The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-02-02 00:00:00

stottrinib',3e 045eruer.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2,1878

THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.

War is an absorbing topic, full of excitement
to tee conquering Power, and fraught with
misery and humiliation to the defeated one.
Bat periods of national excitement and triumphs
must have an end ; the time must come when
the sound of martial music ceases, when the
roll of• the drum upon the battlefield is no
longer heard, and when the roar of artillery, and
the rattle of musketry is silent. It is an ex-
pensive game to play even for the wealthiest of
flatlet's, putting the !natter on its lowest ground,
while a far more serious and weighty considera-
tion is the sacrifice of lifeewhich is iuv.,lved.
And so, after a time of victory and of rejoicing,
comes the occesiou for the sheathing of the
sword, and the production of the pen—for dis-
pensing with the warrior, and for bringing into
requisition the 'calmer demeanour of the
diplo-
matist. It is at such a time that the nations I
of Europe are now waiting in suspense, and in
hope that the peace negotiations may lead to a
conference which shall result in a Treaty that
ought to be more permanent than many of those
which have preceded it.
There is a peculiarity about this Eastern
Question which involves the interests of many
countries besides those of the two actual
belligerents. When France went to war with
Austria in 1869, Prussia with Austria in 18i36,
and France with Prussia in 1870, the quarrels
of these nations did not profoundly affect the
prospects of other peoples, the neutral Powers
with territories bordering on teose of the
belligerents taking care, of coarse, that their
neutrality bhuaid be respected. But the in-
terests of Great Britain were not directly
affected in any one of these three wars-. It
has been far different in that which has been
going on during the past eight or nine months.
The protection of British interests has been
the one aim and object of the Government.
Therefore it is that directly oe indirectly our
interests must be affected by the terms of
peace. Diplomacy having failed to maintain
the status quoLbetween Russia and Turkey, its
restoration would now be impossible after a war
in which one of the combatants has been de-
feated. To some changes therefore we shall in
all probability submit, and it is for the nation
to say what these shall be.
One of the points to which we should be
unable to raise strong objection is with refer-
ence to the claims of independence and exten-
sion for the vassal .ftates, and autonomy for
the insurgent provinces. By our assent to thi
proposals of the Conference, we stand com-
mitted to the principle of withdrawing a por-
tion of South Balkan territory from dirtci-,
Ottoman rule; and even if we could now recede
from our position in this question, we should be
unable single-banded to impose any iractical
veto upon the carrying out of a scheme based
upon this principle. Assuming that Russia
obtains the consent of Austria to her projects
in Bulgaria, we shall be as unable as we should
he unwilling to prevent their accompiish ..ent,
and though we may doubtless exercise some
modifying influence on the details of the
scheme, it will be by dint of persuasion, and
not through that form of diplomacy which in
the last resort is backed by force. As regard,
Armenia, we are under no pledges to the sub-
ject populations ; and any demands for cession
of territory in AAA are not put forward in
behalf of any oppressed Christian nationality,
but in the name of Russian intereets alone.
Here then there are undonbudiy no obligatioes
of political consistency to restrain Us flow
action ; if it be on other grounds action wer,
advisable and practicable. But as a matter oi
fact such action is not practicable. Shonlo
Turkey consent to cede Batouni and Kars to
Russia, it is not easy to see what we could say
to prevent transfer. It could be done, no
doubt ; but the question for the consideration
of the nation would be whether they are pre-
pared to pay the heavy price which must ensue
—that of war Ninth Russia.

A carefel watch is, in the view of some of our
most experienced statesmen, the wisest policy
as regards any proposed changes in the adminis-
tration of the European provinces of Turkey,
or cessions of her Asiatic territory. As to the
restitution of Russian Bessarabia, that is a mat-
ter which concerns Roumania and the Con-
tinental Powers more directly than England.
It is not on the face of it an unreasonable claim
that territory which Russia lost by an unsuc-
cessful campaign should be restored to her after
a successful one ; and if the consent of her
neighbours is obtained, it would scarcely be
open to us to raise any objection. There re-
mains the question of the Dardanelles, of the
position of Constantinople, and of the war
indemnity, as well as of the guarantees of
occupation by which it is to be secured. It is
in the settlement of these matters that our
interests are most deeply involved, and it is to
these, therefore, that we shall in all probability
confine our influences. We believe that it is
still sufficiently potent to secure due respect
for our interests if it be wisely and firmiy
exercised. In arrangements directly affecting
our position as a naval Power, and affecting
it moreover at noints where we can bring our
learitime strength to bear, we ought to possess
an almost coutro.ling voice. 'that voice wilt
no listened to With dc.fereoce and respect if
uttered by an united Uoverntueut and an un-
divided nation.