Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-03-17
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FRIDAY, MARCH II, 1854.
Tire Ens.ern onestion.

The Eastern Question.
The papers relating to the Eastern question
which have been submitted to the british
Parliament, form u yoluminous document OF
many hundred pages, made up OF diplomatic
notes, protocols and projects, too numerous to
mention, and far too prolix to read. These
documents give complete history of the me-
| gotiations upon the Eastern question. We
find a synopsis of these papers in the London
| Times, from which we prepare the following
| digest, embracing a sketch OF the progress OF
the negotiations which have been watched
| with so much interest, and but very imper-
feet accounts Of which have from time to time
transpired.
The origin Of the Eastern quarrel was dis
! pute between the Greek and Latin Churches,
respecting certain prerogatiyes in the Holy
| places. Such disputes have been of frequent
occurrence, but have not been of so serious
character as to involve nations in the contro-
versy. In this case the Latins, represented
! by the French Ambassador at the Porte had
| obtained from the Sultan certain concessions,
! conceived by the Greeks, who Were represents
| ed by Russia, to derogate not only from their
! prescriptve rights, but from privileges recent
! " granted by special hrman. The Russian and
| French governments therefore were to some
! extent, cmbroiled-the former wishing to re-
cover lost ground, and the latter desiring to
preserve an d'Q tll5ltlOu. 1ue privileges 70 the
Latins were granted under the coercion of the
| French Minister, and when they were accord
ed the Russian Ambassador threatened to
withdraw, unless similar concessions were
made to the Greeks. Although affairs at this
time wore a menaeing appearance, and the
Sultan was placed between two fires, yet only
France and Russia were seriously involved
The British government took no part in the
quarrel, its position being one ofimpartial but
vigilant observation.
At this stage of the dispute while the
French feet was lowering in the Mediterra-
mean, and the Russian battallons were mus
tering on the confines of the Turkish princi-
palities, Prince Menschikof was despatched
from st. Petersburg to Constantinople upon
mission which soon assumed a serious and
alarming character.
III The general negotiation continued to be di-
iected to the original question of the Holy
Places, and on the 22d Of April the British
Ambassador was enabled to report this dispute
as virtually adjusted. But few days after
wards, when the question of the Holy Places
had been conclusively settled, Prince Mems
chikof presented to the Turkish government
that celebrated note, which created the sub
sequent embodiment. This note contained
project of certain convention or treaty be-
| tween the Turkish and Russian governments,
| The note stipulated for general protection
| by the Sultan Of all ''the orthodox Eastern re-
! ligion, its clergy and possessions" with all
''the privileges and immunities assured to
! them Gb aBtiquo,' and an equal participation
| i'll the advantages accorded to other Christian
sects,' such arrangements to be the subject of
a formal treaty between the two governments.
The requisition was couched i'll peremptory
language, and an answer demanded within
the space Of five days
This note altered the entire complexion of
the quarrel The question had previously
concerned only the Holy Land, and the con-
fict of the two rival churches on those scenes.
But by the Menschikof note the question
was transferred to the entire Ottoman en-
pire.
The objects of the Cars interference were
no longer the Greek priests at Jerusalem, but
the Greek Christians, subjects of the Porte,
| numbering some 10, 1000, 900 or $4,000, 000.-
| Moreover, the matter was to be placed under
the obligations of a treaty which by giving
the Gar title to enforce its condition, would
invest him with a perpetual right of interven-
| ton in the concerns of half the Sultan's sub
| jects.
This convention was deemed by the Turk
ish ministers to be inadmissible-ta virtual
partition Of the empire and was rejected
Lord Stratford approved of this determination,
although some stress is laid on the fact that
he did not express an opinion thereupon, un-
til the Ottoman government had decided the
question for itself.
On the 3lst of May, Lord Clarence, the
British Secretary Of Foreign Affairs, convey
ed to the British Minister at st. Petersburg
the opinions of the government on the exist
ing state of the Eastern question. He de-
clared the proposal of Prince Menschikoff to be
to be inconsistent with the dignity and indie
pendence of the Sultan, giving to the Car, as
it would, ''a perpetual right to interfere in the
internal affairs of Turkey He added, "goy-
erned as the Greek subjects of the Porte are
by their ecclesiastical authorities and looking,
as these latter would in all things do, pro-
lection to Russia, it follows that 100000
of Greeks would henceforward regard the en-
peror as their supreme protector, and their al
legiance to the Sultan would be little more than
nominal, while his own independence would
dwindle into vassalage" This despatch or the
substance thereof, was probably communica-
ted to Prince Nesselrode, and the Russian gov
eminent was thus officially notified that, in
diplomatic parlance, the government Of Great
Britain would not look upon this Russian pro-
tectorate with indifference.
On the 23d of May, NJ. Drouyn de Lhuys
admitted, on the part of France, ''the validity
and force Of the objections taken by the Otto
lfan ministers. On the 30th OF May, Bar
on Manteuffel acknowledged that 'the opin-
ions of Lord Claredon's depatehquite coinci-
ded with those of the Prussian government"
The Austrian government was more hesita-
ting in its expression, but Count Buel confess
ed to Lord Westmoreland that the proceed
ings ofPrince Menschikoff were dangerous"
and that they were "httleto be expected from
the assurances previously given" Finally, |
Lord Stratford announced from Constantine
pie, that all the European representatives
there were of his own opinion in regard to
the transaction, and even that the Greek syn
cd and the more enlightened ofthe Greek laity
were by no means well disposed towards their
Northern protector.
The Menschikof proposals were fully and
finally rejected by the Porte, though offer
ed under two or three DISCUSSES, and the
Russian envoy left Constantinople in huff.
The Gar Immediately [June , declared his in
tention of invading the Danubian principali-
ties, dependencies of Turkey, with a military
force, and ii occupying those provinces as
material guarantee for the concessions he re-
quired, 8 threat which was soon after carried
into execution.
This closes the first chapter in the history
of the negotiations. The question was no
longer one between Russia and Turkey alone
but had become European qaeStion, and