It is still doubtful whether the Conference will assemble. All
the Great Powers have agreed to the meeting, but it is reported on good authority that the Porte is most reluctant to assent, unless the British Government is prepared to state definitely the limits within which concession must be restricted. This the British Government will not do, and it is far from improbable that the Turks at the eleventh hour may repudiate the idea of a Conference altogether. They were very near, as now appears from Lord Derby's despatch, refusing to agree to any armistice at all. Great pressure will, no doubt, be brought to bear at Constanti- nople to induce them to consent, but they may think the hour for open resistance has at length arrived. In that case, we presume, the Powers would hold an informal conference
among themselves, and if they agreed, present an identical Note as an ultimatum to the Porte. Agreement is improbable, but the talk will serve to while away the time till the roads are hard and Thessaly quite ready.
