Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-06-06
Lord As.rde.u,s Ministry and the Turkish War.

An article in the April number of the London
Quarterly Review crtcises with considerable severi
ty the course of the English Mnsty in relation 10
the Turkish II asserts that had the British Co
vernment adopted in the first instance firm and
vigorous tone in dealing with Russia, England would
have been spared the terrible necessity of awar and
for proof of this assertion, the correspondence and
various State papers connected with the recent nego-
tiations between England and Russia are cited The
portion of this correspondence containing the COM
muncntions respecting Turkey made to Her Majesty :
Government by the Emperor Of Russia during the
early part of last year, and the first despatch in the
collection (Sr G. II. Seymour to Lord John Russell,
january IL, 1852 is considered as giving the clue
and the key to the whole Eastern question, and as
showing beyond n doubt why the moment was chosen
for fastening crisis which might prove fatal to the
Ottoman empire. The fact that Lord Aberdeen had
become the head of the English Ministry is set forth
as the reason for the move by Russia against turkey
In support Of this assumption several incidents in the
conduct Of Aberdeen with reference to the relations
between Russia and Turkey are given The Review
says he had aided the Emperor OF Russia in striking
the first great blow against Turkey in ls2e-hat he
had in 1912 done his best to hand over to Russia the
important Turkish province of Servn and that it has
now transpired that in 1914 the Emperor of Russia
had proposed to Lord Aberdeen then the Foreign
Minister in Sir Robert Pecl's Government the par-
ton, on n certain contingency, OF the Ottoman En-
pirc-a memorandum of which was drawn up ami
preserved as State secret of the most vital impor.
lance. But Lord Aberdeen soon after retired from
Office and according to the Review was succeeded 10y
other Foreign Ministers who were justly supposed,
both from their characters and connections to be less
open to any such proposals as had been made 10y the
Emper Nicholas in 1874 and they were consequent
ly not revived The opening Of the scene on the re-
turn of Lord Aberdeen to The Ministry and the com
ments of the Review the subject, we give in the
extract below
"On the last days Of 1852 ministry came into
power in England At it, head Lord Aberdeen The
of this could scarcely have reached ST. Peters
burg before the llth OF January. On that day festival
held in the palace OF member OF the Imperial aml'
the Grand Duchess Helena. Sir Hamilton Seymour
invited to the Emperor In the midst of that bril-
liant company, the Gar eagerly sought the British Am
bassador He gracousy aud warmly expressed his plea
sure the intelligence of the orfpatiOn of govern
ment in England under the guidance Of nobemau whom
he had known for 40 years. and for whom he entertained
equal regard and lie lost time in proving the
genuneness of sentiments and showing the extent
Of his confidence in his friend for in the next breath he
required more, a.er the long silence OF nearly lu
years. TO his favoe scheme for the partition Of Turkey.
The stonished dpomatst naturally shrauk with feeling
somewhat akin horror and dread from such dangerous
when sometime After the Emperor, repeating to him
the views which he entertained with regard 10 Turkey,
declared that il he could have but minutes
ton with one of the British ministers, with Lord Absr-
deem liucc, knew him OIL aud who shared
n mutual confidence, he could a complete aud
tisfactory understanding with England upon them Tel
minutes resolve of the mghicsi political problems
that has submitted statesman and per.
feet the schemes which had been for nearly 200 yeas
great end Of Russian policy.
Lord John Russell, aud afterwards Lord Clarendon,
reiP th,s.e
might have been expected from British Statesmen upon
such occasion. We detect in their somewhat vague
and inecisve replies the evil influence of the head of
Government Here the first great error, OF
principal Of all subsequent difficulties and
present ebarrassments. II is Of the conduct OF the
British Government in this stage Of the proceedings that
the Emperor OF Russia has, must adm to n certain
extent good cause TO complain We should then have
declared explicitly that England would tolerate any
interference in the affairs Turkey that however much
inclined ministry might he TO view with indifference
favor steps taken by Russia hasten the dissolution
OF the Ottoman empire yet that the of public opin
ing connyhnce for this object impossible; but that any
attempt dictate the Sultan, invade his
Ties would inevitably lead to Had such language
been held in firm though friendly tone, who will
question whether the Emperor would not have avoided
engaging in contest which, If properly conducted,
only end in his overthrow or humiliation We there
lore repeat that the Emperor Of Russia has grounds
OF complaint against the British Government"