Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-03-16
THE RUPTURE BETWEEN TURKEY
AND AUSTRIA

! Constantinople affords abundant confirmation of
the apprehensions which. for some weeks past,
have been entertained with regard to the East
ern question. From the rapid concentration of
Austrian troops on the Turkish frontier, it was
obvious that the imperial government had deter
mined to adopt vigorous line of action in this
matter. When military demonstrations are made
| to support the courteous acquisitions of diploma
cy, it is but reasonable to infer that the power
| which has recourse to such an expedient is pie
pared to hazard an immediate rupture, or in
case of need, to try the chances OF war. From
the first outbreak of the disturbances in the
northwestern provinces of Turkey, Austria has
displayed remarkable sympathy with the OPP
pressed subjects of the Porte. For once, we
have seen her take the liberal side in political
and religious questions. The imperial ministry
protested against the persecution of the CHRIS
tian Inhabitants of I turkey. and apparently acted
upon those cosmopolitan principles which are
usually denounced by the respectable govern
ments of the continent rs the most dangerous Of
heresies We accustomed to Austrian inter-
vention on behalf of arbitrary and unfortunate
princes, and a similar influence has often been
erted in favor of the obedient hierarchy of the
Roman Church, but this is the first occasion
which the imperial government hes bestirred it.
self to protect oppressed natiOnalities, to vim
dictate the liberty of conscience. This Isl proof
of progress which could scarcely have been
looked for. 1T may be grossly Inconsistent but
it is, at all events marked advance upon the
previous policy of the empire. We can only
regret that this devotion to liberal principles is.
unfortunately far from being disinterested. The
assumed protection of the Christian races in Tur-
key is but one part of system of policy in which
little attention is paid to the objects of its osten
sible regard. 1t is to be feared that the propa-
gandism of Austria is neither political nor reli-
gious but merely territoria; for the preparations
which she has made certainly justify the belief
that something more is intended than the pro-
lection of her own frontier, and the advocacy of
the interests of the Christian subjects of the
Sultan; and this suspicion is strengthened by the
latest accounts from Constantinope. The sud-
den suspension of friendly relations between Aus
tra and the Porte can scarcely be- attributed to
the novel zeal of the imperial ministers on behalf
of liberation; ard their antecedents scarcely
title then, to claim credit for disint erestedness
unconnected with all political Objects
1t the latest accounts may be credited, certain
demands have been made by the Austrian gov
eminent, to which the ministers of the Porte
have found it impossible to accede. 1t was not
with exclusive reference to the Inhabitants of
Montenegro that those acquisitions were pressed
upon the Porte. While claiming the protecto-
rate OF the Christians in Turkey, Austria likewise
insisted upon certain privileges being accorded to
her subjects in the dominions of the Sultan. Nor
was this all. The imperial government deman-
| ded territorial concessions which it was imposs-
| BILE for Turkey to consent to. In word, the
war in Montenegro has evidently been made an
occasion for urging demands which the Court Of
Vienna had long medtated. The agents Of the
| imperial government, instead of combining them
selves TO the question Immediately before them.
| proceeded to reflect upon the conduct of Turkey
with reference to the Hungarian refugees; and
they chose to treat the protection afforded by the
ance Moreover, Austria has required from the
Sultan the remuneration of distinct territorial
| rights on the Adriatic coast. The imperinl gov
ernment has asked for the cession of harbors
| which belong to Turkey, and that, SO far as we
| can learn, without proposing any equivalent
whatever. The Abandonment of those positions
would be a serious loss to tho Porte, because it
would seriously endanger the communications
between the government and its most remote
| provinces. We cannot be surprised that the
Austrian utimatum has been rejected by
| the Dvan.
1t is said thai the imperial plenipotentiary. af-
ter claiming in vain the protectorate OF the
Christian subjects of the Porte, the recognition
of the Independence of Montenegro, and liberty
for Austrian subjects to trade 10 the Ottoman do
| minons has demanded his passports and left
Constantinope; and this report is borne out by
the previous proceedings of the Emperor's min
listers. 1t is notorious that ever since the Hun
garian insHrrection, there has been Tut little
| friendship between Constantnople and iVienna;
and it is not surprising that the domestic difficult
ties of Turkey have been seized an occasion
for display of Austrian luminosity. From the
day when Kossuth and his colleagues found safe
ty under the protection of the Crescent, the alb
solutist governments have evinced marked hos
tity towards Turkey; and both Austria and Russ
sa have used the late disturbances in the Sultan's
dominions to seize advantages at the expense of
their neighbors--to extend their territories and
political influence.
The present state of the Eastern question is
sufficiently menacing. We know that both
Austria and Russia insist on unreasonable con-
cessions on the part of Turkey, and we also
know that each OF those governments maintains a
powerful army the frontiers of the country
which they hope to weaken or to appropriated
But, in spite of these demonstrations, we are I'M
willing to believe that the crisis will lead to dan
gerous consequence. The great powers will not
permit Austria to settle the Turkish difficulty
Her military demonstrations may evince her
cupidity, but they will not be of any real weight
in determining the question, however dangerous
they may appear to the ministers of the Sultan
Under the existing balance of power and terrific
ry, it must be an object Of the first importance
with Europe generally to maintain the integrity
of the Ottoman empire; and the best mode of
carrying out that policy is to use every effort for
the amelioration of the condition of the Chris
tan subjects of Turkey. If that object be zeal
ously prosecuted by the combined agency of the
European powers, nothing more will be heard of
the -rrotectorates which the Roman Catholic
interest of Austria to quarrel with her neighbors
whilst the entire continent is concerned in main.
tanning the integrity of Turkey, so long as this
can be accomplished without retarding the pro-
gress of the nations subjected to the Otto
man dominion.
Progress of II OlitieaI vents in Washiuutou
nda,c of Eli