NEWS OF THE WEEK.
A CCORDING to the latest telegrams, the Sultan and the
Ambassadors came to terms on Thursday. An Imperial Decree has been issued conceding the original demands of the Powers, but omitting the clause that the High Commissioner, who is to watch over the reforms and report to the Ambassadors, must be a Christian. This is described by one set of reporters as a "climb down" on the part of the Sultan, and by another set as a "climb down" on the part of Lord Salisbury. It is, no doubt, both, the Sultan being influenced by his growing fear of a movement among the Mnssulmans, a fear for which there appears to be good grounds, and Lord Salisbury by his reluctance to break up the concert of the three Powers, and coerce Turkey single-handed, in an hour when concessions are being made. We do not believe that the reforms will benefit the Armenians in the least ; but then no reforms will, unless the Pashas are superseded. What Commission can do more than the Ambassadors ? and they neither prevented nor can adequately punish the savage repression of last week in Constantinople. We can understand, however, that Lord Salisbury felt the responsibility of breaking-up the armed peace as almost more than he could bear. It is easy to con- demn his hesitation, not so easy to issue orders which may cost half a million lives, at a moment when the enemy begs for moderation.
