Tax papers by the last mail explain the situation at the time the telegrams spatched, which spoke of war as imminent, some six weeks ago. The panic was evidently caused by the refusal of the Russian Government to accept Turkey's offer of a six months' armistice. This refusal was held to imply immediate war between Turkey and Russia; and the conclusion was at once jumped to that the war would become general. The Duke of Cambridge was reported to have received orders to mobilise three Army Corps; our mercantile steamers were said to have boon ordered to hold themselves at the disposal of Government, and British officers were planning the defence of Constantinople, The panic, however, appears so far to have been baseless 'The English Cabinet considered that the nation called for no immediate action. The Turks had refused the proposal for a six weeks' armistice, which bad been pressed upon them, and their own proposal being now rejected, nothing remained but to wait events. Hostilities seem to have been actively resumed; the Turks fought and won a battle at Alexinatz, which was taken, and advanced and captured Deligrad, the Servian army apparently falling into complete disorganisation. Russia interposed in its favour, and insisted on a short armist ice under threat of war. This was conceded, and a Conference of the Great Powers at Constantinople, where England will be represented by Lord Salisbury, was subsequently resolved on. It is probable that, as the negotiations have tended hopefully towards pence, or otherwise, subsequent private telegrams have borne a more warlike or more peaceful impress. Lord Derby had previously refused to Goncur in the proposed Russian occupation of Bulgaria, and of Bosnia and the Herzegovina by Austria; and he subsequently warned Count Schouvaloff that, whatever anger against the Turks may have been expressed in consequence of the Bulgarian atrocities, English feeling would change were it believed that Constantinople was menaced. Lord Beaconsfield, speech at Guildhall on the 9th November, insisted on the maintenance of the integrity of the Tarkish empire—a speech to which the Czar's dedo ration at Moscow, that if entisfactory guarantees could not be obtained at the Conference, he would act independently,—seems to have been considered a reply. This was followed by the mobilization of part of the Russian army, which was to be expected; and, apparently, by increased activity in the English arsenal sand dockyards. A division of Tarkisb ironclads, too, isto enter the Black Sea, The Russian demands on Tarkey are so far said to comprise the appointment of Christian Governors, the election of native officials, the expulsion of the Circassians (which may difficult matter) and the appointment of a permanent commission to supervise reforms. It is not surprising to learn that "intense excitement prevailed" i face of these events, especially in view of the possible consequences of a war which could hardly fail to become general, The Times, in a leader which may be an exposition of ministerial policy, or may be meant as an expression of the national will, declares the policy of England to be to wait and watch. The Government "will abstain from any unnecessary display of force, and from any menace which can be avoided. They will hope for the best even amid the present uncertainty and confusion. They will content themselves with the simple and obvious daty of seeing that our forces are in such a condition as to be able to aot promptly and efficiently if the occasion should arise. This is not a time for allowing either the Army or the Navy to be unprepared for emergencies, When we spend twenty-five millions upon our two arms of defence, it would be folly, in the presence of a real danger to European peace and_to our own interests, to forego the additional preparations which are always necessary to render our forces capable heel of prompt action. These and other necessary precautions the Ministry are bound to take. But there is no occasion either for panic or for hurry, and we may await in patience the march of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.