The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-11-26 00:00:00

Etc gStotiqvitige 011,5crticr.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1870.

RUSSIA AND THE PARIS TREATY.

It is a question that might admit of very sound
argument on either side, whether the world
would not be better off without international
treaties than with them. Wars are occasionally
prevented by treaties, but treaties often cause
wars; and the rupture of treaties also frequently
loads to war. But whether or not treaties are
beneficial to the world, it cannot be disputed
that when a treaty is made it should be held
sacred ; that it should not be broken without the
consent of all the parties to it, and then the
treaty becomes 'Amply abrogated.. For one
party to a treaty to break it wilfully, just because
it suits that party to do so, is to spurn all na-
tional honour, to forfeit what we may call the
selt-respect of nations, and to throw discredit
on ell international agreements, This is just
what Russia has recently dune. Seeing that
France is vanquished and prostrate, and that
Prussia, a Power with whom Russia has long
been coquetting, is acquiring strength and pres-
tige, Russia thinks the time favourable for sud-
denly declaring that she feels no longer inclined
to keep the treaty that was forced upon her fur
the peace of Europe, in 1836, as a result of the
Crimean war. She declares that some stipule-
Runs of this treaty have been broken by the
union of the Danubian Principalities, and by the
entrance of war ships into the Black Sea, and
declares that sho feels herself no longer bound
by certain stipulations which bear rather strongly
upon her. There may be just as much ground
for these stipulations as ever, but Russia cares
not for this; she duds the moment convenient
for trying to snap her bonds, and she boldly de-
clares her deteruiination to do so.

Lord Granville a despatch, in reply to this
repudiation of a solemnly accepted treaty, has
produced a good effect. It is manly and straight-
forward, dignified and statesmanlike, and hi,
aasertiou that the aesuwption of the right to
break a portion of a treaty eupposos the right to
break it altogether, is regarded as placing the
matter in a fair light and on a just footing. It
is very unfortunate, however, that international
quarrels are nut always settled on the piificiples
of justice ; nor, indeed, has justice much to do
with their breaking out. It is to he feared that
Russia desires war, or, at least, is not anxious to
avoid it; that she seeks revenge for her losses
through the Crimmin war and the treaties of
1836 ; and, indeed, her haughty and insulting
language in the celebrated Gortschakeff circular
tends to this conclusion. And under this view
of tho matter it is very important to know what
are the views of Pruesia. It is said that Count
Bismarck has informed Mr. Odo liussell, whom
our Government has sent on a mission to Ver-
sailles in reference to this unfortunate Russian
question, that no secret understanding has exis-
ted between Russia and l'russia as to tho Black
Sea; it has been also stated that there has been
no formal agreement between them as to the
Eastern question in connection with the Franco-
Prussian war; but until the views of Prussia,
plainly stated, are carefully examined, we shall
not be in a proper position to ascertain the prob-
able restilts of RUSHiall repudiation.
Meanwhile, England, through her Foreign
Minister, has eertainly assumed a firm and dig-
nified attitude, and there is reason to hope that,
with the moral, and, if necessary, the material
support of Austria, Italy, and Turkey—to say
nothing of Spain— a warlike development of the
question may be avoided. The N. ,e lick
hem., however, fairly puts the matter, we think,
no far as England is concerned. " Submission
on the part of England, it says, " would be a
confeasien of weakness eqnivalent to the abdi-
cation of all future influence end all moral weight
iii the politics of the Continent. Yet England
may well pause in view of the weakness of her
',respective allies." We have up to the present
thee at least shown no craven fear leading to
eubtaiseion, and we nave no desire to abdicate all
influence and moral weight in the polities of the
Contilient. But the weakness of our prospec-
tive alliee is, 114:vortheless, a serious point, more
ieipecially as our oat, etrength is far from what
be ehotild wo unhappily have to cope
iii Russia end Prussia.

But it is to be hoped—and the hope is not
• hout reason.ible foundation—that no such a
will ensue. Tim demands of Russia
are not wholly without reason, and the contract-
log Parties to the treaty of 1856 may feel them-
si,lvea enabled to reconsislur sonic of the prowl-
gime; Ihis tri•idy, mid place Illisaia in a fairer
position compromising the pacific into-
re,dii of l'inrope; or, if not, lius.ir may Sc that
• gout too i.tr, stilt hits it sod up too
113" Y olemieF, ant he may iliploinatise fur ii
time with the full iiitmitimi of illtionitely reced-
ing frosts her Lase polotii milli as much grace
te,!..:•;41,1e.

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