New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-04-06
RUSSIA AND TURKEY.

hDceIA AND Dhhb1.
The great point of interest in the intelli-
gence brought by the Arctic, is the cOmplica-
ton and alarm connected with the presence of
Prince Menchikoff, the special Russian Envoy
at Constantinople. We some time since
called the attention of the public to the pecu-
liar character and position Of this statesman
in Russia, and TO the fact that any embassy
entrusted to him must be Of the gravest kind
Above all, the Emperor would not have sent
him to Constantinople without putting into
bis hands full powers for either peace or war,
or without preparations to back up the ulti-
matum he ves instructed to proffer TO the Otto
man Government. His appearance and con-
duct since his arrival there, as well as his pro-
gress thither, show that whatever fears other
powers may have about making war, Russia is
ready for it, On his way the Prince held ex-
traOrdinary reviews of the land forces
in the Southern Provinces, and of the
feet on the Black Sea, as if he we're
about 10 lead them into an actual campaign
He was attended to COnstantinople by suite
worthy of the Car himself, and was received
by the Greek and Russian population Of the
city with the pomp of a sovereign. Then, on
his first interview with the Grand Vizier he
took care to be especially insulting, and even
went so far as virtually to dictate the resgna-
ton of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, which
was at once complied with. At these insolent
proceedings the Turks took fright, and the
Grand vizier prevailed on the British Charge
d'AfIairs to send to Malta for the fleet there
stationed, to come Immediately to the Darda-
nees-a summons the Admiral in command
did not see fit to comply with. The French
Government have also ordered a fleet into the
Archipelago to observe the progress of events.
At Paris stocks have fallen, while at London
they we're less. but still sensiby affected
The nature of Prince Menchikofrs demands
is yarously, though nowhere officially stated,
but it is clear that they relate mainly to the
question OF the Holy Sepulcher, and to the
respective privileges of the Greek and Latin
Churches in Syria and other parts of the Turk
ish Empire. Some time ago the French Am
bassador, NJ. de Lavalette, acting on the COM
mand of Louis Napoleon, bullied the Porte into
granting to the Roman Catholic Church GER
tain advantages with respect to the Sepulcher
which had not before been enjoyed by it. The
Porte resisted, but, though Lavalette was less
arrogant than Menchikof, he was sufficiently
imperious and the Sultan gave way Prince
Menchikoff now comes to insist on the retrac-
ton Of those advantages, and doubtless adds to
that demand the recognition of certain pro-
tectoIate over the Greek Christians of Tur-
key. 70 be exercised by the Gar, with other
conditions no less unpalatable.
1t is striking to observe the patience with
which events so interesting are watched in
England. The Times suddenly turning right
about from its late incitatiOns TO flibusterism
and the partition of Turkey, how calls on
Great Britain "by an example of moderation
to preserve peace, and 70 check that cupidity
which may threaten at any moment to tear
the Turkish Empire asunder" The Morning
Chronicle thinks that " too much stress cannot
be laid upon the consideration that anything
like a division of the Ottoman Territories
could never be accomplished without a long
and costly wsr'-and that so far is Turkey
from the impossibility of becoming civilized
which alone could justify her destruction, that
it may really be hoped d" that the Sultan may
one day succeed in giving his people Govern
'ment almost as civilized and enlightened as is
enjoyed by the Polish subjects OF the Car, or by
the equally contented Italian subjects of the
Emperor of Austria"
Meantime, while the journals thus moderately
debate the matter, the funds suffer no great
decline, and the public gets into no excitement,
contenting itself with blaming Lord Stratford
for his prolonged absence from his post as an
Ambassador at Constantinople.
Nor does the French Government manifest
any such irascble disposition as was to be
expected from it's share in the preliminaries.
Having brought this Russian Envoy upon the
Sultan, Napoleon was at least bound to sustain
the latter in reducing MenchikOf to civility, if
not TO face the necessity Of war in his behalf
But he has done no such thing, notwithstsnd-
ing the terror of the Paris stockholders. And
as the affair cannot here come upon him IN
svares, We may take it for proven that when
he does go to war. be will not begin with
Russia
Ardent political prophets hold up the entire
deglutitiOR OF the Ottoman Empire by Russia
and her allies as Immediately at hand. This
seems TO be an exaggerated expectation. The
process viii be slower and less apparent. IL
was already reported az Paris, the day before
the sailing of the steamer that the question
would be peacefully settled Such settle