Wilmington journal., 1866-10-04
TIE EASTERN QUEsTIOr.


i TIE EASTERN QUEsTIOE,
! Russia Movins-The Treaty of 1856 to be
| Broken Probable Alliance OF Franco and
| Prussia Against RussIa-Russian Agents
| Creating Disscnsiosl in the Christian Pro-
! vrnces of Turkey.
IParis (Sept. 81 Correspondence London Times. !
There are unmistakable symptoms abroad
| that Russia emerging from the state of
| apparent apathy, as regards foreign affairs
in which she has sunk since the Crimean
war was closed by the treaty of Paris Her
| government has been aroused by the events
Of the last two years, and you may expect
shortly to .read diplomatic circular from
the ST. Petersburg foreign office, in which
u very decided tone will be taken. The
Russian journal referred to by your Vienna
correspondent in the Times of the 9TH inst. :,
seems to have had an inking of this when
it boldly declared that, as the settlement
of Europe made in 1915 has been complete
| ly upset, there is no reason why Russia
should be bound by the Treaty of Paris of
1856, that the Black Sea must be free to
her again, and that the injurious obligations
imposed on her by coalition of the West
ern Powers are no longer binding.
| venture to assure you that this will be
| found to be very much the strain Of the
circular in question, in which the Russian
government remarks on the system of pro-
| ceeding by violence that has become preva-
lent in Europe for the settlement OF dispu-
ted questions, instances the case of the
Danish Duchies, the Danubian Principali-
ties, and the recent war and annexations in
Germany, and declares her intention of act
ing in future us herinterests dictate, and with
out showing greater regard to trerties than
has been shown by her neighbors. After ten
years the treaty of Paris is us CALLING to
Russia as on the first day, and even more
so, because she sees that others have re-
belled against aud broken similar bonds
That treaty, as shrcWd diplomatist lately
remarked to me, humiliated Russia without
weakening her, and SO far it was mistake.
But since then Russia has revived and re-
gained strength. She sees the political
waters of Europe troubled, and she is dis
posed to fish i'll them. Many persons i'm
agine that in a years time, when the great
Paris Exhibition is drawing to close, we
shall be on the brink of a war between |
France and Prussia.
What If, instead Of that, we saw the |
Eastern question opened, and France and
Prussia in alliance? The tendency seems |
in that direction. We cannot imagine |
France attacking Prussia for the mere plas- |
ure of beating her, and then retreating
within her former imits-always supposing |
her victorious. which is by no means GER |
tain. The object of such war must be |
an extension of frontier, and such an at |
tempt would array the whole of Germany
against France-the Austrian Germans not |
excepted Germany feels her strength |
and will relinGuish none of her territory !
On the other hand, there are various indi- |
cations that the Eastern question will again |
before long become prominent, and very pro-
badly the cause of war Russia is cOncen-
tratlng troops at hharkoy, q good central
position, convenient Tor aStartin various di-
rectiong. In Servia, we learn from Vienna,
large earmaments have forsOme time past been |
making, and greatnumber of rified cannon |
have been obtained. National committees are
said to be active in the Christian provinces
Of Turkey, and only wait a signal to bring
about an insurrection. The hand of Rus |
sia is discovered in this, and Austria is on |
her guard. The Austrian Consuls at Bel |
grade and Bucharest have been summoned |
to Vienna to supply information. Accord
ing to letter from Vienna, in the Patrie, |
the Emperor OF Russia lately said to the |
minister Of a foreign power that he "could
not behold with Indifference the establish |
ment in Europe of the principle of the pre- |
dominance of force over right" On the |
same authority we learn that orders have
been given to finish, i'll the early months |
of 1867, the railways which are TO connect
Kew with ltemberg, Odessa, and Balta
the line from kiew to Balta is to be hand |
ed over to the government on the 1st of
November next. The concession of
double line which will put Kiew in direct
communication with two important points
of Galicia has just been granted, although |
the Austrian government is said TO be not
yet agreed with that of Russia on the stra-
tegical direction to be given to these two
new lines.