The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-05-18 00:00:00

SATURDAY, MAY 18, 1878 .

THE EASTERN QUESTION.

TEE

EONS.

Writji3_g from St. Petersburg on the 12th, the Correspondent
Of Ths ntoe says :

"Count Sehouvaloff arrives here this evening and will have
an audience of the Emperor to-night. The object of the
journey is kept secret. There seems to be a disposition here
to come to terms about the formal obstacle which has
hitherto prevented the assembling of the Congress, but it is
at the same time felt that there is no use of making any con-
cession unless there is a reasonable chance of war being
thereby avoided. The question, therefore, at present is—
Supposing that the formal point of placing the whole
Treaty before the Congress were conceded, would there be a
reasonable chance of arriving at a satisfactory solution?
It is probably to answer this question that Count Schouvaloff
is now coming to St. Petersburg. If he can, after his con-
versations with Lords Beaconsfield and Salisbury, give a
hope that with regard to the future organisation of the
Ottoman Empire, an understanding between Russia and
England is possible and likely, some means wilt probably
be found of removing the formal obstacle which has so long
Iltood in the way of the negotiations."

Si. PETERSBURG, May 13.—" Count Schouvaloff arrived
kiere last night and has already had two audiences of the
Emperor. It is believed in well-informed circles that he
llas not brought any de,ftnite proposals from the British
ftbitiet, but he must have derived from his repeated inter-
-sews with with the leading members of it a pretty accurate idea
as to what they would agree to it the formal obstacle pre-
veuting the meeting of the Congress were removed. Ile
has now to discover how far the solution which England
Would accept is consistent with what the Cabinet of St.
Tetersburg deems the essential parts of its programme. It
htllot at all likely that any decision will be come to for
days.—Times Correspondent.

. Writing from St. Petersburg on the 14th, the Correspon-
dent of The Times says :—" The public here is naturally
:vprs Impatient to know the meaning of Count Schouvaloff's
visit to St. Petersburg, and what influence it is likely to have
'calls negotiations; but the Government has, apparently,
to intention of satisfying this legitimate curiosity. The
laission has, we are semi-officially informed, an absolutely
vonlidential and secret character and, therefore, the various
*lPlanations current are nothing but more or less plausible
3.l)otheses. One thing, however, seems certain—Count
chouvaloff has not brought with him any definite and
°llllal proposals from the Cabinet of London. The Journal
St. Petersbourg hints that his object is to examine the
altltation in the desire of flnaing possible foundations for an
tnu'orsttuading. While admitting the extreme tension
lsetiv 'tot the two Cabinets and the gravity of the situation
Eisner, Wy, It sees in Counts Schouvaloff's arrival a proof that
% deairt for an understanding exists, and that all hope of
,Itcceeeng has not been abandoned, and that Russia, at
Least, spa Tell no efforts to reach the goal."

_The Pintes of l'uesday, in a leader, thus comments upon
uoUnt Sctiouvaloff's visit to St. Petersburg :

"There can be no doubt respecting the general character
fthe communications he has been able to make, though
_VBl:3' different estimates will naturally be formed of their
,Probable result. It may be perfectly true, as is believed
111 well-informed circles in St. Petersburg, that the Count
not brought any actual 'proposals' from the British
Cabinet, for it would not be our place to make 'pro-
De rals' in the strict sense of the word. But he has
not the less been placed in a position to explain
'flennitely to the Czar the principles on which our
vovernment consider that a satisfactory solution of the
'audition at issue may be obtained. The Russian Govern-
ti:ent made a great point of being informed what would be,
tI tiley express it, the substantial demands of the British
!stover/anent, supposing that the preliminary difficulty
LeVocting the terms on which the Congress is to meet
;Lure overcome. The general character of those terms, as we
""ve more than once pointed out, might have been sufficiently
*Unshed from Lord Salisbury's Circular; but all doubt
IsreoPenting their character will have been set at rest
„..„."Y the definite explanations which Count Schouvalotf
have been enabled to afford. he Czar and
aabinet will no longer fail to understand that our essen-
tial objection to the Treaty of San Stefano is that it places
'made in a position which gives her an absolute preponder-
t,n,ca ever any Power in relation to the Ottoman Empire.
new Bulgaria would be not only unjust to the races
`uriabiting the Balkan Peninsula, but, in combination with
the increase of Russian territory mad power in Asia, and
With some of the minor stipulations in the treaty, would
P4,..lice Turkey practically to the condition of a vassal
It is ' this combined effect to which we object,
our. Government cannot rest satisfied without
concessions which will decisively neutralize such a
iult. But so long as this is accomplished, we have
n'
11!) desire to interfere with the other schemes which
ouia may desire to establish for the welfare of the Chris-
Z.n communities and provinces in which she is mainly W-
rested, and-for the sake of which the professed to declare
The Bulgaria proposed by the Treaty of an Stefano
at all events, be largely reduced, and it may depend
Concessions made in this direction whether the new
zlioentier Hue, in Armenia requires modification. Such are
definite outitnce et those expectations of the British
Zscvertimeut with which ths tar will by this time have be-
acquainted. In the course of this week, probably, he
.deeids whether he will meet our wishea in these re-
or oppose them at the imminent risk of war.
luat 4e,eisiou will be determined by considerations
St Which it May be very difficult for the world in
—n"al• ts".; form a judgment. If it were made on mere
- Y a -enomical grounds, there can, we should
ar."s be no room for tleght that conciliation and concession
oenaanded by the most vital laprests of Russia Even if
4 e could hope to he successful, it would ue at la; tpo heavy
b."llt. But the considerations which urged Russia into "war
neither military nor economical. They were partly
to,„_ft general political character, and they were partly
irated by what may be called, without disparage-
be'ct. a national passion. The latter induenpe may
Cza tOO strong to be controlled, and may compel the
be r, at all hazards, to attempt to assert, once for all, the
sition which the Treaty of Sail Stefano claims for Russia.
toe can only hope that the wiser 4,01 thfl more concilia-
qoinfiuences will prevail. It offers, at leas,t, one spore
e rtunity in favour of peace that the Czar should have
4eli definitely informed what are outlines of the settlement
10,.Wls,:eh we should insist in the Congress. There will no
any mistake respecting the substantial points at
4,l‘clic, and "Louie wiil have no reason to apprehend that
137,,,,e,r its requirement respectino tl;e Copsrese our Govern-
" POnceals ulterior designs."

UDSBI4II PRUNERS.
twifne ((Robe) understand that an advantageous offer of a
14A.. steamer for 200,000 roubles has been made to tbo
Cep,/ Cruiser Committee by a Hamburg firm, and that the
11141ittee are inclined to accept it. Five thousand roubles
towB 04142 far been subscribed by the people of Cronstadt
62trds the movement, but only three other similar sums
tine been received from other towns. The Russian press
Di`er have subscriptions will not flow in rapidly until the corn.
'Programme of the Moscow committee has been issued.

learn from St. Petersburg that the Russian Govern-
s. 8,000 camels in Persia, ostensibly for the
D Armenia, but really, it is believed, for the projected
-4,Klltion to India "—Whitehall Review.

c'"FAno. 3tav 12.--Th2 speoch t,lte, Gorman Ent-
bA 'wnula-hot" leaVe his nephew
ttor, to .the •••;•-•-
time of trouble, has preateci.rnuch enthusiaamhere. The
'etling in favour a mucll Ipereased,—Correspoud,t,
Of The Ttimeg.

lila (n,"
et tAair aitehall Review) are informed that a large numbeV
trair.-.4. en (our igformant says "several crews") have butt
DlZ!Lerred from the Black Sea to the Baltic to take the
e of those secretly despatched tf." America.

ttl:4"rhe Gobs, in an elaborate article upon the English fleet,
clDeeially upon that portion which it Is proposed to
stietoti to the Baltic, remarks that on paper our naval
his superb, but that a is altogether illusory. '
MB4lt is
.3' to be supposed,' it concludes, that the massive iron-
Would be of much service in the Baltic, where the
nor.'" are so shallow, and where we are accumulating slich a
of °,! torpedoes. The English rely greatly upon the power
tir Gaffing guns to keep off torpedo cutters; but we
v 4" their confidence is misplaced, and that in the event of
sailors could deal as effectively With the English
Qua; 48 they did with that of Hobart Pasha during tile recent

At
Itir, a_ Council of the Turicisli 31inisters it was decided (the
1111.„_ correspondent of the Daily News telegraphs), that
rkish army is not in a condition to resi4 the occupa-
tlie' 0,1 Constantinople by the Russians, which ha 4 been
litt:whed by General Todleben if Shumia, Varna, and
1141 were not surrendered at once.

We
are informed that the garrison of the fortress of
te4)°ll has been increased by the arrival of reinforce-
kritiiks te the extent of nearly 15,000 men. General
the .aysky, of the Czar's suite, has left St. Petersburg for
IlveaLartress, with the appointment of "Commander of the
u°lV Division."—Globe.

4 rDan
our is prevalent in St. Petersburg that 20,000 men
oblle,e,ing sent from India •by the British Government, in
be landed at Lake Van, and thus threaten the
."1/ In the Callusing.

t_
%NI ussian papers look on tho acquisition by England of
tble„llear Fort Said for a coal depot as masking the real
toa,of the purchase, viz., to facilitate the occupation of

kJtel.
inaly froro Constantinople states that the Russian
Vro an Stefano llas recently been reinforced by thirty-
ions. The Russians are said to be levying recruits
(ilittNaria, and a conscription has beep ordered ,in the
'tit of Philippopolis and Stanimaka.

_
t
•()r th 4nAtantinople telegram states that the negotiations
"Itb Turki.th evacuation of the fortresses simultantously
ettpri., Russian withdrawal from San Stefano have mitt-
ht`.l4,g General Todieben's plan not having been approved
etersburg. lie held a Council of War at San Stefano
'llttrj'dar. Russia continues to press the Porte to evacuate
Et, but does not speak herself of retiring beyond

- _
tD44"arli Official Messenger of St. Petersburg publishes an
1,444,,j1f. tr..e Aloscow Society for subscriptions for the
zatum of iir,p volunteer fleet, "in order to defend the
krir'Tie in case the adversary of Russia should provoke
,-, 44 St Petersburg contzibutiens will he received by
'lareWiteh.
~,se 10404 from a private source that the Russian forces in
c,"oitt z'itoc,-ap have lost no fewer than six generals
4 "1900 men Om isicigK.s3."—Tranity Fair.

1:11b,
8,-069°110 EChouvaloff arrived at St. Poterzburg he was
cusen--,elY received in special audience by the Emperor.
,Nico„;i4ently, when lus waz leaving the Imperial Palace he is
t N.ed to have said to some members of the Czar's suite,
stt.4l:4l3;r:ivell hope for a blessed peuce."—Correspondent
1.14
good authority, that as soon as the Russian
drou has assembled at San Francisco, the Czar's
• Alezis, will proceed to America to assume the
1111,1)0,,,, of it. The Prince has, from the outset, warmly
ft, ill, i:,;;•!cl the cruiser scheme, and is supposed to be regarded
`O% '"a; favour by the United States authorities."—May-
I, we
!tlted Lee4' from a very creditable source that Russia has Intl-
willingria4s to lay the Treaty of San Stefano before
tbl, ;OWers, but
,that sh esrves to herself the right of
tvellAting any restrictions that may be proposed. .In no
11l Russia cede Varna,
Ba_t
OUM, and Schunua, ror
Z,W3,• e, Le pr;pared to alter the seaboard accorded to the
—l,garia filvse half concessions we bear do not meet
tleli favour
0 in French
bv the English
.or the
d 0 • 4,d tir,,l are considered as only a
• gaiu t'ittne,
kg"' Desse • for Gen-e-ral'io'...4 Veil is endeavouring
D., the ssion of the heights commatieitlethe isosporls,
,4410 •austian Government is pushing on its
.military
tig With great rapidity."—Whiteloali Bev".

PARTING CHEERS
'the 12°thlTespondent of TM Times, writing from Calcuttli
says :-
4okb Interesting account has been publishedin a
a'Y Per of a public demonstration made in that
i
4aotilt°ll the occasion of the embarcation of the ti
40t1 47 Regiment, The men turned out at dawla.
•Ag Plracled in their new uniform, consist
ttilErench.
graY puggarees, bright scarlet coats,
b4.l!e knickerbockers. The regiment numbered
iN officers, 31 havildars, and 643 rank
c.„-"eir ,-"Le• Bands of music playing attended
'ovicb7`rell to the place of embarcation, immense
84A tieo also following them aid cheering enthusi-
,'Llaoli, The greatest demonstration was made at the
were thzunder on their way down which the troops e caeered at every step, the enthusiasm rising at
ielld,,to an almost frantic pitch. The crowd
4.l4Atry7',Lae Great Ranee and the Prince of Wan.
eu,nosk hands heartily with the English Volun-
Of
whole scene is described as an exhibition
witztv;i4rentost extraerdivarY railltriry enthusTaam ever
Bbittbay.