Washington sentinel., 1853-10-23
From tho London Times.
Attitude of Russia.

hCttptcu tuC nott ut ndnuS Oh
conference in full satisfaction of European de-
mands, and on the terms framed by his oppo-
nents, he could not, with any regard to his own
dignity, be now referred to any second propo-
sal. He offered, however, to accept declara-
ton or Interpretation which seems TO deprive
the original Vienna note of the Objectionable
features since discovered in it; and stated dis
tinctly that, although he could not swerve from
the Conditions first imposed upon him, he was
ready to admit at once such an explanation of
those conditions as was conformable to the
views of the French and British governments,
provided only that his acknowledged rights
were still maintained
The reader will perhaps be at some loss to
imagine why terms SO apparently reasonable
were not closed on the spot, but we think the
objections to such a compromise are perfectly
maintainable. II was replied to the Car that
he had deprived himself Of the benefit of the
expedient in question, by the Explanation"
which he had already issued on his own mere
motion, in q sense exactly contrary to that now
proposed.
He might interpret the Vienna note, as de-
sired by the western powers, in manner favor
able to the porte, but, as he had already inter
preted it through Count Nesselrode's despatch
in manner totally destructive Of the security
TciClISo tuC oniy iSouit Woulu oc liidl u notc
by which the relations Of two empires were
TO be regulated on points of extreme delicacy,
and carry with it two conflicting explanations,
and thus be neutralized altogether. When it
suited the purpose of Russia to disarm suspi-
eion, she might appeal to one of those expla-
nations; when disposed to aggression she might
quote the other, so that the original note, or
convention, would be of no value at all
The Car was here visited with Just retri-
button for his arrogance, and the overbearing
audacity of Count Nesselrode's dispatch proved
a fatal obstacle to the designs of his master. 1t
is this despatch in fact that has ruined his
cause. Had the emperor, after accepting the
Vienna note, refused the Turkish modi6ca-
tons without attempting to place upon their
effect any construction of his own, he might
have asked the four powers to complete an
agreement which they had dictated themselves.
But by interpreting this note in Russian
fashion, and basing on it a claim to those very
privileges from which it was meant to debar
him, he exposed his own designs, undid the
work of the conference, and placed the Vienna
note out of the question, as the foundation of fl-
ture arrangements So clearly was the emperor
himself impressed with these convictions, that
he has since endeavored to disavow the un-
lucky despatch, and declared that it had been
written without his concurrence or authority.
That the difficulty thus created may be con-
siderable we do not deny, but we think there
can be only one opinion in England as to the
chief moral Of the story. It can surely never
be worth while to plunge Europe into war for
the sake of such difference as this. There
is no longer any dispute about the substance Of
the terms of peace Without remarking upon
the Cars previous conduct or present motives,
it is sufficient to say that he no,o afirms his
readiness to accept substantially the conditions
of the western powers, and to have his relations
with the Greek Christians of European Turkey
SO defined as to divest him Of all pretences for
political interferences.
In short, as regards those points for which
the four powers haye, in their own interest, been
contending, he appeared willing to yield with
this-that whereas Russia conceives her dig
nifty involved in abiding by terms once accept
ed, the other power considers that Russia, by
her own gratuitous Interpretation has deprived
those terms of force and suffciency There is
dilemma, no doubt; but, if it cannot be con-
auered by those whose art and profession are
involved in the manufacture of "notes,' the re-
suit win tend to the serious depreciation of dip
lomacy in general.
From the Times of the 9Th.
How far England and France are committed
to an alliance against Russia.
A formal declaration of war by Turkey
against Russia may, too probably, precipitate
Europe into the perils of the struggle SO long
foreseen, but so anxiously evaded. 1t is much
to be lamented that the rulers of the Ottoman
nation did not suspend their decision on so
momentous point until they could obtain the
voluntary concurrence of those powers on
old fhar, pSf oil mt av.
cepting on this point of omission, there can be
no complaint made of the step now announced.
1t was admitted on all sides, and distinctly al
legged in the ministerial note of the British gov
ernment, that caSus beli was actually consti-
tuted by the passage of the Pruth and the
armed occupation of the Danubian principali-
ties; nor can the right of the Sultan to meet
this aggression by declaration of war be posi-
bly, impeached. The sovereignty of the Otto
man government is one of the points which has
been most strenuously maintained in the pend
ing dispute, and this sovereignty, it is evident,
would be absolutely destroyed if the right of
making peace or war were denied to its repre-
sentatives. The Sultan, in short, by declaring
war, does nothing but what he would have been
justified in doing three months ago, and, though
we may regret that such a resolution should
have been Independently adopted by depend
feited its claims to support.
1t is impossible, moreover, to deny that the
position of affairs was sufficient to provoke the
Turks to summary decision, and it is, indeed,
matter of surprise that they should have for
borne so long. The emperor of Russia, first
by the demands of Prince Menschikoff, and
afterwards by the unscrupulous exposition of
Count Nesselrode, exacted concessions from the
Turkish government incompatible with its ad-
ministrative independence, and, as guarantee
for the surrender required, seized upon and oc-
cupied the provinces Of Wallachia and Moldavia.
BY these proceedings Russia possessed herself
afford, without loss or anxiety, to leave the
original question in suspense. This suspense,
however, was in the highest degree injurious to
the Turks, who were thus driven to the alterna-
tive Of either satisfying unjust demand or
acquiescing in loss of territory.
The French and British governments, which