Lord Graiiville's answer to Prince Gortechakoff's second very civil but
very firm Note is so short and incisive as to give an im- pression of decision which scarcely belongs to it. The Foreign Sec- retary says (November 28) he has nothing to add to the declarations• already made by the British Government, denies that any proposal from Russia to revise the Treaties of 1856 had been received; and hopes that, as Russia values good relationsbetween herself and Great. Britain, "the obstacle to such relations will soon be removed." The British Government observe, however, that Prince Gortschakoff describes his declaration as " the abrogation of a theoretical prin- ciple without immediate application," and if these words mean, that Russia has stated her own opinion, but has no intention of acting on it, " they go far to close the controversy." The Govern- ment has no objection to a conference, " provided it assemble with- out any foregone conclusion," even as we understand it, if the Russian Note is not withdrawn. In other words, they accept a Con- ference which Russia has already proclaimed can end only in one way. There are so many secret understandings running through every negotiation of importance, that Lord Granville may be in the Tight ; but on the surface of things, we are going to pass a law to snake a particular and past breach of contract legal.
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