Mr. Gladstone has expressed his views upon the probable policy
of the Ministry in a letter to the Secretary of the Sheffield Liberal Association, dated December 24. He says that " all races in the Empire are, in his belief, resolutely opposed to inter- vention " on behalf of Turkey. He trusts that many even who hold Conservative opinions may think that the circumstances of the war in no respect warrant a deviation from neutrality, and would allow some more time for their pressure to be felt, holding that party action in the matter is a serious evil, only to be justi- fied when serious mischief has to be averted. It " is plain, how- ever, that inaction at such a juncture cannot be greatly pro- longed." Mr. Bright also writes to a gentleman at Cambridge saying he does not expect war, " for the country is for peace, and we have no ally." The "Administration may not be a wise one, but it must bend to circumstances," and it has as an Adminis- tration no interest in war, for war would soon destroy it. Neither of these letters quite expresses the determination which we are sure their writers feel, that war must be prevented.
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