The Express.
London, England, 1853-06-04 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, JUNE 4, 1853

TURKEY.

A telegraphic despatch has been received from
Vienna, stating that Count Nesselrode, son of the
Russian Chancellor, bad passed through that capital
yesterday, en route to London from Constantinople.
" Our letters from Constantinople of the 20th," says
the Patric, "state that the attitude assumed by
the government had produced an excellent effect both
in the capital and in the provinces, and deputations
were every moment arriving, bearing to the Sultan
the homage of the respect and devotedness of his
subjects. Among these deputations were more par-
ticularly those from the Greek population, who, under
the difficult circumstances in which Turkey is at pre-
sent placed, evince a praiseworthy attachment for its
government, the spirit of justice and good faith of
which they duly appreciate."
The non-official part of the Moniteur contains the
following letter from Constantinople, of the 10th of
May :
" The Ottoman Council, which met on the 17th instant,
resolved to address to Prince blenchilroff a note expressive
of the conciliatory spirit of the Divan, and of its regret
at being unablo to give its full adhesion to the clause
contained in the project of Seiler', as remitted try the Rus-
sian ambassador.
"On the 18th Resehid Pacha paid a visit to Prince Men-
chikoff to acquaint him with the terms of the said note, in
which it was said that the government of the Sultan wu
disposed to conclude a special convention for the construc-
tion of a Russian church, hospital, and convent at Jeru-
salem, and that the said government was also willing to
assure to the Russian monks and pilgrims all the privi-
leges enjoyed by other nations. Respecting the sta-
tue gue in Palestine, the Divan added, that a note
might be addressed to the two embassies of Rll9/1 t and
Prance, in which the Porte engaged is take no fresh rest-
lotions in future without the preliminary advice of those
two powers. The Ottoman note contained, moreover, the
declaration that the government of the Sultan, far from a
desire to curtail the immunities granted to the Greek
church, as the Russian Ambassador seemed to suspect, pro-
posed to extend them if necessary.
" All the efforts of Reschid Pacha to explain these
matters to the satisfaction of Prince blenchikoff remained
without result.

"The Russian Ambassador, without waiting for the
notification of the Divan, addressed to tne Sultan's minister
of foreign affairs another note, in which ho declared that
his mission was terminated, and that he was obliged to
leave Constantinople, and to remove all the persons belong.
log to the Russian embassy in that capital, Re declared,
moreover, that any infraction of the status quo of the
Oriental Church would be considered as an infraction of the
stipulations which exist between the two governments, and
that such infraction would compel the Emperor Nicholas to
have recourse to means which he at all times desired Lot to
employ.
" In this communication, too, Prince Menchikoff informs
the Porte that the chancellor of the Russian legation will
continue to conduct the current business of trade awl navi-
gation, and protect the interests of the Russian subjects.
" In spite of this note Resehid Pacha sent to Prince
Mcnebikoff, privately and confidentially, the note which
had hien resolved upon by the Ottoman Council. This
note provoked a reply fr•im the Russian ambassador. This
reply, communicated in the same form as the Ottoman note
—that is to say, privately and confidentially—deplores the
resolution arrived at by the Porte, and regrets that on so
serious a question the Divan had yielded to the suggestions
of foreigners. In conclusion, the Prince expresses a hope
that the Ottoman government will ultimately come to a
wiser resolution, and one which is more agreeable to the
benevolent intentions of the Emperor Nicholas.
" Died itedeliffe has had frequent conferences with the ad-
visers of the Sultan, and from this circumstance it was
thought that he it not a stranger to the decisions of the
Divan."

If we could regard this letter as an absolute
authority on all the points of which it treats, the
situation would appear to bo less strained than has
been generally supposed. The extreme step of
placing Russian subjects nader the protection of a
foreign power would not have been taken, and the
presence of the Chancellor of Legation, with even
the lowest diplomatic functions to perform, would
constitute a link by which diplomatic intercourse
might again be taken up. There is a real difference
between the completed cessation of diplomatic rela-
tions and their rupture. The hope, too, with the
expression of which the Prince closes his inter-
course with the Divan points to new negotiations
rather than to war,
The Die Zeit of Berlin publishes on the Russian and
Turkish difference some considerations which deserve
attention, if, as is probable, they are such as sug-
gest themselves to M. bianteuffel, the Prussian
premier. According to the Zeit Ramie will give
way. In fact, it cannot properly be said that the
has yet presented an ultimatum. It must not be
forgotten that the ostensible object of Prince
Menchikors mission, that which was put for-
ward in the altioit declarations of the Rus-
sian cabinet as the chief subject of negotiation,
was no other than the affair of the holy places.
This object was completely secured when negotia-
tions were commenced on other points, which if they
are of inoomperably greater political importance were
yet designated by the Russian cabinet by the act of
placing them in the second series and only bringing
them forward u occasion offered, as those to which
an inferior importance was attributed, at least on the
part of Barrio, and which were regarded as a sub-
ject of friendly agreement. If at a subsequent
period Prince Menchikoff persisted in his
claims notwithstanding the first refusal of
the Porte, and if be a second time ap-
pointed a definite delay, such a course of
proceeding may amount to sharp practice, the appli-
cation of a severe pressure, but does not constitute
a proper ultimatum, so far as by an ultimatum is
understood a peremptory summons connected with a
threat, that refusal will be regarded as a reason for
declarisg war, or as constituting a emus belle. Of
such a threat we have, until now, heard nothing.
Prince Menchikoff merely announced, that
in case of a refusal, he would leave
Constantinople—an unfriendly intimation, it
is true, but no menace of war." Under these
circumstances," says the Zeit, "we hold it most pro-
bable that the departure of Prince Menchikoff
will have no other result than that diplomatic rela-
tions between the Porte and Russia will remain a
long time interrupted and then be again taken up.
This, it will be remembered, is what took place in
1849, when the cabinet of St. Petersburg had con-1
vhiced itself that persistence in its demands on the
extradition of fugitives would endanger the peace of
Europe."
The Austrian Lloyd expresses expectations of a
pacific nature on the issue of affairs at Constanti-
nople. Russia, it thinks, will obtain sonic important
concessions, although it will be impossible for the
Porte to satisfy all her demands. Every effort will
be made to obtain the mildest conditions for Turkey,
and the Divan will be seconded, as regards Austria,
by diplomatic, but not by military means. On the
other hand, Russia has, says the Lloyd, no motive
for straining the string of the bow too tight ; a con-
cession made to the prestige of her power in a pacific
manner must appear to her preferable to concessions'
extorted by force of arms.