Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-08-20


tant, as they shed no new light on the ultimate
issue of the great question which holds EUROPE IN
breathless suspense. Nothing had occurred in the
interval between previous and last accounts to
change the attitude Of affairs, save an apparently
increased irritation on the part of the Allies Of
which the reader may find an evidence in the tone
of the brief debate in the British House of Lords
on the I'd instant, given in another column This
acerbity may be accounted for by the fact that
England begins to perceive that the game is block
ed upon her. We NEEDLE not with the merits Of
this foreign quarrel We look at it indeed with
sorrow, and with feryent hope that it may end
peacefully; but in treating Of it to readers, we
look at it in the abstract and deal only with facts
and probabilities. In comparing these we perceive
nothing in the last accounts to change the views
rhich IRE expressed tho subject last week. The
move of Russia upon the Principalities has check
mated the Allies; she is in position, and cannot be
driven from it. She has occupied the Prnoipali-
ties and says she will hold them until the conditions
of her ultimatum are yielded. TO hold them inn
poses upon her no Inconvenience for her armies
little more expense there than they would be, en-
camped on her own side of the Pruth. The COM
bined fleets may burn her vessels in the Black Sea,
but there offensive war must end Russia is in
vulnerable on the land; she has no rear and no
TANKS; she is all front, front which crosses the
whole continent, from the Baltic to Behring's
Straits which looks down from her unapproachable
icebound regions upon Southern Europe in the west
and on British India in the east. Conscious there
fore, as she must be of her own strength, we yet
hope that she may listen to the oyertures of accom-
mediation which have been rendered to her. If she
do not however, if she obstinatey reject them, the
Allies will be placed in position of extreme en-
barrassment. She cannot be forced, and cannot be
weakened by waiting. With the Allies it is very
different and the opening perception of this state of
things may account for the growing impationce and
anger manifested in England.
While we throw out these views, we listen with
respect to those of contemporaries amongst the
most intelligent of whom is the New York Com
mercial Advertiser, and from that journal we copy
the following:
The EASTERN QUEsrIoS-The intelligence by the Hum
bodt of considerable interest especially as regards the
Russo-Turkish dispute, which gradually assumes more
grave features 1t would perhaps be scarcely say
that the question is further from pacific settlement than
1T at the last advce but it is very apparent that
there is generally less confidence in its being amcaby
arranged Nor is it easy to divine what has caused the
diminished confidence in its peaceful issue One proba
BILE reason is the general belief that the propositions made
to Russia by the Western Powers contain peremptory
demand for the immediate withdrawal of the Russian
troops from the Danuban principaies After what has
been said In Parliament by members the British Cab
net, it is very natural to conclude that such demand
would form part Of the joint propositions But
thing may have occurred to call direct attention
this feature Of the question: and awaken doubt in the
public mind whether the Gar would make the required
concession The augmentation Of the Russian forces and
the consolidation Of the Russian power in the princpa
ties have probably had this effect as indeed they were
calculated to have.
The conversation elsewhere given, in the House Of
Lords the evening Of the I'd instant throws some adj
donal light this aspect Of the question and to that
conversation the reader is referred 1t is obvious we
think that the Car intended something than
occupation of the Danubian Prncipaties when he march
ed his army the Pruth At least he is occupy
ing" them in manner that has appearance of being
temporary We should not be surprised IF England and
France discover that they committed grave error in per-
hitting the occupation without regarding it as casus
5eN Russia is employing that occupancy to good effect
the principle that if the occupation is no casus 5e
neither is any action naturally resulting from such occu
patton. She occupies Moldava and wallacha by con-
sent SO to speak, Of all parties, and next by virtue Of
such occupancy, prohibits the Hospodars from paying
tribute to Turkey, and demands that tribute for herself
rhe she occupies The natural result is that the tie be-
tween the Porte and the Princpaies is severed and
Principates plead that Russia being permitted to i'm
pose terms upon them and neither Turkey nor her allies
afordng them the protection to which their allegiance
entitled them that allegiance no longer be rghtfuly
claimed on the part Of Turkey.
OF course, Russa viii take the full advantage Of this
which she may do in ways than one In their posi-
ton toward Turkey the principates may be said to be
In revolt and such instruction existing Russia has the
right under treaty to occupy those Provinces SO there
her armies may remain There is doubt that the Gar
10 well advised by adroit statesmen in all these move
ments and so long negotiations be kept up he
be Strengthening his position because he has been permit
ted to take possession Of those principaes. And the
very he has pursued there necesstaes further
diplomatic correspondence. Already the British Minis
ter has been directed to ask explanations They will
not be refused because time with the Gar Is OF value
The first will be sufficiently friendly and vague to
necessate further correspondence, and negotiations
will be proracted indefinitely England, having virtually
conceded that the occupation not n Of war,
viii be placed in the false position Of having to demon
srae that any thing done by virtue Of such occupancy
Justification Of hostile operations her part on
the part of the other Powers acting with her.
The whole matter is therefore obviously become much
more complicated Still there is no reason to despair Of
an ultimate though probably tardy pacific settlement
however without permanent injury to Turkey in the
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