every possible effort in favour of the treaty.  We are in full communication with friendly and neutral Powers on the subject of maintaining neutrality, and upon every side the very best dispositions prevail.  There is the greatest inclination to abstain from all officious intermeddling between two Powers who, from their vast means and resources, are perfectly competent for the conduct of their own affairs; and there is not a less strong and decided desire on the part of every Power to take every step at the present moment that can contribute to restrict and circumscribe the area of the war, and to be ready without having lost or forfeited the confidence of either belligerent to avail itself of the first opportunity that may present itself to contribute towards establishing a peace which shall be honourable, and which shall present the promise of being permanent.  That is the general state of the case, with regard to which I do not, in the least degree, question the right of the hon. member behind me to form his own judgement.  I cannot help expressing the opinion that, allowing for all the difficulties of the case, and the rapidity with which it was necessary to conduct these operations, we have done all that appeared to be essential in the matter; and the country may feel assured that the conduct which we have pursued in relation to this matter has not been unworthy of the high responsibility with which we are entrusted.

WILLIAM EWART GLADSTONE

NOVEMBER 27, 1879

RIGHT PRINCIPLES OF FOREIGN POLICY

Gentlemen, I ask you again to go with me beyond the seas.  And as I wish to do full justice, I will tell you what I think to be the right principles of foreign policy; and then, as far as your patience and my strength will permit, I will, at any rate for a short time, illustrate those right principles by some of the departures from them that have taken place of late years.  I first give you, gentlemen, what I think the right principles of foreign policy.  The first thing is to foster the strength of the Empire by just legislation and economy at home, thereby producing two of the great elements of national power—­namely, wealth, which is a physical element, and union and contentment, which are moral elements—­and to reserve the strength of the Empire, to reserve the expenditure of that strength, for great and worthy occasions abroad.  Here is my first principle of foreign policy:  good government at home.  My second principle of foreign policy is this:  that its aim ought to be to preserve to the nations of the world—­and especially, were it but for shame, when we recollect the sacred name we bear as Christians, especially to the Christian nations of the world—­the blessings of peace.  That is my second principle.