It was felt all through Europe that the Sultan's action
had given a new and more serious aspect to affairs. The Govern- ments held consultations, but agreed, it is believed, to wait for the decision of the British Government. A Cabinet Council was ordered for Thursday, and at 12.30, though the Ministers had been widely scattered, every member, except Lord Spencer, who was detained in Paris, had assembled. The Council lasted three hours, and up to Friday evening its decision had not been made known. There is, however, some reason to believe that it was deemed impossible for Europe to recede, and advisable to propose to the signatory Powers that the Sultan should be allowed a final opportunity of retracing his steps. He should be informed that the Treaty must be carried out, and that unless it were carried out at once, a combined Fleet would appear off Constantinople. Whatever the decision was, it was awaited with anxiety by all the Ambassadors in London ; and the answers of the Powers will be considered in another Cabinet, to be held next week. It is clear that the only alter- natives are failure, and direct pressure upon the ruling group in Constantinople.
