The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-11-10
Terms Eight Dollars per era AMMAN, IN advance.
The Eastern Question.
Correspondence OF then Y Tr,b,,,, j, +,

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CoNsTANTlNOPLE, Oct II, 1856
There is now no prospect of the reopening
OF the Eastern question in general. There
will be active interference in favor of the
Christians in Gambia, but it win be with the
object of putting off the Eastern question, not
of opening it. England and France are agreed
upon this point. Neither of these powers is
ready Tor any general clearing out in Turkey
Both fear that Russia would gain what is lost
Dy Turkey, and both are of the opinion that
nussia aIl m Sstrong enough already. If Lord Ly-
o1s mad been removed to Paris, as was report
ed last week, it would have given color to the
reports OF the European press, especially as
Nloustler has just been called from Constanti-
hSp. h,S1p,e 70 ne Minister Of Foreign Affairs; but
Eastern question. This is so wen known here. m
that when he Went to Athens, on his way TO
Paris, the mob wonld have torn him to pieces
If they had dared to do so. AS it was. they
howied and Missed at him. cursed him, and
called him every uneomplimentary name
known in the Greek and French vocabularies
Lord Lyons has more sympathy with the
Greeks, and understands the rottenness of the
Turkish Empire better than his predecessors;
but he sees the difficulties of the Eastern ques-
ton too plainly to be sinclined to open it now now,
Russia is doing what it can, both here and in
Europe, to compel the great powers to take
up the sick mans case, for she has everything
to gain and nothing to lose in the settlement
OF thlS question: Ihe RUSSIAN EmbasSad0r
here is untiring in his efforts to stir up diff
culties in European Turkey to encourage the
Candiotes, and to force this question upon Eng
land and France. 1t is true, also, that Russian
agents here and elsewhere are doing every
thing IN their power to bring the United States
into the question, All the stories about the
United States Government desiring to pur-
chase an island on the coast of Turkey origfn-
ate from this source. And our Government
knows very well that one of the most desirable
islands for a naval station is at our disposal
whenever we choose to accept it as q free gift
People do not give away islands without an
object, however, and in this ease the object is
e make the power of the United States felt in
Greece and Turkey.
An American naval squadron, within a
days sailsof the Marmora, weuld to-day add
50per cent to the influence of Russia in the
Ilast, for Russia takes pains to have it under
stood here that she is in close alliance with the
United States i111oUssilTg viagiE
70. But wouldn't bedesirable for us to lnix our
selves up in this question? What could we
gam by the partition of the Turkish Empire?
Have we not work enough to do in American
Is Mexico free and civilized? Is our own ter
ritory all occupied, and have we not a sort of
second Turkey on our hands in Utah?
Ihe Turks are already alarmed about us
and are on the point of sending an embassy to
the United States, to cultivate friendly rela-
lions and head off Russia, and, by the way, the
announcement of this Intention has caused
great excitement in Greece when it is proposed
70 send a Greek ambassador to the United
states at once to neutralize the effects of the
urhlsn hinDasSy. ~ 4. 4.