The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-11-17


take the field If England would give her con-
snet AT Cabinet council it was resolved to
act decisively 10 regard to Russian complica-
tons. War is imminent Great is the popu-
lar Indignation which exists against Russia
GoRTscHAKoFF's CIRCULAR.
Tribune special The following is the full
text of Gortschakotfs circular to Baron Brun-
now, communicated to Lord Granville by
Bruunow on the 9th of November:
Palace Of Tzarkoe Sclo, Oct. 9, 1S7O-Baron:
The successive alterations which the comprO-
misses considered to be the foundation of the
equilibrium of Europe have in these last years
undergone, have obliged the Imperial cabinet
to examine their Influence upon the political
position of Russia therefrom resulting. Among
these compromises that which interests us
most directly is the treaty of the 18th and Both
OF March-tba special convention between
the two powers bordering ON the Black Sea.
Annexed to the treaty is a certain engagement
on the part of Russia to limit her naval forces
to considerable dimensions. In return this
treaty offered her the principle of neutraliza-
ton in that sea-
In view of the cosignatory powers this prin-
ciple was to remove all possibility of conflict,
whether between powers bordering on the
Black Sea or between them and maratime
powers. 1t was to increase the number of ter
rtories called by unanimous consent of Eu-
rope to enjoy the benefits of the neutrality, and
so to protect Russia herself from all danger of
aggression, The experience of fifteen years has
proved that this principal upon which depends
the security Of the whole extent of the from
tiers of the Russian Empire in this direction
rests only on theory.
In fact, while Russia is disarmed n the
Baltic Sea, aud even by the declaration record
ed in the protocols of the conference LOYALTY
denied to herself the possibility of takiug effic
lent measures of maritime defsnce in adjacent
seas and ports, Turkey preserved the right of
keeping up uutimed naval forces in the Ar
chepelago and the Straits, and France and
England preserved the powers from concen-
tratina their squadrons in the Mediterranean.
Moreover, by the terms of the treaty, entrance
into the Black Sea is formally and forever pro-
hlbted to the flags, whether of the European
powers or any other power; but by virtue Of
the convention, called the Sh ats copventio,,
the passage through these Straits il closed to
the Hass of war only in time of peace.
1t results from this contradiction that the
coasts OF the Russian Empire remain exposed
to all aggression even on the part of less DOW
erful states as soon as they possess a naval
force, to which Russia would he able to oppose
only few vessels of small dimensions The
treaty OF the 18th and Both of March 1855
moreover has not escaped the attractions to
which most of the European compromises have
been subjected, and in the presence of which
it would be difficult to affirm that the written
law, founded upon respect for treaties as base
OF public law and rule for the relations be-
tween States, has preserved the same moral
sanction it may have had in other times. We
have seen the principalites of Maldavla and
Wallachia. the fate Of which had been fixed by
the treaty of peace, and by the subsequent pro-
locals under the guaranty of the great powers,
effect series of revolutions which were as
contrary to the spirit as to the letter of these
compromises, and which led them to the SOW.
ereignty of foreign Prince. These events &C.
Cured with the consent Of the Porte and the
acquiesenee OF the great powers, or at least
without these the latter having thought it nee
essary to make their DEGREES respected, the
representative of Russia was the only one to
raise his voice to point out to the cabinets tn at
by this liberation they would put themselves
in contradiction with the explicit stipulatiops
sions granted to one of the christian natiouali-
ties of the East had resulted from a general
understanding between the combatants and
the Porte by virtue of a principle applicable to
the whole OF the christian population OF Tur
key the Imperial Cabinet would have moth
ing to do but applaud, but they were exclusive.
The Imperial Cabinet could not then but be
struck with the fact that it had been possible
to infringe with impunity the treaty of 1856
But few years after its CONCLUSION in one of
its essential clauses in the face of the great
powers assembled in conference at Paris and
representing as whole the high collective au-
thority upon which rested the peace OF the
east.
This infractiOn was not the only one. At
several intervals and under various'pretexts
the entrance to the straits has been opened to
foreign ships of war, and that OF the Black Sea
to whole. squadrons, the presence of which
was violation OF tie character OF absolute
neutrality ascribed t. these waters, In p-o-
portion as the pledge offered by the treaty
grew weak and especially the quaranteens of
An effective neutrality of the Black Sea
Spain.
THE CONTEST FOR THE THRONE.
MADRID, Nov. 16 "A meeting of the liberal
members OF the CorteS was held yesterday. 1873
deputies were present, including Sevans, Lopez,
Dominique and Yzuevo. After a long confer
ence it was agreed that the first vote to be
taken on the throne question to-day should be
cast for the Duke Of Montpensier and if he
were not chosen then the Dixie of Aosta should
receive their suffrage.
Great Britain.
DEMAND FOR WAR.
LONDON Nov. 16-The whole London press
Tomorrow morning will open cry against Rus
STA, appealing to the government to declare
war II she persists in her demands The feel
ing in the city is intense and the excitement is
almost unprecedented. The government finds
itself pressed forward to an attitude which it
had lot designed at first to assume. This
feeling is so strong that the government is
convinced that it is unsafe to resist it, Gran
vlle's reply MISUNDERSTANDING circular is temper
ate in tone but firm in declaring that the per-
s'stence of Russia in her demands must end in
war. In the meanwhile extraordinary activity
given to man, arm and prepare the entire fleet
Work is to go on day and night at Porumouth,
DeVonport, Spithead and Sheerness.
THE KING OF PRUSSIA IN DANGER.
Private letters from Versailles say the posi-
ton OF Germans is becoming extremely criti-
cal and alarm prevails among all who UNDER
stand the situation. The King would return
Immediately to Berlin but it was not consioer-
ed safe to permit him to depart without very
large cOrtege which could not be spared, as he
would be captured or shot by the Franc-Tir-
eurs, who are swarming all over the country
SO great are MOltke's apprehensions of conse-
quences of the attacks by the force of Trochu
and Simultaneous assault on the part of the
army OF the Loire that entertainments are cow
being thrown up in the rear and flauks Of the
German position. Officers in high rank at
Versailles declare the Germans find themselves
besieged, and other letters state that trans
formation in the scene has occurred, the
French people, changing depression and fear
into confidence and bravery. Immense sup
plies of Snyder rifles and Armstrong guns are
in their hands and the numbers of the armies
constantly increasing; in short everything is
promising complete turning OF the tables and
the utter humiliation of the invaders.
China.
FURTHER oUTRAGEs ON FOREIGNERS
LONDON, Nov 16-Further outrages have
been committed on foreigners in Canton and
the execution of the Teutsn criminals has