The New York herald., 1870-12-03
TIE EASTERN QUESTION.
Prince Gortchakod,s Explanation.
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Prince Gortchakoa's Explanation.
We receive IN erteaSo the following despatch,
which was communicated to Earl Granville by Baron
Brunnow on the 9h and is referred to in the second
paragraph Of Earl G;anvile's despatch Of Novenl-
Der TO-
TsARsKoE SELo Oct 20 told style sth,. 1870.
M LIZ BARON-ln making the communications to
tne prlnclpai secretary Of state OF her Britannia
Majesty according TO the orders OF his Maicst, tbe
Emperor you will take TO explain It's sense and
bearing when, at the commencement Of 1868,
view TO prevent the war then imminent In GER
many by the assembly OF Congress, in discussing
tbe bases OF such conferences with Earl Russell YOU
had the opportunity Of pointing OUT to hum the com
pensallons and the guarantees OF security which
would be necessarily required by Russia IN case or
certain eventualites occurring calculated modify
the stdfsts quo existing IN the East Lord Russell
disputed that any alteration made in the text and
the spirit OF the Treaty OF 1865 must lead to the
vision OF That act. Although those .eventualities
have not occurred Lord Granville will not contest
the fact that already this treaty mas undergone
serious modllcations IN one Of ITS essential provi-
OF these notifications IS notSthe appearance OF fac
tiiious hostility towards her when they seem TO
bear, nor Is IL the consequences which may ensue
TO great country from the creation upon Its from
tiers OF a small quasi-lndependent State. It Is
chiefly The facility with which, scarcely ten years
after its conclusion solemn arrangement, clothed
with European guarantee, has been fnfrlngcd both
I'm letter and spirit under the very eyes the Powers
who should have been its guardians. With such
precedent before u.s. what value can Russia attach
TO the efficacy OF that arrangement and to the pledge
the principle OF the naturalization oil the Black Sea
The balance OF power established in the East by the
Treaty OF 1866 has therefore been disturbed to the
deriment oil Russia. The resolution adopted by our
august master has no other object than TO restore
IL.
The government OF her Britannia Majesty would
never consent leave the security OF her shores to
the mercy OF an arrangement which was no longer
respected it Is too equitable not to award US the
same duties and the same rights. But what we
peciay desire to show is that this decision implies
no change in the policy which his majesty the En-
peror has pursued in the East. You have already
mad on many occasions opportunities or discussing
with the Cabinet OF London the general views which
the TWO governments hold upon this important
question. You have been able to establish a con-
f0rmity Of principles and interests which
we have noted with great satisfaction.
From That we have drawn the conclusion that at
present IL IS neither from England nor Russia that
the dangers which may menace the Ottoman en-
desire TO maintain its existence as long possible
by the appeasement and Cancellation OF the direr-
ences between the Porte and the Christian subjects
OF the Sultan and that, in the event OF any decisive
were equally resolved seek for It's solution in the
general agreement OF the great European Powers.
We have not ceased 70 hold these views. We be-
lievc that their perfect analogy renders possible
thorough understanding between the government
of her Britannia Majesty and ourselves, and we at.
tach the greatest value to IL the best guarantee
for the preservation OF peace and the balance OF
power in Europe from dangers which may result
IRON complications In the East. BY the order OF his
Majesty the Emperor your Excellency is authorized
sincerely congratulate ourselves ii the frankness Of
these explanations may contribute to that end by
removing every possibility Of misundersta nding be-
tween the government OF her Britannia Majesty and
ourselves.
Receive, &c. GORTUHAKOFF.