The New York herald., 1868-05-04
RUSSIA.

The Eastern Question In an Imperial Point or
View--position, Policy and Interests Of tie
Christian Powers.
From the ST. Petersburg Biijeviya vedomosti,
April 1871
An opinion has Lately arisen in Russian society
that the present Ia most favorable moment for
solving the Eastern question in way advantageous
to ourselves Now or never'' is the watchword that
may be frequently heard. This confident belief IL
based on the consideration that Austria is too weak
to offer Us any serious resistance, While Prussia Is
supposed 10 be little interested iii the Eastern ques
only we do not prevent her unifying Germany. OF
Napoleon 1t Is assumed that, however eager
to interfem in the East, his hands are lied
by the German and Roman difficulties. Let
him, it is said, meddle with Turkey and Prussia will
cross the Man. while Italy viii no longer respect the
Roman frontier. Thus compelled to divide his
strength and operate on three points at once, Napo
leon would run the risk OF being defeated on al:
should he then, think this too venturesome and
Keep away from Turkey altogether, England, it is
further argued, would scarcely take upon herself to
interfere singlehanded. Why, our sanguine friend
winds up, why not set to work without delayS
Would 1t not be objectionable to allow such oppor
tunity to slip by unimproveds But is this reasoning
has interest in the East; that she viii not directly
indirectly interfere, but viii adopt strict and
whether there Is any Power wholly. unaffected
by the stale Of Eastern affairs, and prepared
to submit to Turkish learrangements with
life left in her to afford to dispense with
the new country OF the Balkan peninsula. AS
regards Prussia more particularly, She now repre-
sens all Northern Germany, and Is erGedrort7a9 to
Gey0uy' Southern Germany also Is II so very prob
able then, that she will permit the mouth OF tho
Danube that South-German volra, 10 fall into for
eign handsY Such q policy AT any rate, would not
contribute to make her favorte with the Southern.
The eagerness, moreover. with which she
placed King Charles on the Roumanian throne proves
very clearly that the question Is to rule on the
Danube is one that she has tb0urh5 Of Her neutral
ity, as far concerned, wonid be n sham. II
by keeping aloo she unties the hands OF Russia she
equally frees Napoleon. For her to abstain from
acton while war Is rife In Turkey means
two things-.not to hinder Russia on the
Danube nor herself to cross the Main. But by
Napoleon concentrate all his forces IN the SOUTH
east: Would tbs De neutrality to,oard ourselves,
Again as tx the Roman m !, Austria alone VIII
not France for that The thing most likely dis
cussed as far back as the Salzburg interview since
raj The inference to be drawn from oil this Is that
we ought to take up the Eastern questiOn-not from
any confidence in tue weakness or disuniOn OF cur
antagonists, but only because we feel strong enough
to encounter the many difficulties in our way II wo
feel so, then, and only then, Is our time. There
Is no denying the fact that as soon as we
approach this unfortunate aiair agai1 Europe
once more tCiH be united against us. But tt
is urged even II Bismark promise not to cross tie
Main while Napoleon is engaged In the East, Napo-
leon win not believe him. All we can say In reply
Is that In opinion, he would be safe ne 10
question OF time and will be completed, II not now,
on some future occasion. Bismarck can afford TO
regard the date OF TINS inevitable event as matacr
OF comparative Indifference. IL would certainly not
be much retarded were France to weaken herself by
bloodshcd In the East But is II very certain that
France Will oppose German unltyS Is 1t certain that
France objects 10 the aggrandzement of Prussia
she is offered indemnify Prussia and Italy
ing been elevated into considerable Powers nothing
Is more natural than that France should demand q
corresponding increase VI land and men. We may
depend upon 1t that Napoleon VIII be erewarded-fos
mont and portion or Sutherland. such win bs
the consequences Of Prussan neutrality.