398 



GKEAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. 



and Turkey, he said that, although it was re- 

 ported that terms of peace had been agreed 

 upon, all that they knew was that, while the 

 armistice was unsigned, the forces of Russia 

 were advancing both in Europe and in Asia. 

 The Government had no desire to give advice 

 to the Porte, nor had the Sultan consulted 

 them as to the terms of peace. He explained 

 the terms so far as he knew them from report, 

 and pointed out how destructive they were for 

 Turkey, and how gravely they would alter the 

 map of Europe, declaring that " the state of 

 tilings now to be faced was that the keystone 

 of southeast Europe was being torn from its 

 place." The policy of the English Government 

 had been consistent with the dispatch of Earl 

 Derby of the 6th of May, 1877, but the mili- 

 tary situation had been greatly altered within 

 a week. Correspondence had been held with 

 the Russian Government, in which the latter 

 had disclaimed any intention of occupying 

 Constantinople or the Dardanelles ; neverthe- 

 less the Russian advance had continued, so that 

 the Government, having obtained the necessary 

 firinan from the Sultan, had ordered the fleet 

 to Gallipoli, but its' orders had been modified 

 on receiving a more correct explanation of the 

 Russian intentions. Passing to the motion 

 before the House, the question was whether 

 the Government should go into the conference 

 armed with the strength of a united nation, or 

 weakened and discredited by the exertions of 

 those who were preaching the decadence of 

 the empire. He believed that England was 

 as strong as she ever was, if not stronger, 

 and that if her cause were just her enemies 

 would find that her arm was not shortened and 

 that her heart had not grown cold. It was 

 essential that the voice of the Government 

 should be heard in the councils of the Powers 

 as enjoying the confidence of the country. If 

 the estimates were voted, it did not follow that 

 the money would be all spent, but it was ne- 

 cessary that Parliament should show its con- 

 fidence in the Government, so that they might 

 enter upon a Congress speaking in the name 

 and backed by the force of England. " It will 

 not be," he said, " a vote of credit, but a vote 

 of confidence; and, if it were refused, the 

 Ministry would accept the position, but it 

 would be impossible for them to continue to 

 administer the affairs of the nation." On 

 Thursday, January 31st, Mr. Forster, on a mo- 

 tion to go into committee on a vote of credit, 

 moved an amendment, affirming that, as the 

 conditions which the Government had laid 

 down had not been infringed by either bellig- 

 erent, and as no information had been received 

 to justify a dspirture from the policy of neu- 

 trality, the Uonsa saw no reason for adding to 

 the burdens of the people by voting unneces- 

 sary supplies, and supported it with a speech 

 attacking the course of the Government. The 

 debate was continued for two weeks, the Lib- 

 eral leaders opposing the propositions of the 

 Government with temperate vigor. On the 



4th of February Mr. Gladstone dwelt on the 

 various points to be discussed in the Confer- 

 ence on which the Opposition would gladly 

 support the Government. It would resist 

 claims by Russia interfering with the perfect 

 freedom of the Danube by demanding a cession 

 of Roumanian territory; would support the 

 claims of the subject races to freedom and 

 good government ; would consider it no hard- 

 ship to impose a considerable tribute on Bul- 

 garia. Great Britain ought to act, too, as the 

 champion of the Hellenic provinces, and, with 

 regard to the Straits, the Government should 

 be content to act in concert with Europe. He 

 suggested that the vote should be postponed 

 for a time, with liberty to renew the motion 

 if the Government thought fit, and that an 

 address should be presented to her Majesty 

 from both Houses expressing their readiness 

 to support her Government in bringing about 

 a permanent peace at the Conference, recog- 

 nizing the promise which the Government had 

 given to obtain good terms for Turkey, but 

 expressing a hope that the influence of the 

 country would be used to obtain liberty and 

 good government for the Christian subjects of 

 the Porte. On the 7th the Chancellor of the 

 Exchequer explained the situation at Constan- 

 tinople as it appeared then ; upon which Mr. 

 Forster said that, a under the grave and altered 

 circumstances of the case," he should with- 

 draw his amendment offered January 31st. 

 On the 8th the Marquis of Hartington, u leader 

 of the Opposition," stated his objections to the 

 vote, urging especially that the Government 

 had not made out any case to show the neces- 

 sity of it, and that they had not disclosed the 

 nature of their policy. The Chancellor of the 

 Exchequer thanked him for the moderation of 

 his tone, but denied his charge of withholding 

 necessary information. Mr. Gladstone admit- 

 ted that the position of affairs at Constanti- 

 nople gave a title to complain of Russia, but 

 declined to support the vote, because the Gov- 

 ernment had failed to connect it with the ob- 

 ject they had in view; it was opposed to the 

 long-established rules of the House, and might 

 prove in worse hands a precedent dangerous 

 to the Constitution. Mr. Forster declined to 

 take part in the division on the ground that he 

 was desirous not to weaken the hands of the 

 Government " after the satisfactory statement 

 of the Chancellor of the Exchequer." Mr. W. 

 H. Smith repeated the assurances already given 

 by his colleagues of the desire of the Govern- 

 ment to promote the freedom of the subject 

 races of Turkey, and their belief that the vote 

 of credit would tend to the maintenance of 

 peace. A division was taken, and resulted : 

 for the vote of credit, 328; against it, 124; 

 majority for the vote, 204. 



Statements on behalf of the Government 

 respecting the passage of the Dardanelles by 

 the British fleet were made in both Houses 

 on the 4th of February. The protest of Earl 

 Derby against a Russian occupation of Con- 



