On the reassembling of Parliament on Thursday, Mr. Sandford, the
Member for Malden, made a strong attempt to " draw " Mr. Bourke, making a long speech about the probable terms of peace, about the English position, and about Lord Salisbury's conver- sations with the Duc Decazes and Prince Bismarck, which have not been inserted in the Blue-book. Mr. Bourke, of course, was reti- cence itself. He was surprised that any Member should speak upon such subjects. The conversations alluded to were confidential, and it would be most indiscreet to publish them. In the future the course of her Majesty's Government would necessarily depend upon the progress of events. When peace came to be discussed, "the European Powers consider that they have a right to share in the deliberations respecting the future." This last announcement is of importance, as of late years the conditions of peace have usually been arranged without anything that could fairly be called a European deliberation, but Mr. Bourke was careful to explain that he had said the " Powers would consider they had a right," and not that the Powers would exert the right.
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