The Sun.
London, England, 1870-11-25 00:00:00

RUSSIAN OPINION.

The St. Petersburg correspondent of the Eastern Budget
says that the Government did not seek. to prepare the
public, through the press, for 'the decided step it has taken
in the Eastern Question. The national prees still mani-
fests great sympathy for France, and it is generally
believed that some previous understanding has existed
between Prussia and the St. Petersburg Government.
Some indignation has been expressed at the German tone
assumed by the Journal de St. Petersbourg, the semi-official
organ of Prince Gortschakoff. It is expected, however,
that the national papers will change their policy if Prussia
displays any intention of assisting Russia in the
prosecution of .her schemes. Public opinion will in all
probability be opposed to the course indicated by the
Russian Government of supporting the dynastic policy
of Prussia, and some influential journals which were
formerly strongly opposed to Poland now express their
readiness to allow any latitude to the Poles rather than
enter into an alliance with Bismarck. The Russian
Government will, it is said, pursue a Panslavist policy in
South Eastern Europe, and the Grand Duke Constantine,
who represents the Panslavist ideas at Court, will endea-
vour to procure concessions for the Sclavonic nationalities.
Poland is not likely to render much assistance in the en-
deavour to place these nationalities under the leadership
of Russia, for greater oppression than ever prevails in
that kingdom. Russian editors will be sent to superintend
the Warsaw papers, for the purpose of advocating the
union of the Sclavonians with Russia.

Prince Gortsehakoff's despatch receives the epithets
"important, bold, and wise," from the St. Petersburg
Gazette de l'Acadentie. The Treaty of Parit tiles left Rus
sia without defence on the side of the Mediterranean and
the Black Sea. That sea could not, since 1856, be called a
Russian lake ; it was a Turko-Anglo-French lake. From
to-morrow, however, Russia will enter again on its right
to keep a fleet in it. The Gazette believes that the demands
of Russia will be agreed to without any great disturbance.
The consequences of the affair now depend on the wisdom
of the other Powers. The Golos also admires the circular
of Prince Gortschakoff, but it seems less certain of peace.
The circular will tranquillise and rejoice the public, for it
will put an end to the exaggerated reports that the whole
Treaty was to be repudiated. The Golos says the note
has no other object than the preservation and confirma-
tion of peace. Recalling the various alleged breaches
of the Treaty, the paper says, the political changes
which have succeeded the Crimean war have changed al-
together, to the detriment of Russia, the bearing of the
Treaty of 1856. The unification of Italy has entirely
changed the maritime equilibrium in the Mediterranean ;
the Suez Canal has produced a revolution in the relations
of Europe with the extreme East. The Cabinet of St.
Petersburg now only propose changes that have already
been declared advisable by all European statesmen. The
Moscow Gazette, a journal of very high position, speaks un-
favourably of the treaty.