Lord Derby made an important speech on Wednesday. A deputation,
consisting of persons individually of no importance, but representing the more violent sections of the more violent pro-Turkish party, waited on him at the Foreign Office to present a memorial praying him to use diplomatic effort on behalf of Turkey, before Constantinople is occupied. The memorialists say that "the Sublime Porte is bleed- ing, spending, hazarding a national existence for the interest of Europe, which, in spite of engagements the most solemn, withholds co-operation from her." Opinion is not unfavourable to action, but "favourable to the maintenance of treaties." Sir Henry Hoare, explaining the memorial, said the usual things about the danger to India, and asked Lord Derby to disregard "the ravings of fanatics," and take a bold course ; Mr. Maltman Barry declared that workmen were in favour of an anti-Russian policy ; Mr. H. Attwood wanted an offensive and defensive treaty with Turkey, which would, he said, be no breach of neutrality—an absurdity mistakenly attributed in the reports to the Rev. E. L. Blackman— and a Mr. Brannon asserted there was no feeling in the North in favour of Mr. Gladstone's policy. Lord Campbell and Stratheden, the only known man in the deputation, made no speech, but asked for more action. Lord Derby snubbed them all impartially in a manner described elsewhere, but reiterated that Constanti- nople must not pass into the hands of another Power ; and the Deputation went home again, having accomplished one thing, —to secure a virtual sanction from the Government for a Russian occupation of Trebizond.
