SUUM CUIQUE.
THERE seems to be a hitch in our diplomatic proceedings at Con- stantinople. It is said that the British Embassy insists upon the Sultan's changing his system of government in Syria ; that the Sultan and his Divan demur to this "foreign interference" ; and that the Ambassadors of the other Christian Powers stand aloof from the discussion. The consequence of this state of affairs, it is argued, must necessarily be to weaken the influence of England with the Turkish rulers, by teaching them to undervalue this country if it give way, or to hate it if it insist upon carrying its point. The dilemma is an awkward one ; but it is the necessary conse- quence of the interference of the late Ministry in the dispute be- tween the Divan at Constantinople and the Viceroy of Egypt. British agents stirred up an insurrection against MEHEMET Ala in Syria, and British ships of war bombarded the coast-towns occupied by his troops. The Sultan and his Ministers made no objection to foreign interference so long as British interference favoured their own views. But the hopes excited in the population of Lebanon by the British emissaries have been falsified ; and when the British Ambassador asks the authorities at Constantinople to fulfil the promises made in their name, they are indignant at the attempt to interfere in their domestic affairs. They have got all they can out of great Britain at present, and they are now going to try what can be got out of France or Russia. All that this country is likely to gain by the Syrian expedition is, the privilege of paying for it, and the disgrace of making promises to the inhabitants of Mount Le- banon, which it cannot keep.
What are the intentions of the present Ministry with regard to Syria it is impossible to say : Sir STRATFORD CANNING, according to the latest accounts from Constantinople, was doing nothing, waiting for instructions from home. The ABERDEEN policy may be as absurd as the PALMERSTON ; but it has nothing to do with the diffi- culty as it stands—that is the natural fruit of what was done be- fore the PEEL Ministry came into office. The dilemma must have arisen under any Minister for Foreign Affairs : it was foreseen and foretold, as soon as it was known that Lord PONSONBY'S confiden- tial interpreter was playing the part of a political agitator in Syria. This is a part of the PALMERSToN-PONSONBY account which has yet to be settled.
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