NEWS OF THE WEEK.
By the close of this week most of the Plenipotentiaries will hive assembled in Paris ; the last, Count Orloff, having a special leave of delay until the 21st instant in consequence of: an accident by. the road. The composition of the assemblage is now finally settled. The allies of Turkey -will each be• represented by two plenipotentiaries, and it does not seem that there is any .in- equality . in the - position of those diplomatists other than is inherent in the relative importance and magnitude of the states that they represent. -Statements are now put forward, thit sia has never solicited admission. - That is possible : she may have simply used much exertion to let the Powers know that she would gladly be invited. tit. even this. is denied, and the ex- clusion to which she is doomed is represented, on her behalf, as the " neutrality" to which she has bound herself. Even before thetonference is opened, guesses, more or less supported' by pro- bability; are made as to the course which it is likely-to take: For some time it has been eupposed that France was more impa- tient for peace -than England : but if there has been a popular Intagionfor • peace, the actual assembling of the Conference has been delayed_ long enough for that fashion to decline in Paris at least, and there• are some signs that the Imperial One adheres to the warlike temper by which he has been dis- tinguished during- the present contest. That absurdly-named clause which 'secures the " neutralization " of the Black Sea has been. thiongliciathe subject of speculative discussion ; and the Journal des Debats lately gaye distinct expression:to an argu- ment that the destruction of Fort Nicholaieff, which is situate a good many'miles. up a river, is not essential to the neutrality of the sea. - This argiunent is vigorously and ably combated by the Sieele, which that the Black Sea cannot be secured against being overawed by military or naval arsenals unless the Boug be closed ; so that Nichilaieff must be useleis unless it be a menace. The .Dibais diecovers that, 'by treaty with Sweden, the Russians possess the " right " to fortify the Aland Islands : to which the Siècle replies, that the recreation of the Bomarsund fortress has become-an European as well ns a Siiredish question, and that right which was_ given by treaty can be taken away by treaty. The article is ably argued, but its importance consists in the fact that this paper indicating the enforcement of the strongest conditions both in the Euxine and the Baltic, has been quoted bodily into the official Noniteur ; for which, therefore, it is neither too war- like nor too vigorous.
