The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-05-14 00:00:00

A. DIPLOMATIC REVELATION.

A diplomatist, whose information has always proved
accurate, and who has never told me anything that
did not turn out to be strictly true, has said to me
(reports the Paris correspondent of the Ttmes) :
"Those who know what took place are amazed at
the discussion for some time going on between the
North German Gazette and the Austrian newspapers
which deny the existence of an Austro-Russian
Treaty with reference to the occupation of Bosnia
and Herzegovina. That treaty was signed, and, I
may add, in very odd and apparently improbable cir-
cumstances. When and where do you suppose it to
have been signed? It was in 1876, when the two
Emperors met. The Czar was coming from Ems.
He met the Emperor of Austria at Reichstadt. The
Czar was accompanied by Prince Gortehakoff. The
Emperor of Austria bad with him Count Andrassy.
The two Emperors took their places together in
the Imperial carriage, the two Ministers join-
ing them. At that time Prince Gortchakoff
was in feud with Prince Bismarck. The
terms of the treaty had been settled prior to this
meeting between Gortchakoff and Andrasey, so that
there was merely the need to sign it after verifying it
in the presence of the Sovereigns. In the vely car-
riage where the four travellers were seated was signed
this treaty, which gave Austria the right of occupying
Bosnia and Herzegovina in exchange for her neutrality
in Ca2o of a successful war by Russia against Turkey.
From that moment Austria, having the treaty in her
pocket, did nothing to repress the revolution and
prevent the war. France was then meditating; Italy
had not yet taken her place among the great nations;
Germany kept amicably but not officially informed
of what was going on, left the two Empires free to
arrange matters; but England, had Austria chosen,
would certainly have stoonded any efforts by the
latter to put an end to the insurrection in the Balkans.
Austria, however, anxious for aggrandisement, and
having her treaty, not merely did nothing to prevent
the struggle and stave off the Turco-Russian war to
which it was to lead, but is alleged by some to have
covertly encouraged it, because without the war the
treaty would be worthless. She therefore observed the
neutrality which allowed Russia to reach San Stefano,
and awaited the end of the war before claiming the right
to occupy Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Treaty of
San Stefano was signed. Russia, after prolonged
negotiations, repaired to the Berlin Congress, anxious
to obtain European sanction for the advantages
extorted from Turkey, and with secret hope that the
Congress would not sanction Austria's right of occu-
pation stipulated for the Treaty of Reichstadt. But
circumstances conspired against her. Prince Bis-
marck was not on good terms with Prince Gortcka-
koff, who, it will be recollected, was so well aware of
it that he was afraid one evening of being attacked
by the Chancellor's dog. England had obtained the
Treaty of Cyprus, and it would have ill become her
to call in question the Treaty of Reichstadt, even if
she had known of it, and she certainly had no interest
in placing Austria against her by taking the side of
Russia. Prince Bismarck, who even at that time
with a foresight which was afterwards pereeived,
dreamt of an intimate alliance of Austria and Ger.
many, so far from opposing the occupation of
Bosnia and Herzegovina, favoured and supported
it. As regards Russia, the saying of Count An-drassy
is not forgotten. lam not afraid of the resistance
of Russia.' France and Italy took the advice of
Prince Bismarck, and as regards Turkey, she voted,
but she did not. take part in the discussion. It was in
this way that things took a curious turn, which ex-
plains the temper of Russia. She had made a bloody
and cos, ly war, and the principal stipulations of the
Treaty of San Stefano in her favour were amended or
expunged, while Austria, who had stood with folded
arms, virtually obtained two valuable provinces. After
the stipulationsof the 21st )f June, Russia could, indeed,
fancy herself the mistress of Bulgaria, and believu
that sooner or later she would be mistress of the so-
called Eastern Roumelia, and that thus tho Sau
Stefano Treaty, which gave her Batoum on one side
and the Bulgarias on the other, would preserve its
chief result. Now, however, Bulgaria and Roumelia
seem bent on escaping her grasp; and the San
Stefano Treaty is reduced to very little, whereas
Austria, without striking a blow, retains Bosnia and
Herzegovina. You will understand Russia's ill-
humour; but it is difficult to understand why the
Austrian newspapers carrying on this campaign deny
the existence of a treaty which alone can explain what,
passed before and at the Congress, and what is
happening now.

The same correspondent adds in a later dispatch
To understand the violent disappointment of the
Russians after the Congress of Berlin one must know
the following incident., which shows that Russia
thought at the end of the war that she was absolute
mistress of the Turks and of European Turkey.
Count Schouvaloff, then Russian Ambassador in
London, repeatedly telegraphed to the Russians to
enter Constantinople, affirming that England would
not raise a finger against the occupation of Constanti-
nople on condition that Gallipoli should not be o-cu-
pled, and that no attempt to blockade the English
fleet should be triad. Accordingly a telegram was
sent from St. Petersburg to San Stefano and to
General Ignatieff, ordering the commanders to enter
Constantinople, and to occupy it at any cost.
This telegram in cipher passed through Turkish
territory, and before being transmitted to San
Stefano came under the eyes of the Turks. An
attempt was made to discover the cipher, but this
trial succeeded only partially. Nevertheless, the Turks
understood that the occupation of Constantinople
was ordered by the Czar. To gain time they
mingled the ciphers of the Russian despatch in such
a fashion that it became absolutely unintellnaible,
and under this form -transmitted it to San S,efano.
There General Ignatieff vainly tried to discover the
sense of the order, and after two days' hard working
asked for an explanation.
Meanwhile, Musurus Pasha was ordered to inform
the Brititili Cabinet of the designs of Russia, and to
ask the help of Great Britain. The English Cabinet
was summoned in haste to a meeting, and an order
was given to Lord A. Loftus at St. Petersburg to see
the Czar, and to inform him or his Chancellor that
an occupation of Constantinople by the Russians
would be considered by England as a casus &ill, and
that he, Lord A. Loftus, would have in this case to
ask fcr his passports. The Czar then changed is
mind, and when General Ignatieff's despatch asking
for an explanation reached St. Petersburg the idea of
an armed occLpation of Constantinople had been
abandoned by his Majesty.