It is rumoured that the Austrian Government has finally decided
upon the incorporation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, that Germany has assented, and that the Sultan will yield. The Russian Government, however, maintains that a European Conference will be necessary to sanction such a proceeding, and, no doubt, the principle that European consent is necessary to the distribution of Turkish terrritory is essential to peace. Great Britain, however, overrode it, when she accepted Cyprus under a secret engagement. We trust Lord Granville, under such circumstances, will plead steadily, if not for a European Conference, for the right of the Bosnians to be consulted in a Diet elected ad hoc. Bosnia would be better of as a regular province, than as a province in military occu- pation ; but if her people would prefer autonomy under an Austrian Archduke, theirs is the first desire to be consulted. It is probable that the rumour is true, as the Austrian Govern- ment want a return for their expenditure in collecting so large an army in the new territory.
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