The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-03-09 00:00:00

RUSSIAN HIAD-QI7ARTERB, SAN STEFANO, March 3.

To-day being the anniversary of the Emperor of Russia's
accession to the throne a parade of the troops was to have
been held here at two o'clock in the afternoon, but as at that
time the negotiations with the Turkish Plenipotentiaries
had not been finally concluded, the parade was post-
poned until after the signature of the preliminary Treaty of
Peace. At five o'clock in the afternoon, General Ignatieff
informed the Grand Duke Nicholas that the Treaty had
been signed, whereupon his Imperial Highness con-
gratulated the troops upon the happy conclusion of
peace, and thanked them in the name of the Em-
peror for their brave and glorious services. The Grand
Duke also expressed to the officers his especial thanks, which,
they acknowledged by enthusiastic hurrahs. A solemn re-
ligious service was subsequently celebrated, the field altar
facing in the direction of the mosque of St. Sophia at Con-
stantinople. The troops were deeply impressed by the
ceremony. In the evening the army marched past the
Grand Duke, and the rejoicings closed with a dinner, at
which enthusiastic toasts were proposed to the Emperor and
the glory and prosperity of Russia.

THE CONDITIONS OF PEACE.

The Daily News of Tuesday gives the following from
their Correspondent at San Stefano, under date
Sunday

"The conditions of peace were signed to-day. As far as I
have been able to ascertain them, they are as follows :
"In the first place, there is no citiestion of the cession of
the fleet. The question of the Straits is not touched upon
at all. The Egyptian tribute is not taken, and is in no way
engaged or touched. The war indemnity is one milliard
of roubles in round numbers. Kars and Batoum and the
Dobrudscha are to go on account of the indemnity, but
the sum at which they are estimated does not seem
to have been fixed as yet, so that the actual amount
of money indemnity is not arranged. This at least is the
way I understood it in a hurried conversation with General
Ignatieff after the review. Erzeroum is not surrendered to
Russia The Dobrudscha is to be exchanged for Bessarabia,
provided Roumania will consent If not, then some other
" arrangement will be made. The Dobrudscha will prob-
ably form part of Bulgaria. The Mussulman popu-
lation is not to be expelled from Bulgaria The
refugees are allowed to return to their homes. Bul-
garia is to be completely autonomous, and to be
governed by a Prince chosen,. by an assembly of notables
and head men of the Bulgarian people. The only restriction
on the choice is that the Prince is not to be a member of
any reigning family in Europe. The amount of tribute to
be paid by Bulgaria is not to be fixed for two years, during
which time measures will be taken to ascertain the re-
sources and revenues of the country. During this time the
country is to be occupied by the Russian army, or
until a native . army can be formed with sufficient
solidity, discipline, and organization to maintain
order internally. The Russian army of occupation is not to
exceed fifty thousand men. The Bulgarian tribute when
fixed is to go towards the payment of the war indemnity.
The whole administration of the country is to be left to the
Prince and an Assembly chosen by the people, but the actual
form of government is not of course fixed. What form of
government, whether absolute, despotic, Liberal, or Con-
stitutional, will be decided partly by the Prince and
the Assembly, partly by Eurspe. General Ignatieff
will support as literal a form of government as is
compatible with order. Bulgaria will not include Adria-
nople, nor the mouths of the Afaritza, nor Salonica. It in-
cludes Lule Burgas on the south, and has one seaport on the
Sea of Marmora, that of Cavell a, making Bulgaria consider-
ably larger than was nrniPcfoil 4.
year. beryls% is to have the districts about
Nisch where Servian is spoken, but not Widdin, which re-
mains to Bulgaria. Montenegro is to have the country
conquered from the Turks, but the final arrange-
ments are to be made by the Conference. Bosnia and the
Herzegovina are to have administrative referms on the
basis of the Conference last year; Thessaly and Epirus as
well. The Russian army is not to march into Constantinople,
but the troops are to be embarked on board ship in the Sea
of Marmora to return to Russia, consequently passing
through the Bosphorus on their way home.
"The above covers the ground of the treaty of peace.
Many details are not yet settled. No salutes were fired to-
day upon the announcement of peace at the grand review,
although it had originally been intended to do so. All the
fortresses in Bulgaria are to be razed, and no Turkish troops
are to remain in the country."