The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays) SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 1878. THE CONFERENCE.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 350, 24 August 1878, Page 2

The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays) SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 1878. THE CONFERENCE.

While wo are only in possession of short anil scanty telegrams relative to ihe results of the most important Council of Nations held in the latter half of the nineteenth century, we cannot enter upon a discussion of all its doings, and their bearings on the various States concerned ; but, from a mere English stand-point, something may be said ■without fear of contradiction. That the Berlin Conference was brought about by British Statesmen, is pretty well known ; as also is the fact that British influence caused all the terms of the treaty between the late belligerents, to be laid before the Conference. All the Continental Powers were willing that the Conference should simply discuss the questions that Russia chose to submit to it. England, however, insisted, as only a Power confident in l.er own strength could insist, that the Conference should decide every question at issue between the victor and the vanquished; and, as a gentle hint to those who wore inclined to under-rate her, as having money without men, a few thousands of, Iniian troops were quietly brought into Europe. This was, as Mr Gladstone says, “ a tapping of the spring.” It was not done for the sake of the seven thousand,

but as a silent indication of whore the seventy thousand, cr seven hundred thousand would come from if need arose. The durab-show was understood by the audience, and the British demand was acceeded to.

There can be no doubt that the business of the Conference was carried through by the representatives of Britain, with statecraft as consummate as that by which tbe Conference itself was brought about. No general returning from victory over the legions of the Czar* could be received with greater enthusiasm than that with which the English people have received Lord Boaconsfield. We make a shrewd guess that, from remote and obscure parts of the Empire, he receives more addresses and telegrams than he cares to read. The address from Grahanistown will probably bo the first intimation his Lordship has had of the existence of that city. Should he send a reply marked* “To collect,” he would bring about a crisis in this modern Mynclus. It is very flattering to the British nation that, while armed thousands resist to the death the Austrian occupation of Bosnia, other unfortunates, whom the Conference has consigned to Russia, wish to hoist the British flag, and would rather die under it than live under the 'Russian.

Much to the surprise of everyone, the Conference has added ten thousand square miles to the British Empire, and in this fact we have the trich worthy of the “ trump card.” When it became certain that the war would increase the influence of Russia in the IXmlanells, and possibly make her a Mediterranean Power, it was at once felt that, as a set off against this, England required some possession near the Mediterranean end of the Sues Canal. Many eyes turned to Egypt. Russia and Germany both favored the English possession of that country. They both know that France had sot her heart on Egypt, and knew also, that if England took advantage of the misfortunes of Franco, to seize the coveted “ land of Goshen,” there would bo no probability of the two western Powers going hand in hand for fifty years to come. No doubt English Statesmen saw this too, and did not fail to observe that Egypt would be a troublesome possession in itself, being burdened with debt and very heavily populated. But while the question of Egypt was discussed from all possible and impossible stand points, no one, as far as wo know, outside of the British Cabinet, thought of the thinly peopled and easily managed Island of Cyprus. This Island is connected with the mainland by ocean cable, and though not so near to the Canal as Egypt, is yet within a day’s steam of it, while Malta and the Bosphorus are each about four day’s steam from it. Cyprus has a population of about one hundred thousand—three-fourths of whom arc Grcck-Christiaus, the rest fanatical, and till now, dominant Turks. The soil is rich, the forests vast, and the coal good ami plentiful. The importance of this last named commodity to a British naval station can scarcely be over-rated. Thus although the Russian influence has not greatly increased in the Dardanolls, England has secured the “ set off,” a station whence she can guard the Canal, watch Egypt, and Asia Minor, re-coal her cruisers, and at the same time, give to thousands of oppressed Christians the liberty of British subjects. The very best quality of this addition to om Empire, is its intrinsic insignificance and worthlessness. The possession of it provokes no jealousy, cools no friendship, and while answering one utmost need, entails little cost and no danger of rebellion.

It is interesting to remember that this Island of Cyprus was in the possession of the English nearly seven hundred years ago. It was taken in 1191 by Richard the Lion-hearted. Could he have “ forecast the years” to the present, he would have gone home and lived in peace.