Lord Salisbury taunted the Opposition with their reserve in dealing
with a Government which had been so frank, openly confessed that the fear of Russia was the only motive- power of the Conference ; and avowed his belief that the rumour as to the disorganisation of the Russian army was one of the chief causes of its failure ; made somewhat inconsistent statements as to the "wonder "and " mystery " of the Turkish infatuation which would not yield to reason, and as tohis own anticipation from the first that his efforts would fail,—and spoke of Midhat Pasha as notably the chief enemy of concession to Europe. Lord Granville in- sisted on the need for enforcing the concert of Europe, remarked on the sneers levelled at Russia in the Guildhall speech, and contrasted the Government's ostentatious declaration to Turkey that nothing would induce them to join in coercion, with his own reserved language to Russia, when extracting an apology for the violence done in 1870 to the Treaty of 1856.
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