NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE Turks have sent the Ambassadors of Europe home again. The final reply has not yet been given, but the Grand 'Council, to which the Sultan had referred the question, met on Thursday. It comprised 140 Ottoman dignitaries, and some sixty Christians whom the Turks could trust, and was asked by the Grand Vizier to decide whether he should reject or accept the reduced terms. Midhat Pasha told the Council frankly enough that the result of a rejection would be war, that Turkey had no friends, and that the ammunition on its way from America might be intercepted. The Council, never- theless, according, it is most probable, to previous arrange- ment, unanimously rejected the proposals, and accepted war. "This decision is considered final, and the Ambassadors will, it is reported, leave Constantinople in the course of the week. They have effected nothing, beyond an exposure of the feebleness of diplomacy in presence of great events. From the moment they were opposed they receded, and receded till the Turks believed them afraid of Turkey, and finally dismissed them with contempt. The secret of their weakness is not yet known, perhaps never will be known, but the history of the Conference will be quoted for years as evidence of the uselessness of diplomatists.
