[Footnote 109:  Parliamentary Papers, Turkey, ii. (1877), No. 1; also, in part, in Hertslet, iv. p. 2517.]

It is well known that Lord Salisbury was far less pro-Turkish than the Prime Minister or the members of the British embassy at Constantinople.  During a diplomatic tour that he had made to the chief capitals he convinced himself “that no Power was disposed to shield Turkey—­not even Austria—­if blood had to be shed for the status quo.” (The words are those used by his assistant, Mr., afterwards Sir, William White.) He had had little or no difficulty in coming to an understanding with the Russian plenipotentiary, General Ignatieff, despite the intrigues of Sir Henry Elliott and his Staff to hinder it[110].  Indeed, the situation shows what might have been effected in May 1876, had not the Turks then received the support of the British Government.

[Footnote 110:  Sir William White:  Life and Correspondence, p. 117.]

Now, however, there were signs that the Turks declined to take the good advice of the Powers seriously; and on December 23, when the “full” meetings of the Conference began, the Sultan and his Ministers treated the plenipotentiaries to a display of injured virtue and reforming zeal that raised the situation to the level of the choicest comedy.  In the midst of the proceedings, after the Turkish Foreign Minister, Safvet Pacha, had explained away the Bulgarian massacres as a myth woven by the Western imagination, salvoes of cannon were heard, that proclaimed the birth of a new and most democratic constitution for the whole of the Turkish Empire.  Safvet did justice to the solemnity of the occasion; the envoys of the Powers suppressed their laughter; and before long, Lord Salisbury showed his resentment at this display of oriental irony and stubbornness by ordering the British Fleet to withdraw from Besika Bay[111].

[Footnote 111:  See Gallenga (The Eastern Question, vol. ii. pp. 255-258) as to the scepticism regarding the new constitution, felt alike by foreigners and natives at Constantinople.]

But deeds and words were alike wasted on the Sultan and his Ministers.  To all the proposals and warnings of the Powers they replied by pointing to the superior benefits about to be conferred by the new constitution.  The Conference therefore speedily came to an end (Jan. 20).  It had served its purpose.  It had fooled Europe[112].

[Footnote 112:  See Parl.  Papers (1878), Turkey, No. 2, p. 114, for the constitution; and p. 302 for Lord Salisbury’s criticisms on it; also ibid, pp. 344-345, for Turkey’s final rejection of the proposals of the Powers.]