the hands of Her Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State :—

"If peace with Montenegro is concluded, and the Porte accepts the advice of Europe and shows itself ready to replace its forces on a peace footing, and seriously to undertake the reforms mentioned in the Protocol, let it send to St. Petersburgh a Special Envoy to treat of disarmament, to which His Majesty the Emperor would also on his part consent.

"If massacres similar to those which have stained Bulgaria with blood take place, this would necessarily put a stop to the measures of demobilization.'

The Earl of Derby read and delivered to each of the other Plenipotentiaries a declaration, copy of which is annexed to the present proces-verbal.

General Count de Menabrea declared that Italy is only bound by the signature of the Protocol of this day's date, so long as the agreement

happily established between all the Powers by the Protocol itself is maintained.

The signature of the Protocol was then proceeded with.

Declaration made by the Earl of Derby before the signature of the Protocol.

The undersigned, Her Britannic Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, makes the following declaration in regard to the Protocol signed this day by the Plenipotentiaries of Great Britain, Germany, Austria-Hungary, France, Italy, and Russia :-*

"Inasmuch as it is solely in the interests of European peace that Her Britannic Majesty's Government have consented to sign the Protocol proposed by that of Russia, it is understood beforehand that, in the event of the object proposed not being attained-namely, reciprocal disarmament on the part of Russia and Turkey, and peace between them-the Protocol in question shall be regarded null and void." London, March 31, 1877.

(Signed)

DERBY."

Declaration made by the Ambassador of Russia before the signature of the Protocol.

"If peace with Montenegro is concluded and the Porte accepts the advice of Europe, and shows itself ready to replace its forces on a peace footing, and seriously to undertake the reforms mentioned in the Protocol, let it send to St. Petersburgh a Special Envoy to treat of disarmament, to which His Majesty the Emperor would also, on his part, consent.

"If massacres similar to those which have occurred in Bulgaria take place, this would necessarily put a stop to the measures of demobilization."

Declaration made by the Italian Ambassador before the signature of the Protocol.

"Italy is only bound by the signature of the Protocol of this day's date so long as the agreement happily established between all the Powers by the Protocol itself is maintained."

As might have been anticipated, and with a promptitude consistent with the manly straightforward course which has, throughout the lamentable occurrences enacted in Turkey, characterised the proceedings of the Sublime Porte, an answer has been returned to the Protocol.

Whatever betide, no one can accuse Turkey of diplomatic shuffle or unworthy subterfuge in her dealings with the other Powers who have so shamefully meddled with and muddled the "Eastern Question" in the interests of Russia and Germany.