Mr. Bourke's speech was also worthy of note, if only
for its very strong assertion that the Anglo-Turkish Convention was a purely conditional engagement. "We had not guaranteed Turkish territory, as had been done in 1856. Our guarantee of Asia Minor was conditional on the reform of that country, and if the condi- tion was not complied with, the guarantee ceased." If that be so, how is it possible to represent the Convention as a far more impassable barricade against Russian aggression than any inter- posedbefore,—as the "thus far, but no farther," of Lord Beacons- field ? It is a broken reed indeed, if the only bulwark against Russian or any other invasion is to depend for its stability on the capacity, good-will, and firmness of Sultans, or the virtuous abnegation of the Pashas? You might as well propose to redeem land from the sea by a wall of sea-weed, or insulate a fire by a paper screen.
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