The Washington union., 1858-03-18
THE ISLAND OF PERM.

The French journals have lately published, without
Hectio and as a factand a source of congratulaon
rather than pttte rews of the amicable arrangement
Of the little difference which had occurred between the
cabinets of London and Consantnople the silect Of
the island Of Perrin. England has been willing to recog
Mise that ts Island belongs to Turkey and that she had
taken possession of it Without any right The right Of
Turkey being recognised she willing 70 receive In
exchange indemnity Of which il only remains to fix
the sum, and the matter is ended.
The Ottoman Porte will receive will not receive the
price Of her ancient possession. England will remain
elated with her new acquisition and Nl sdd peacefully
this jewel to the maritime crown with witch she
Will soon finish by enclosing all seas.
We do not wish to take up new questions and Difficult
ties nevertheless, it to that there is than
consideration for politicians to mediate upon In
profound article on the question scmofcia French
j6rrnal-the Cnsiheiosud of 9th june last brought
out the military importance and great interest Of this
little island, which commands the Red and the In
dian Situated IN the narrowest part of the straits
Of Babel l-nandel its could command the space
between the shores Of Africa and Arabia and command
the whole strait An English garrison this strategec
point of the first ORDER second key of the Red sea- Alden
being the first takes away all chance for merchantmen
of-war to go in out of the Red with
out the authority of the British government and thus
assumes this side the absolute monopoly Of the
merce OF the Indian seas to England The Con2auton
after having established this fact draws other conclu
sion from it than sentiment of profound admiration for
the political genius and the depth and perseverance Of
English views 1t seems to us, nevertheless, that some
come, for example, by the opening of the lsthmus of
Suez to which France in particular and with her all Eu
rope Interested for the glory of civilization and the
general interests of navigation whilst England already
in possession Of Aden without having bought It, buys
Perrin NJ de Lesseps continues to fight for his project
against the difficulties which English diplomacy raises
against him. But whether his project succeeds not,
what matters it to England She holds the two keys to
the Red sea, Alden and Perrin. Cut many canals
you choose you only get in get out Of the Red
according to the pleasure of her cannon
There is meanwhile, another question which Europe,
with her eyes open, ought not it to us, for
ment to lose sight Of England is advancing increasingly
the of which she successvey occupies, and
if by preempon right, all the commercial and strategic
points Has She this head, no account TO render to
Europe She is just now very mportunate in Asia but
is that she should be permitted to take there
position contrary to all the interests of Europe She
takes Alden and Perrin The " Times is astonished that
she has not thought of 1t sooner since it suits her
we'll Ii is especially astonshed that shc asains any
longer from acting politically in Egypt itself With all
this what becomes of the balance Of power! Recently,
to guaranty her this balance, of giants under
taken between European nations Turkey has been intro
duced into the European concert of action the great
powers have reunited themselves to guaranty in COM
mon 10y solemn treaty, the Independence and integrity
Of her territory, and to declare that they will consider
for the future any act OF nature to infringe them as
question of general interest This thing must be under
stood nevertheless if the integrity of the territory of
Turkey is necessary to the equilibrium Of the powers OF
the world, Turkey herself cannot infringe it, She can
ulinlnSn III Dy CtsbOn tban IL
by usupation and conquest 1t is for the interest of
Europe well her own, that her territory has been
declared nvioabc She it to Europe to preserve il
intact
And let it not be said it is question of nothing of
tre OF estate which neither be colonizcd nor
put to any for the principle would be the same II
she yield sell estate without value she can yield
or sell province Besides this estate without value is
strategic point of high importance it commands the
strait which separates the Red from the Indian ocean,
and also the south of Arabia This estate in the hands
of England is Malta and Gibraltar in Asia Can Turkey
thus sell to whoever she pIeases all her coasts estates
without value what might eventually become formidable
fortresses! What would be said if she made similar
concession to every other power well England II
she gave, for example, the Isle of Serpcnts to Russia
what camos would appear in the English journals and
with what authority would they not demand the main
tenance OF the territorial integrity Of Turkey Where
s the difference If she lets Alden be taken sells Perrin
Europeans must be very blind very feeble before the
bold and INSCRIPTIONS genius of England 1t would be
WE'LL however to understand for all the value and
extent of the principle OF the territorial integrity OF
Turkey. The European guarantee under the ;esi- OF
which this integrity has been confdedi il binding on
Turkey and England the other powers Can rur-
key who cannot lose her territories by conquest yield
them by treaties The extent of the conquered Yield
ell territory is not the question 1t is the principle