The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-08-25

The News from Europe-Total Evacuation
81 the Prfncipslities by the Russians.
The official announcement made by Prince |
Gortschakoff to the Austrian government, of the |
intention of the Gear to withdraw his armies |
from Moldavia as we'll as from the lower Prin--
cipalty, will strike no one with surprise. Put
ting aside the motives of strategic prudence
which dictate the necessity of concentrating as
strong force as possible on the Crimea, against
which the first great blow of the allies is about
to be struck, it evidently formed an indispensa-
BILE condition of the policy which, either owing
to secret understanding with the court of Wen
ma, or to the necessities Of his position the Rus
sian Emperor has hitherto deemed it advisable to
pursue towards his quondum German ally.
Without endeavoring to penetrate the mystic
ries Of diplomacy which only appears to ac-
quire boldness in proportion as the fortunes Of
the Gear appear to decline, we still may be
permitted to doubt whether the determination
said to be arrived at by Austria, to complete
the objects Of the war by assisting the coalition
to extort guarantees from Russia for her future
good conduct, will alter in any material respect
the previous aspect Of the question.
The new note which has been just exchanged
at Vienna, between Count Buol and the repre-
sentatives Of England and France, is only in
fact the necessary consequence Of the engage
ments entered into in the previous pro-
tocols, with this significant difference-that
in the former the concurrence OF Prussia
is entirely ignored. The latter Power is now
understood to have leagued herself with the
minor German States, with the object Of en-
barrassing the action of her rival in the con-
federation; so that on the side Of Germany, we
may expect division of interests, which will
greatly assist the designs Of the Gear, and
perhaps ultimately determine the issue of the
struggle While, however, Austria will pro-
baby carry out her engagements with the
allies to the point Of reservng to herself if she
can obtain it, the power of acting as an
armed mediator between the belligerents,
and thus craftily securing the advantages
which have all along been the main
springs of her subtle and tortuous policy,
there is no reason for believing that she will
abandon the cautious middle course that she
has hitherto pursued, by asserting to the ex-
IRENE measures announced in the programme
Of conditions put forth by the organs Of the
coalition as the only basis on which they will
be disposed to treat for peace. Matters have,
in fact, now arrived ct point where the real
motives of her policy win be tested. Russia
has made every reasonable concession to her
that could be expected, and whether these con-
cessions have been dictated by friendly
understanding, as many still believe, or are the
result merely Of desire to avert hostile
actions upon her part, it is to be expected that
Austria, with that caution and moderation
which she has hitherto displayed, will 50 shape
her future course as to protect the interests of
the Car on those vital points on which no con-
cessions can be made, and at the same time
conciliate the Russian tendencies of the other
German powers.
Should the coalition, however, insist upon
vigorously carrying out programme Of con-
ditions which would have the effect of at once
ras,,,oi.y Russia " the position OF sevvud ato
Power, it is certain that Austria will at once
break with them, for the preponderance Of Rus
sia in the north of Europe is as essential to the
safety Of her empire as are the friendship and
support Of the Western governments. She
will do nothing to aggrandize the
continental influence of France; and in this fact
may be found the true key to her future policy.
Her position has been oil through one of great
difficulty and embarrassment; and so far the
skill and adroitness of her statesmen have en-
abled her to temporise until she has made pre-
paration to meet the dangers that menaced her.
1t is clear, however, that she will soon be COM
PEELED to accept enc or other of the two alter
natives that the progress will force upon her
She will either have to commit herself cordially
and entirely to the extreme measures resolved
upon by the coalition, and thus hazard the pre-
ponderance Of her political influence in Ger
many, exposing herself, besides, to the dangers
Of Russian invasion, or she will have to take
her stand on such moderate adjustment of the
existing difficulties as will maintain unimpaired
the political influence of her former ally and
benefactor. The latter we have no doubt, will
be her course; and, therefore, should the allies
drive matters to the extremes threatened, it is
by no means improbable that we shall yet see
the Principalities held in trust for Russia by
an Austrian army Of occupation.
Matters, however, have not as yet arrived at
this crisis. The invasion of the Crimea is
point Of the game that has yet to be played out
before any one can speculate as to its probable
issue. So far nothing could be more opportune
for the strategic necessities Of the Gear than tie
pretext afforded by the threatened movement Of
the Austrians upon the Principalities for the
removal of his forces from hostile territory,
in which their subsistence had become difficult
to a point from whence he could observe and
strengthen those positions on his southern coast
which offer the greatest temptations to an in |
vading army. As regards the Principalities he !
need give himself no concern about them for |
the present. The convention between Austria |