Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-10-28
From he London Times, Oct f
The Turkish Declaration of War.

From he London Times Oct. 4:
The Turkish Declaration War.
The ministers now in town, constituting major
lty of the cabinent met yesterday at the Foreign
office, and held long conference on the present
anxious position of Eastern affairs. AS the intel
fgence which had called them together was not in
itself of perfectly distinct and decisive character
and as in matter of such moment it will be neces-
sary wait the arrival of the other ministers, all
of whom are fastening to the metropolis, some days
will probably elapse before any thing in the nature
of fresh decision can be expected. The inteili.
gence which was the immediate occasion of the
meeting was, that on the 26th ultimo-a week later
than the last reported dates-the Grand Council, a
body consisting of about 40 magnates of the Turk
ish empire, had recommended the Sultan to make a
declaration of war. The force of that recommend
ation and the probability of the Sultans acting up
on it, well all the particulars of the proceed
ing ascribed to the Grand Council, must remain
of conjecture TIL the arrival Of exact
information-which, according to the same sele-
graphic despatch, to which we are indebted for all
that is known the sub hject-may soon be expected
by courier, via Marselles.
The news, as far as it goes, must be considered
very unfaVorable to the hopes of those who have
fabored for peace but at the worst, it must still be
time before those hopes can be given up, or
any change of policy demanded on the part of our
government. 1t does not act at all without France
in the matter, and no communication has yet been
received from Paris. The declaration of war BY the
Porte was contingency contemplated in the in
strucons e ven to Lord Stratford, who has thereby
the power, if subsequent instructions did not
give it, to send for the fleet. He will doubtless. do
whatever he thinks best for the defence of the Sui
tan and will be fully supported in that policy by
the government at home though. even in the event
of an actual declaration of war, it may still be in
power to save the Porte from the consequences
of that act without offensive operations Lord STRAIT
ford is understood, or rather supposed 10 have dis
an he on tai hv tho md
would probably do his best to delay further proceed
ings.
The intelligence from Olmutz is in all respects of
less Importance. Concessions and assurances have
been ostensibly made by the Emperor at time and
in form, when they could be worth very little, in
the face of the violently aggressive policy clear
ly betrayed in Count Nessel lrodes dispatches. In
these has been scarcely disguised that Russia seeks
to establish fresh rights in Turkey, and influence
before possessed so to reduce the negotia-
ton on the Vienna note to hollow pretence utterly
unworthy of the great powers and great interests
concerned in it, 1t is true that Russia still pretends
to demand what nobody has wished to deny her,
viz the maintenance Of treaties. and of the statue
quo in religious matters. That she can have when.
she chooses to be content with it, but nothing
more In the interest of peace every effort has been
made to keep Russia to her word and to secure her
all that she is entitled to but all attempts at fur
ther encroachment will be resisted. as they have
been from the commencement of her present ag-
gressions. In dealing, however, with a power that
evidently seeks to gain time. and that is avowedly
availing itself of protracted negotiation to
position in which negotiation may be dispensed
with altogether it is obvious that, while many rea-
sons might exist for friendly remonstrance at the
first appearance or suspicion of such conduct time
must come when the mask will be thrown off on one
side and forbearance cease on the other
The full disclosure of the Russian policy cannot
but give new character to the resistance of the
chief independent powers of Europe Such pass
must have been foreseen by the Emperor of Russia,
who could hardly have supposed either that Europe
would look quietly at the sudden and unprovoked
rruption of his hordes into the dominions of peace
full and friendly neighbour that it would content
itself with barren protest and ruitIess negotia-
ton But now that the Emperor stands arragned
or causeless disturber of the public peace, the
discrepancy between his fair words and his violent
acts cannot but infict some misgvings into con-
science not wholly deadened by power and ambition.
The Emperor risks the peace of Europe, and does
his best to light flame which neither he nor his
sons may live to see eXtnguished- for what Eth
er to obtain what he has not even a color of right
to; or if are to allow him certain sort of hon
esty to crafty his pride by rejecting some harmless
notifications, necessary to allay the alarm of the
Porte, and thereby to the Emperor's pro-
fessed Intentions. This he does the petty plea
that they proposed by the Turkish government,
and that therefore bis honor is concerned not to ac-
cept them, though ever so insignificant. For this
the peace of Europe is to be je pardized, and a
struggle commenced which must indeed be runcus
to urkey but which will be so assuredly to other
powers aso and not the least to that but poor
and unmanageabie dominion which threw down the
gauntlet and de6ed the Indignation of the civilized
world