Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-11-05
THE EASTERN QUESTION.
FROM THE LONDON TINES or OCTOBER !

THE EASTERN QUESTION
4
! LONDON TINES or OCTOBER H.
No time has been lost in executing the decision of thu
Grand Council of Turkey On the 9th instant Prime,
Gortschako received formal summons from Omar Pash
to eyacuate the territories Of the Sultan but an inna
ton at the time conveyed him that if he re-
qu-ed instructions from ST. Peersburgh further delay
of fifteen days would be accorded before the actual COM
mencement of hostilties. This would delay operations
until the 9th instant and if is correctly reported that
the Instructions of Omar Pasha forbid him to cross the
Danube them the war hardly assume such an
aspect interfere with any negotiations for peace 1t
is probable nevertheless, that this decision of the
Turkish Government will hasten practical result
and this result there is reason to hope may still be pa
chc. Those Of our contemporaries who exultingly
nounced than fortnight ago that the combined
fleets had entered the Dardaneles and that had po
sitvely commenced of course be distressed
tanning that hostites, even now, likely to be avoid
ed, and that the combined fleets with the exception
of the steamers detached Mt the Divans request
still, the 9TH OF this month anchor in Besia Bay
The people of England, however, as Mr. Gladstone dis
cerned at Manchester OF different opinion, and will
be perfectly contened if the only object of British
policy be secured without the sacrifice Of peace and
its blessings.
Our correspondence from Constantnoplc will now have
acquainted the public with the particulars of those
ceedngs hitherto only known in their general import 1t
will be that at the time the great Ottoman Council
assembled nothing known the Turkish capital
respecting the views Of Russia beyond the fact that the
Car had rejected the notifications of the Vienna
suggested by the Porte The explanatory despatch Of
Count Nesserode identifying the note of the Conference
with that of Prince Menschikof had ranspired and
consequently the ambassadors of France England
conceived it advisable press the original note without
the notifications upon the acceptance Of the Dyan With
these views they offered in the joint of their
spectye Governments, special guaranty Of that partcu
lar attribute the Ottoman sovereignty supposed TO be
affected by the notethe administrative independence of
the Sultan within his dominons. From what fol-
lowed il appears probable that this by
means unsatisfactory to the Dyan, but that it deem
ed cxpedent, upon the whole consult the dignity of
the empire and the passions of the populacc by making
least demonstration towards open Mean time how
ever the Governments Of France and England better
formed through Count Nesserodes gasconade Of the
structon really put upon their propositions resolved
set aside altogether note susceptible of such false inter
pretaton and instructed their representatives to appris
the Porte that its notifications would be firmly support
ed and introduced in some instrument unpreiudcss
by equiyocations Of language.
No doubt can be entertained respecting the stead
ness and consistency of the opposition offered by tn
Western Powers to the encroachments Of Russia. Tha
their representatives perfectly sincere in believing
the desired object 10 have been obtained by the
the Conference is proved beyond doubt by the direct guar
this effect which they afterwards tendered-a
guarantee which would have placed France and England
under obligations towards Turkey considerably i'm
peratve than exist at presents and is evident that Lord
Stratfor himself whose Turkish predictions have
been questioned thought the Porte might safely and pro-
pery accept the Vienna note, in its unmod6cdorm
with the nppendage Of declaraory clause. Neverthe-
less the British and French Governments went beyond
this in their resolutions and decided upon describing the
whole work Of the Conference when they learnt the
to which Russia had been endeavorng TO turn it.
1t further appears from these reports that whatever
delays may have been occasioned by the incidents Of
collation. they have in operated TO the advantage
Of Russia in fact the position Of the Gar is this
ment less favorable than il has been since the
meBcement of the rupture. The terms proposed
him include the acceptance Of n directed express
against the very objects Of his ambition and the adj
mission Of measure ayowedly unwelcome his pride.
He Is required allow conditions already accepted TO be
superseded by others framed with special sirngency
and in default Of his adhesion to these terms he is left
with the option Of under circumstances materially
more adverse TO him than formerly III delays, there
FORE have taken place. they have not been to the preu
dice Of the European but the truth is that they
have been almost wholly due 10 the unfortunate mistake
the Vienna conference Let the reader recall the facts
as they occurred. When Russia put compusion upon
the Ottoman Government by invading the Prncipates,
! Europe called upon to interfere. There two
forms which this interference might take-either
might have been declared against Russia At once Rus
STA might be summoned TO retrace her steps, under
nalty Of such consequence. The latter of
the alternative preferred by the European Governments
has indeed the euson Of blood been
any where advocated the best Of knowledge,
cep in certain emneny religious prints Of this country
Terms could only be proposed to Russia by conference
conference assembled without delay il delibera-
ted without delay and without delay pronounced its
award. IL this award had been inteigiby framed and
il the intentions Of its authors had been
expressed in its language the whole question would have
been brought TO issue there and then. Unuckly the
terms embodyng the decision had been balanced and
qualified with such prodgous that the object Of the
entire proceeding was lost and became necessary
define and establish what Russia might ask and
Turkey might grant without injury TO the security Of
Europe This and this only has been the Of the
delay but there is point which every reader may
confidently himself Even il the negotia-
tons should be proracted for six months longer the pro
would still be nconceyaby shorter than that Of war
We put aside for the moment all that might cost
and speak Of time only and there is not sure
reasoning being who will affirm that twelve months or
times twelve months would have suiced 10 settle
the Turkish question by an appeal to the sword
The Emperor Of Russia has expressed himself and
probably with sincerity in favor Of peace and he has
cvcn readers aware assented to the substance
Of such conditions the Western Powers think neccs-
sary for the interests OF Europe. That he should stop
short such point this and accept the last extre
nifty rather than TO terms on matter OF form
would be hardly rcconceablc with that asute
Of character which few deny him. All that sought
for IS security note required for no other rea-
than because the original document has been proved
to be faulty The justice Of the conditions exacted is
placed beyond dispute by the Cars ackno wedgmen
lie processes his willingness to accept and observe them
IL he will only place this his own resolution upon salts
factory record the Eastern question will be once
shelved, and Europe will return with better
than ever to the pursuits and improvements Of peace