The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-03-23 00:00:00

Cie tourbrOge Otmeruer.

SATURDAY, MARCH 23; 1878.

_
THE TREATY OF PEACE.

I The ratifications of the Treaty of Paris have
been exchanged at the Winer Palace in St.
Petersburg, and with this the war which has
been waged on two Coutineeta since April last
is formally brought to an end. The termina-
tion of the war Ipis so long been regarded as a
certainty, that the significance of the actual
ratifications is likely to be underrated. In any
calculation, however, of the future, it would be
an error to ignore the fact that peace once more
prevails amongst the nations of Europe and
Asia, and that the vast aud tnaniff?ld inters ts
which operate in favour of the maintenance of
tranquitity are henceforth. enlisted on the side
of those who recommend the acceptance of the
Russo-Turkish treaty. The possibility of an
European conflict arisiag out of the Eastern
Question is for the time at any rite sensibly
diminished by the formal conclusion of peace.
Some of the Powers, including Great Britain
and Austria, have demanded that the precise
conditions of the Tnaty shall be laid before
the Congress. But the tenor and purport of
this important document are already
public cognizance; and the people are in a
position to form an opinirm how far the. arrange-
ments contemplated by the Treaty are so
hostile to the interests of other natioi,s, that.
concurrence in it is likely to be resiatesi at tho
cost of a renewed war upon a much larger
scale.

It is necessary to look at the exact condition
of affairs existing at the time of the retiflercion
of the Treaty. It is commonly taken foi
granted that Russia cannot retain the ad
vantages she has gained without the explicit
consent of Europe, and that, therefore, it is e
matter of extreme importance to her that till
:-
Treaty should be sanctioned by a Congrese.
When Germany had beaten down Lerwick; if:
1870, the vanquished country was left elone to
make terms with her conquerors. Very hard
terms they were, including the payu.eut of a
heavy war indemnity, and the transfer of two
fertile provinces to the victorious empire. Yet
not a word was said to Germany that such a
Treaty could not be binding wail it was
sanctioned by Europe, and if enyteing heel
been said, it would not have signified to Ger-
many. Frauce, through her represeutatives in
the Na'ioual Assembly, had accepted the con-
ditions of peace, and there was an end of ;he
business. The quarrel affected no other naiiou,
and no other power had taken part in the
struggle. It was, therefore, not for those weo
had stood by with folded arms daring the
raging of thw, tremendous conflict, to interfere
when the fighting was (lone. There was never
any attempt or suggestion of the kied. Leok-
ing at hard facts at the present time it Cannot
be denied that Russia has completely crushed
the military resistance of furkey. No hater
of the Muscovite or sympathiser with the
Moslem will deny it. The Russian armies are
in actual occupatiou of the Ottoman provinees
in Europe, and command the capita, id toe
empire. Tile Porte, wilongly or unwilliegiy,
has agreed to certain terms in consideiadun
of which the war is to be brought to a ciose,
and a convention embodying these conuitious
has now been signed. Under these circaln•
stanchs the Treaty rests upon a very solid
basis indeed—the foundation of accomplished
facts. Russia has no actual necessity tor
moving in the matter any further. She oc-
cupies the position held by Germany after the
freaty of Versailles. The Treaty Inuit he'ee
good uuloss the European Powers ruttlrvesle to
prevent its execution ; and any suea .therv.,n-
tion, in order to ieve eiFetise, eose,, eevs
tate risk if not the actual e.r.eie— of ear. IS
may be pointed out that the very sugg.-)saJu
:hat the terms of peace should be rtferred to ti
Congress implies all adilliSSiULl
European Power is prepared as yet to reeese,
direct intervfmtion. The motives which cause,.
/Europe to maintain neutrality during the war
operate with even greater force to prevotit
armed interference now that the war is over.
Of course Russia might be reluci;ant to en-
uwer the disapproval of united _Europe le
ungre,is assembled, and would tie dispueed to
modify any arrangement she might 114 Vt.) cou-
eluded with Turkey in the event of this no.
commending itself to the approval of the
plenipotentiaries. Those wile are acqueiuteet
with the past history of Russia, 11l adh.• Judge for
themselves respecting the reanzation ot tht.
possibility.
There is little doubt that a great deal depends
,upon the question as to how far the Tripe
Alliance holds good. Is there Eithi a gOOl un-
derstanding between the three great teiliter.y
monarchies winch concurred in the Aueraesj
Note and the Berlin Memorandum ? If so,
the projected alliance between Great Britaio
and Austria is put entirely beyond tne range of
probability. There is nothing in the ante-
cedents of the two countries to hind thew
together. Each is now anxious to protect its
own interests, and is waiing for the puolicetion
of the exact terms of the Treat!, to see how
far these interests were affeeteu. There was,
no doubt, at one time some sort of agreeeient
between Russia, Germany, and Austria, that is
to say, between the rulers of these empires.
But if we look at the peoples, it is obvious at a
;lance that the population ofHuegary—no es an
important part el Austria—have an iinpiacae.e
hatred towards Russia fur having come in the
aid of tneir oppressors thirty years ago ; aue
that the German !laden as a body has nu affec-
tion for that of itueeia. Nor is there much
love between Austria and Prussia, the former
having regarded the latter with great jealous.)
since the wars of 1866 and 1870. Prussia
would like the strips of German territory which
yet remain in Austrian possession, and on the
other hand has an eys on those Baltic provinces
of Russia in which. the German language is
still spoken. How three Powers pusieg eich
different directions can be expected to at
unitedly when an empire is being psrcelled out,
it is not easy to see. Tile eegiee n.y ,gather
together, but they are nearly careens to qaarre,
over the division of the carcase.