The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-04-05


thanked his Majesty very cordially, adding that
could assure him that her Maesys government, was
convinced considered his word, once given as good as
bond
1t is hardly necessary that should observe to your
loreshp that this short conversation, briefly but cor
reey reported offers matter for most anxious reflection.
can hardly be otheise Ja that the sovereign ,cho
sts icih such fertindciy upon the impending Jdu q
neshboring STATE, must have settled IN has o nsnd that
The hour not Of its dissolution, at all erets Jor US
dissolution, must Je at hand.
Then, as now / reflected that this assumption would
hardly be ventured upon unless some perhaps general
Russia and Austria.
Supposing my Suspicion to be eu founded the Empe-
junction wM his o cabin anS 1as Of Tsenna, in sone
scheme for he ultimate partition Of Turkey, and for the
exclusion Of France from the arrangement
SIR. H. SEYMOUR TO LORD JOHN RUSSELL.
ST. PErERsBuRG, Feb ~, 1883.
had the honor Of waiting yesterday upon the Empe
ror ans of holding with his Majesty of the most in
terestng conversations in which ever found myself en-
gagged Ny only regret is my inability to report in full
detail dialogue which lasted an hour and twelve
minutes.
your lordshp and confidential despatch Of the 9th
inst saying that he should stop occasionally, either
to make observation to call upon me for the trans
Upon arriving at the fourth paragraph the Emperor
desired to pause and Observed that he certainly
most DESTROYS that under standing should be entered
into with her Majesty's government for providing
against contingency probable that Of the downfall
Of Turkey that he was, perhaps even interested
,sn s Ds
be brought about at any moment either BY en0 icdy,
orb Td between the old TsrkisA party and that Of the
the Christians, already known to be very impatient OF
shaking of the Mussulman yoke As regards the rst
cause the Emperor said that he had good right to ad
vert to it, nasmuch If he had not stopped the victo
rous progress of Gen. Debitch in 1922 the Sultans
thoIity would have been at an end.
The Emperor likewise desired me to remember that he,
and only had FASTENED to the assistance Of the Sui
tam when his dominons by the Pacha OF
Egypt.
tence beginning In these circumstances it would hari
y be consistent with the friendly feelings" when the
Emperor observed, that her Majestys government did
appear lie that his chief object to OBJ
tain from her Maesys government some declaration,
opinion, Of what ought not to permitted in the
your Majesty would be good enough to explain your own
ideas upon this negative policy. This his Majesty for
time declined doing He ended, however. by say
ing Wen there sererat things ,ohich never Will to'e
rate acill begin by ourselves 'cU not tolerate the per-
mdsent occupation Of Codntinopte By the Russians Hdp
ing said this I'cil say that nerer shall be held BY The
English, French, amy other great nation AgGin
uiH permit attempt al the reconstruction Of By
raane empire, such extension Of Greece as acoutd
breaking APP Of Turkey into ae republics, asyums for
the kosus aud Mu,,inis and other revolutonists of
Europe rather than submit to any OF these arrange
ments ! would go to war, and as long as have man
and musket left would carry it on These, the EN-
peror said at some ideas; give me some in
spurn
remarked upon the assurance which would be found
respecting the English resolution of attempting to
possess Constantnope, and upon the Discrimination of
her Maestys to enter into eventual arrange
mens; but upon being still pressed by his Imperial Ma
jesty said WE'LL sir the idea may not suit your Majesty,
may rot suit her Maesys government but what good
between and man Is often good system between
state and another how would ii be if in the event of
any catastrophe occurring in Turkey Russia and England
were to declare that no power should be permitted to
take possession of its rrovincethat the property should
remain it were under seals until amicabe arrange
ments could be made as to its adjudications
/ will not say the Emperor observed, that such
course would be impossible, but at least, it would be
very difficult there elements Of provincial
communal government in Turkey you would have
Turks attacking Christians Christians falling upon
Turks Christians Of different sects quarreng with each
other in short, chaos and anarchy
Sir then observed if your Majesty will allow to
speak plainly would say that the great difference be-
tween is this that you continue to dwell upon the
fall of Turkey, and the arrangements requisite before
and after the fall and that we on the contrary look to
which necessary for preventing her condition from
becoming worse. Al. replied the Emperor that is ,ohat
,i occur soe ddv and u take rs al umorarss
His Imperial Majesty spoke of France God forbid, he
said that should accuse any one wrongfuly but there
circumstances both at Constantnople and Monene
gIo, which extremely suspcous it looks very much
the French Government endear0rng TO enbrol
an in the East hoping in this icay the better to arrive
their oun Objects one Of rhich no DOUBT is the possession
Itpjs.
The Emperor proceeded to say that for his own part
he cared rery lidle Uha line the French might think proper
to take Eastern affairs, and that little more than
month ago he had appraised the Sultan that if his assist
ance required for resisting the menaces Of the
French, it entirely at the service of the Sultan
In word, the Emperor went on TO observe As befor
told you, all want is good understanding with Eng
land and this not as to what shall but as to what shal
nent and J. and the English government, having
tire confidence in one anothers views, care nothing
REMARKED that felt confident that her Maiesty's
government could be little disposed his Imperial
Majesty to tolerate the presence OF the French at Con-
ttna .ln and 6nin nf
tanning whether there any understanding between
the Cabinets Of st. Petersburg and Vienna, ! added,
But your Majesty has forgotten Austria; all these
Eastern questions affect her very nearly she of
would expect to be consulted
on replied the Emperor, greatly to my surprise but
you must understand that iohen speak Of Russia,
speak Of Austria as we hat suits the suits the other;
interests regards Turkey perfectly identical
should have been glad to have made another inquiry or
ought to have stated that in preceding part of the
conversation his Majesty although without any appear
in your ordships despatch, the long cherished ambi
ton Of his (the Emperors) own nation" He would ask
what that phrase meantf
happened that was prepared for the surprise express
sed, and ready to any reflection which it might
call forth Sir, said Lord John Russell is speaking
of your ambition he speaks of that entertained by your
people The Emperor could not at first admit that the
phrase applicable to the Russian nation any
than to himself; when said, your Majesty will permit
to remark that Lord John Russell only repeats what
said thirty years ago by brother Of glorious
mory In writing confdentialy to Lord Castlereagh in
the year 1922 the Emperor Alexander spoke of being the
only Russian who resisted the views of his subjects upon
Turkey and of the loss of popularity which he had
tanned by his antagonism.
This quotation which, by accident could make almost
the words of the letter. seemed to change the current
of the Emperor's IDEAS
You are quite right he said remember the events to
which my late brother alluded Now, it perfectly true
that the Empress Catherine INDUCED in all of visions
of ambition but it is not less that these ideas not
at all shared by her descendants.
You see how am behaving towards the Sultan. This
gentleman breaks his written word to me- and acts in
manner extremely displeasing to me, and have
tented myself with despatching ambassador to Con-
stantnople to demand reparation certainly could send
army there chose there is nothing to stop them
but have conented myself with such show Of force
will prove that have no intention Of being trhed with
And sir said you quite right in refraning from
violence, and hope on future occasions you will act
with the moderation; for your Majesty must be
sensible that any fresh concessions which have OBJ
tanned by the Latins not referabe to i'll will towards
you but to the excessive apprehensons of the French
entertained by the unfortunate Turks besides sir OBJ
served the danger will venture to say of the present
moment is not Turkey but of the revolutionary spirit
which broke out four, years ago, and which, in many
countries stl burns underground there is the danger