The latest accounts from Constantinople are neither peaceful
nor warlike. The initiative of negotiation is left to the German Ambassador, Count Hatzfeld, and his instractions are appar- ently to regard the decision of the Conference of Berlin as binding, but to exchange Jannina.and Metzovo for further con- cessions in Thessaly, which province the Turks are desolating in anticipation. The Ambassadors of the remaining Powers are to support this proposal, and it is assumed that the Sultan will yield, and that Greece, receiving a great territory, and finding herself opposed to the will of Europe, will give way. That is a. pleasing programme, of which, we confess, we believe very little. The Turk is not going to give way to words, and there is no proof that the words will cover, or eveu appear to cover, action. Prance is hanging back, in a spasm either of timidity or of finesse ; Prince Bisniarek neither expects nor particularly wishes peace; Austria sees no advantage in the proposed arrangement; aud Greece is disposed to fight, rather than aceept auy terms whatever which do not include dannina. She has 80,000 soldiers ready, good or bad ; she has bought all necessaries, down to ambulance carts—forty of which arrived. this week—and she cannot send the Army home without. visible success. It is expected, even by the optimists, that the negotiations will last six weeks ; and we believe that at the end of that time, Turkey, convinced that Europe is not united, will plead the Sacred Law as forbidding cession olg. territory except undertone majeure sufficient to terminate free-will, and that Greece will then declare war.
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