Lord Beaconsfield followed, in a speech intended to disparage the
foreign policy of the Government by anticipation. He described Mr. Gladstone's speech in Midlothian as "the pas- sionate expression of a vindictive memory" and one most injuri- ous to the course of negotiations, and denied. that there was any- thing in his letter which protected Europe against a policy that might imperil its peace. That policy was hostile to Austria. The Duke of Argyll, premising that he regretted the original speech, replied that Mr. Gladstone's policy had always been to protect the nationalities of the Balkan, and not to form an exclusive alliance either with Russia or Austria, and he asked how Lord Beaconsfield's action in constructing for Government a supposed policy "out of his own evil imagination," tallied with his promises in the debate on the Address of giving loyal support. He once more pointed out that the Treaty of Berlin was as to ninety parts in a hundred the Treaty of San Stefano, and alleged that the late Government had made no attempt to carry out its beneficial clauses.
