UNITED EUROPE.

Under this head, the Daily Mail states :-" We publish a despatch from our Vienna correspondent which gives the plain facts of the European situation. Russia, Austria, and Germany have agreed that England shall not be permitted to intervene in Turkey alone, and any attempt at isolated intervention would mean war with the three Powers. We need not dwell upon the absolute hopelessness of a war with the three allied Powers. The most fatuous champion of Armenia will not venture to say that England could afford to pit her Army against an alliance which numbers its legions in millions, nor would he contend that we could effectively help the Armenians by forcing the Dardanelles, shelling Constantinople, and then leaving our countrymen and co-religionists in Turkey to the mercy of the Sultan and his enraged subjects. This news completes the missing link which was needed to make Mr. Gladstone's speech a most forcible pronouncement against isolated action by England. The ex-Premier admitted that if a European combination hostile to us really existed, it would be our national duty to refrain from provoking war."

A FIRE BRIGADE OF WOMEN.

An American journal thus describes the review of a fire brigade at Nassjo, a little village in Sweden :

A disastrous fire, a few years ago, awoke the people to the necessity of organising for self-protection, with the result that the available part of the population was drafted in as a fire corps, and our lucky star had brought us in time for the review. An extension ladder had been erected against the side and roof of one house, and it was the happy lot of three young men to look down from that proud eminence upon their fellow-townsmen. Another ladder for the wielders of the hose had been thrown up in the square, and two men who rejoiced in the distinction of helmets had posed themselves upon it. A group below uncoiled the hose and connected it with the water supply, which consisted simply of four great tubs, with a pump in each worked by hand power. Water is brought to the tubs from cisterns, or from a Jake outside the town-about three blocks from the centre-and we watched with bated breath while eighteen carts dashed by, each bearing two small barrels, drawn by one horse (the horse generally too familiar with the plough to prance about), and guided by two young men in badges. But the special features of the review was the roll-call of the girls' brigade. Answering to Hannah Peterson, Johannah Jacobson, Christina Johanson, Hilma Anderson, and so forth, the maidens up to No. 150, fell into line, each with her stout bucket at her feet. We asked of an official: “Permit us to inquire the meaning of this review of young women. Have they anything to do with the fire brigade? Surely. They bring the water. The young men alone could not bring enough.' In those buckets?" Surely. The girls stand in a double line, to the cisterns, or to the lake, and one side sends up the buckets full of water, and the other line passes back the empty ones."

"Is that for emergencies only, or are they called on regularly?" "Oh, it is necessary always that they should come. Nassjo is not yet a city, and all must help to keep down bad fires. Often have I seen the girls at work at night when it was so deep winter that their skirts froze like bark from the water and cold." "Do they always come out?" "Yes. They must pay a fine of five crowns if they do not come." "Are they paid when they do?" "No, that they must do for their own home. Often the men are away from town, and then, if a fire comes, the girls must bring out the hose and the ladders and work the pumps and also bring the water. Oh, they know well how to do it. Often we have a review for them, without the men.'

"How are they selected?" "All the free maidens in the town that are over eighteen and have good health. The housemother is not bound to come, but house-daughter and servingmaiden must come together, without regard to rank, rich and poor alike." "It is very remarkable. Is it a common custom in

in Sweden?" "No, only in Nassjo," he concluded, with much complacency.

We did not wonder at the complacency when we looked at the sturdy damsels of the bucket brigade. Some wore black silk kerchiefs on their heads, and some had advanced to the hat stage of development; some had the regulation striped woollen apron of the peasant, others were evidently of the wealthier classes, but all were on a level as bucket-bearers. One ancient damsel, who had evidently missed her chance of becoming a "house-mother" and so securing exemption, held her station by the side of a girl who, if bright eyes and rosy cheeks are any sign, would not long be left in the ranks of the free maidens.

CHRISTIANITY AND SECTARIANISM.

A visitor at Sea-Palling, on the Norfolk coast, after examining with great interest the splendid lifeboat lying in its own house on the beach, and then the surf-boat, ready on its own carriage on the sands, inquired how many men that little village of 400 inhabitants could find for the two boats. The reply was, “Over thirty." "I should like to see that brave little army," said the visitor. "I'll tell you where you may see almost the whole of them at once on Sunday night," said the man to whom the words were addressed. "Go to the Primitive Methodist Chapel there." On Sunday the visitor went and found as he had been told, and came away proud of that side-light on village piety.

In a little town, not far from the capital of East Anglia, a lady of exalted social position, but who happened to be a Congregationalist, visited a sick girl four or five times and prayed by her side. A fortnight ago she visited the sufferer again and noticed that the mother watched the window with some anxiety during the time she stayed. Coming away the mother said: "I am obliged to ask you not to come again, for the Rector is so angry at your calling.' The same ecclesiastic, when asked to attend a meeting for the Bible Society, promptly declined, on the ground that at such meetings some "little Baptist minister might stand on the platform and call him his brother."-Christian World.

KINDNESS OF THE ANCIENT GREEKS.

Perhaps of all ancient nations, the Greeks were the most merciful to animals; in fact, with them the laws of justice and mercy were observed as a part of their mythological religion. People endowed with such sacred attributes could not be otherwise than great, and consequently we read of their wonderful deeds of valour, and view the remains of their temples, their cities, and the grandeur of their architecture, with less surprise than would be excited did we not know the history of their nation. An eloquent writer has observed :

"Death and torture formed no portion of the daily pastimes of the Greeks; on the contrary, they were sternly opposed to cruelty; and one of the three laws or rather precepts of Triptolemus was 'Hurt not animals.' A striking instance of their abhorrence of cruelty is related by Phocius who expatiates with delight on the illustration it offers of wisdom tempered with an admirable spirit of humanity. The Areopagites of Athens were famous for the justice of their decisions. One day they were assembled on a mountain, with no other roof but the canopy of heaven. A sparrow, pursued by a hawk, fled into the midst of them for refuge; it took shelter in the bosom of one of them, a man naturally of a harsh and repulsive disposition, who, taking hold of the little trembler, threw it from him with such violence that it was killed on the spot. The whole assembly was filled with indignation at the cruelty of the deed; the author of it was arraigned as an alien to that sentiment of mercy so necessary to the administration of justice, and by the unanimous suffrages of his colleagues was degraded from the senatorial dignity which he had so much disgraced. It was not only a part of the education of the Greeks, but, as has been before remarked, it was one of the tenets of their religion to inculcate a proper observance of the rights of animals. Although the lives of their poets were ideal, their teachings were never false in principle, and their statesmen were always true to the cause of justice. From this brief outline of the Greek character, we can readily understand how that nation will ever be known as the grandest of ancient times."

THE

NEW

:

No. 567. NEW SERIES.

[PRICE 1d.

CURRENT NOTES.

IMPROVED ASPECT OF AFFAIRS.

The political horizon has brightened a little, during the past month. Notwithstanding the continued bellicose utterances of certain unreasoning clerics, at excited public meetings, it is evident that general public opinion does not support the policy of single-handed armed interference with Turkey, on the part of Great Britain.

The recent remarkable speeches of Lord Rosebery have had a special influence in extending the conviction throughout the country, that such a war, instead of helping the Armenians, would tend to extirpate the remnant of their people, in addition to producing immeasurable calamities to England herself and to other nations also.

THE MANCHESTER PEACE MEETINGS.

We may remind our readers that the Autumnal Meeting of the Peace Society is to be held this year at Manchester, on Tuesday, November 3rd. The Conference will be held in the Mayor's Parlour, Town Hall, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. The Evening Meeting will be held in the Friends' Meeting House, Mount Street, at 7.30 p.m., and will be addressed by Mr. C. E. Schwann, M.P., Dr. W. E. Darby, Dr. Spence Watson, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, President of the National Liberal League, Alderman Snape, and others. The Manchester Agent of the Peace Society is Mr. Charles Stevenson, 9, Albert Square.

efforts of M. Michael Vasseur, M. Couve, M. Decoppet, and others.

LORD ROSEBERY'S WISE WORDS.

In his speech at Colchester on Armenia, on October 20th, the Earl of Rosebery said :-"The cardinal point of my policy is this-that single-handed interference in this matter means a European war, and that I will not add to the previous massacre of the Armenians, the massacre of great populations, in order not to better the condition of those Armenians, but to precipitate their entire extinction.

"On the risks of a European war, as likely to attend our isolated intervention in the affairs of the East, my conviction is strong and my information is good; it will not be destroyed by any rhetoric, however impassioned, or any deductions from inward intelligence, as opposed to the facts that I have had laid before me.

"I implore you to weigh well, weigh long, weigh wisely, and weigh carefully, any policy, however attractive it may seem, in the mouths of public speakers, which may cause to follow upon the inestimable blessings of peace, the horrors of a war such as you have never known and such as the world itself has never yet experienced."

AN OYSTER-LIKE POLICY.

On the same occasion, Lord Rosebery, in jocular allusion to the annual oyster-feast at Colchester, gave a political significance to the natural history of that mollusc and remarked :-" I think that the character of the oyster has been too harshly dealt with. Why call him selfish? Is he not rather an eminently selfcontained character? He leads, so far as I can tell, an eminently unselfish life. His career is that rather of the early anchorites, than of an ordinary member of the animal creation. He passes his life, it is true, in a cell. His shell is his castle. So is the Englishman's. His house is attached to a rock, and within that cell and attached to that rock he is absolutely aloof from the storms and catastrophes of the world. But it is not selfishness that makes him do this. It is self-preservation. If, in a mad spirit of momentary altruism, he opens his shell a chink too wide, he at once becomes a prey to one of the monsters of the deep, and he crowns his blameless and interesting career, by being served up for the delectation of municipalities, or invalids, or private persons, to their taste with pepper and vinegar. I say that it is a life of virtue, crowned by a termination of utility. I say this much in vindication of the oyster.

I have some reason to speak on behalf of the oyster, because I have of late been supposed to advocate an oyster-like policy in Imperial affairs."

THE CHANCELLOR ON BELLICOSE CLERICALS.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, in his speech at Darlington, last month, said:-"Lord Rosebery has given a crushing and conclusive rejoinder to the suggestions of those well-meaning but wild persons, many of them ministers of religion, who have, at one time or another, recommended that we should undertake, alone, the task of coercing Turkey and deposing the Sultan, whatever anybody else may say or desire. That would involve, first of all, the taking of the forts of the Dardanelles, which would require a force of some considerable amount; secondly, the occupation of Constantinople, which would require a large army, having regard to the size of the city and the fanatical character of its population; and, thirdly-and this I say to you with knowledge-when we had got to Constantinople, we should most certainly find one of the European Powers, if not more, there before us, ready to prevent us from landing. I have every respect for ministers of religion in their proper place, but I know no more unsafe guides in questions of foreign affairs. They are wonderful in their zeal and are dominated by sentiment, but have no idea of reason. They leave their zeal to be tempered by discretion by anybody else; and if anybody attempts to do it they turn round upon him, as if he were beyond the pale of humanity."

LESSON FROM AN ARMENIAN.

At a recent public meeting in Essex, an Armenian gentleman gave the following wise caution, which might usefully be repeated at every similar gathering:"I know that this agitation in England is infuriating the Sultan, and if he is allowed to continue this horror and this carnage, he will do it until there is not an Armenian left in Turkey. I know that every gust of enthusiasm that has arisen in this country, on the subject, has been followed by a corresponding increase in the terrorism in Turkey against the Armenians."

CURIOUS ADVERTISEMENT.

The following advertisement appeared last month, in the Times :-"Wanted, by the Editor of the 'Sporting Times,' for future use, Reports of sermons preached from Dissenting Pulpits urging this country to go to war. What is more particularly wanted are the sermons of those reverend gentlemen who denounced Lord Beaconsfield for the sin of blood guiltiness, when he avenged the murder of Cavagnari and the general massacre of the English Mission at Afghanistan. Communications to be sent to John Corbett, 'Sporting Times' Office, 52, Fleet Street, London."

penitence on the part of the British nation. In our opinion, these enthusiasts are in the wrong. We may change our national policy, for good reasons, but we are not prepared to say that we have not acted for the best and in perfect honesty, in the past. Dr. Percival's condemnation of the cynicism of newspapers shows the impatience of an unpractical man, who calls in vain upon his country to run its head against a brick wall. It is quite idle to ask sensible Englishmen to lash themselves up into a fever of indignation, because they are dragged at the tail of the European Concert."

GREAT BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES.

The Washington correspondent of the Times writes that, according to despatches received from London, the recent conference between Lord Salisbury, Mr. Chamberlain, and Sir Julian Pauncefote, was in every way satisfactory. The British Ambassador, Sir J. Pauncefote, will resume negotiations with Mr. Olney, and every hope is entertained that an agreement in principle, in regard to Venezuela and the question of general Arbitration, will be speedily reached. It is pointed out that, during his recent visit, Mr. Chamberlain had many opportunities, of which he doubtless availed himself, of ascertaining how greatly such a result would be appreciated by the best class of American society. It is also expected that the report of the Venezuela Commission will ere long be made public. It is hoped that in his next Message to Congress, the President will be able to announce a settlement of both questions.

LORD CHARLES BERESFORD.

In a speech at Birmingham, on October 21st, Lord Charles Beresford said that, with regard to the Eastern question, he was thankful that things were looking better than they were on the surface. Only the man at the helm, however, knew the exact position. As to the public meetings protesting against the Armenian atrocities, Lord Salisbury had been gratified with the expression of public opinion, but directly the resolutions went beyond that, and told the Government what they were to do-that they were to load their guns, and draw their cutlasses-they went beyond the bounds of common sense, for two reasons-first, because the object they had in view would have been utterly defeated; for directly war was declared every Armenian would have had his throat cut; and, in the second place, we should have been launched into war, and isolated in Europe. Such a proposition was therefore both ludicrous and dangerous, and it would have ruined our prestige.

66

THE HERALD OF PEACE."

Mr. Alfred H. Love, the Hon. Sec. of the Universal Peace Union, writes from Philadelphia, October 11th : "Your Herald is very interesting; you certainly give us a large amount of news, and you seem to be very active in the Canse." He adds, "Do urge Salisbury to concede the minor points and hasten the Venezuela Settlement and the Arbitration Court with the United States. We think the present Administration will be only too glad to have these matters settled before the 4th of March; as our correspondence with President Cleveland shows that a settlement will add glory to his term; but if it goes over into a new Administration, there will be much delay."

THE "YORKSHIRE POST."

Mr. Joseph Latchmore, of Leeds, writes as follows to the Yorkshire Post newspaper :-In one of your excellent leaders, you ask-Where is the Peace Society in this crisis? Well, the Peace Society works steadily on, towards the high ideal that war is a monstrous evil, and belongs to an age of barbarism. And it is consistent in this crisis, as the following extract from the October issue of its journal, the Herald of Peace, will show. After stating that the Society was established for the promotion of " permanent and universal peace," the article continues :-"And it must not swerve an inch from it. . . The members of the Peace Society willingly continue-as they have already done-to encourage the relief of the poor victims of Turkish ferocity, and to support any really peaceful means of alleviating their sufferings and diminishing their persecutions. But to unite with the myriads at home who are shouting for more bloodshed afar off, would, indeed, be to forfeit all claim to consistency. And, on the other hand, when even such a warrior as Lord Charles Beresford is urging Peace, and declaring that 'half a spoke of the wheel might involve the country in war,' a war of which he says, 'Never in history would it be so terrible, so horrible, so shocking, as it would be now, with a combination of Powers against us'—at such a time above all others, the Peace Society is bound, by all its duty, of both Christianity and patriotism, to deprecate the war-spirit, and persistently proclaim the duty (for Englishmen and especially for the religious denominations) of abiding in the ranks of the Prince of Peace."

THE "YORK HERALD."

This journal, referring to the recent utterances of the Peace Society, against going to war for Armenia, remarks:-"Generally speaking, the feeling is that the Society is thoroughly justifying its name, by the declaration that it would be an act of national madness' to take any step which might involve this country in war with Turkey and the Powers; and Mr. Evans Darby, the able Secretary, who is observing the best traditions of his predecessors, has received manifold tokens of the fact that the Committee have most correctly interpreted the wishes of their most eminent and liberal supporters."

THE BIRMINGHAM PEACE AUXILIARY.

The Committee of the Peace Society have, on the nomination of the Committee of the Birmingham Auxiliary of the Peace Society, appointed the Rev. J. J. Ellis, of Stratford-on-Avon, to succeed the late Rev. Arthur O'Neill as the Agent of the Peace Society for the counties of Warwick, Worcester, Stafford, and Salop, as well as Birmingham. There were fifteen applications for the post. Mr. Ellis has had a wide experience as a Congregational minister, lecturer, and deputation speaker, as well as in secretarial and organisation work.

Government is Mr. F. Peters, Premier of Prince Edward Island. The sealers have retained, as their counsel, Sir C. H. Tupper, who was British agent before the Paris tribunal.

THE LORD CHIEF JUSTICE ON ARBITRATION.

The Peace Society has issued, in neat pamphlet form and in clear type, the important speech on International Arbitration, delivered at Saratoga, U.S.A., by Lord Russell of Killowen, Chief Justice of England. This edition is published with his lordship's special permission, and he has kindly revised it, at the request of the Secretary of the Peace Society,

SERMON NOTES.

In view of the approach of Peace Sunday, Dr. Darby suggestive aid to Ministers of Religion, in preaching has compiled a second series of "Sermon Notes," as a upon the Peace question.

CHURCH DISUNION MORE NOMINAL THAN REAL.

The Philadelphia Presbyterian observes that unity may exist under different names and forms. There is more real sympathy and co-operation among Christian denominations than ever before. All recognise in each other the divine image and a common kinship. The Christian life is the same in Methodists or in Episcopalians as it is in Presbyterians or in Baptists. The divisions of Christendom are not such terrible things as are sometimes pictured. They are more nominal than real. There are variations in doctrine, order, and practice, but these do not affect either the vital or the spiritual union which subsists in the entire brotherhood. Jesus's prayer, that they "all may be one," has always been heard, and always will be, as long as His Church in different branches is under the dominance of the Holy Ghost. Christians are coming closer together, not in its organisation, but in spirit, in life, and in cooperation, and this attainment is better than any mere nominal or formal unification.

HIS FIRST CASE.

The young man had just been admitted to practice at the Bar. He sat within the Bar enclosure, speculating upon the chances of clients coming to him, by mistake or otherwise. He heard his name spoken, and started to his feet. "Mr. De Novo, the prisoner at the Bar is unable to employ counsel. Will you defend him?' "Certainly, your Honour. May I retire with him for a few moment's consultation?" "Yes; and give him your best advice." A hardly perceptible sneer curled his Honour's lips as he uttered these last words, but the young man did not appear to notice it. Motioning for the prisoner to follow him, he passed into the outer room. The door was closed, and for ten minutes the lively Then clatter of many conversations filled the court-room. the young man strolled into the room and dropped into a chair. The crier proclaimed, "Silence in the court-room!" His Honour gazed upon the young man and said: "Are you ready to proceed? "Yes, your Honour.' "Where's the prisoner?" "I really don't know." "What?" "I'm sure I don't know." "Mr. De Novo, will you explain what you mean by this most extraordinary conduct? "Your Honour told me to give him the best advice I could, I believe?" "Yes, sir." May it please the Court, when I consulted him, I found that he was guilty, and really had no defence whatever. So, in pursuance of your Honour's so kindly-meant suggestion, I advised him to drop out of the window and make himself as scarce as possible. presume, in fact I know, that he followed the first part of my Ivice, and I believe he will also observe the rest of it."

T

THE BUDA-PESTH PARLIAMENTARY PEACE CON-
FERENCE.

The Interparliamentary Peace Conference was held at BudaPesth, after the Peace Congress had concluded its sittings, and its proceedings were of a dignified and influential character. The Conference commenced on Tuesday, September 22nd, and assembled in the Upper House of the Hungarian Legislature. Amongst those present were Mr. Philip Stanhope, M.P., Dr. Clark, M.P., Captain Norton, Mr. W. R. Cremer, and Mr. Snape from England; M. Trarieux, and M. Yvés Guyot, late French Ministers, with M. Frederick Passy, also from France; MM. Descamps and Houseau from Belgium, M. Bayère (Denmark), Messrs. Van Hauton and Rahousen (Holland), Herr Hirsch (Germany), Signor Pandolfi (Italy), Baron Poignet (Austria), Dr. Gebard (Switzerland), Señor Marcoartu (Spain), M. Wavrinsky (Sweden), and the Presidents of the Swedish and Norwegian Parliaments. The latter were sent in their official capacity, and all their expenses paid by the State. Herr Desider Szilagyi, the Speaker of the Hungarian Lower House, presided at the Conference.

Altogether, about 400 members and ex-members of Legislatures were in attendance. All the Parliaments of Europe were represented, except Roumania, which objected to the Conference being held here. Two Hungarian Ministers and the Bishop of Grosswardein (Cardinal Schlauch) were also present.

Among the most important subjects presented for consideration were the three following propositions submitted by the British group :

1. That a Special Committee be appointed by the Conference, to open negotiations with some European Governments, in order to induce two or more of them to adopt the project worked out by the Brussels Conference towards instituting a Permanent Court of International Arbitration.

2. That the Conference notes with profound satisfaction that active pourparlers are now being carried on between the Government of the United States and Great Britain, towards concluding a Treaty of Arbitration and instituting a Peace Tribunal. The Conference further expresses the hope that these negotiations will rapidly culminate in a satisfactory result, and that proof will thus be given that Arbitration is no Utopian theory; but, on the contrary, a practical method by which conflicts aroused among the nations may be peacefully settled.

3. That the members of the Buda-Pesth Conference, faithful to the resolutions adopted by the Council of Berne, will engage themselves to make new efforts in the Parliaments to which they severally belong, to induce their respective Governments to open negotiations for the conclusion of Arbitration Treaties with the United States.

The other subjects for discussion were as follows:-
Protection of strangers and the right of expulsion.
Development of the Neutrality principle.

Organisation of a Central Information Service.

Admission of delegates from non-constitutional countries, such as Russia.

Motion that this Conference meet every second year.
Report of the Interparliamentary Bureau.

Nomination of members for the Interparliamentary Bureau. M. SZILAGYI, as President of the Conference, opened the proceedings by thanking the gentlemen present for contributing towards the brilliancy of the millennium festivities, by holding the Conference in Buda-Pesth.

The President of last year's Parliamentary Conference (M. DESCAMPS) then opened the discussion, and complimented Hungary on having fought for its independence and freedom a thousand years.

Then the discussion on Parliamentary Courts of Arbitration began. M. BERZEVICZY made a long speech in the name of the majority of the Hungarian Parliament, which declares itself in favour of Arbitration. The speech was received with enthusiastic applause. In the interesting discussion which followed, the English members, Mr. CREMER and Mr. STANHOPE, took a lively part, and expressed their approval not only of M. Berzeviczy's speech, but also of the attitude of the Hungarian Parliament in the question of Peace. Mr. Stanhope read a report of what had

been done in favour of Arbitration during the past year, and said that the Arbitration Treaty between Great Britain and America had progressed favourably under the Conservative Cabinet.

The next day, the Conference discussed the proposals of the German group concerning the treatment, especially the expulsion, of foreigners. Professor BAR (Göttingen) submitted a series of proposals on this subject, most of which were finally agreed to.

The question of Neutrality, i.e., that every State be entitled to declare itself neutral, was not discussed, but the Interparliamentary Bureau was entrusted with the preliminary study of the questions concerning Neutrality, which demand thorough discussion and precise terminology.

One of the most interesting discussions of the Congress followed on the question whether the delegates of non-constitutional States should be admitted to the Interparliamentary Arbitration Conference. The Powers chiefly meant were Russia and Turkey, a delegate of the Russian Government, ALBERT, was already present at the Conference, but he had no vote.

The well-known Conservative deputy, COUNT ALBERT APPONYI, made the following proposal :-"Besides Members of all Parliaments, the following delegates are to be admitted to the Interparliamentary Peace Conference; those that are deputed to the Conference by Sovereigns, by Presidents of Republics, or by Governments, then the Russian State Council and the members of similar institutions in other States, if they have the approval of their own Governments to join.

This proposition was strenuously opposed by a German Deputy, Herr KONRAD, from Munich. He declared that the Interparliamentary Conference should maintain its character, and only consist of Members of Parliament, and added, "We will not have anyone but genuine representatives of the peoples of the world, and we cannot admit the delegates of Governments of such States which are still in a backward state of culture." The Italian Senator, the Marquis PANDOLFI, declared plainly that he would not accept a delegate from Turkey in the Conference.

Captain NORTON and Mr. THOMAS SNAPE although not very sanguine on the matter, spoke in favour of the resolution. So did MM. DESCHAMPS and PASSY and Baron PIRQUET (Austria), who said the admission involved no danger whatever to the cause of Arbitration, and at most it would be innocuous, giving the absolute Powers an opportunity of showing whether they were for, or against, Peace.

After a prolonged debate, the Hon. PHILIP STANHOPE, although admitting the great force of the arguments in opposition to the motion, said he was so impressed with the supreme importance of bringing, if possible, even Governments which were as yet without constitutional form into the Interparliamentary Conference that he, in common with his friends from England, had sought for a means of supporting Count Apponyi in his wise and magnanimous proposal. It seemed to him that the members of the Russian Imperial Council, for instance, as belonging to the highest constituted authority in the Russian Empire, possessed rights of debate corresponding with those in other Legislative Chambers, and might therefore fairly be invited to take part in the Interparliamentary movement. And in view of the enormous value of the co-operation of Russia in the movement, he hoped some elasticity in the rules would be accepted.

The proposal of Count Apponyi was finally passed, and the International Bureau was instructed to carry it into effect.