The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-11-17
E O r ELGN N.
England Preparing for HTar.


LONDON, Nov. 16-A special correspondent
OF the World telegraphs from Brussels on the
10th: The army under Manteuffel moved in
two columns, one along the Belgian frontier,
which has now arrived at Roezy, in the depart
ment Of the Ardennes, aud the other having
reached Scissors turned north, striking the
La0n railway at Chartvey, and advanced to
Letere, 80 miles southwest Of Recery. The
strength of both columns is $4,000 men.
A report is current here that Won Moltke is
seriously ill at Chateau Aremberg in Canton.
Thergroyia is being prepared for a reside nee
for Napoleon. Large quantities of baggage
have arrived at the Chateau and the Empe ror
is expected.
is impossible until France learns that the gov
eminent OF national defence means nation al
disorder.
A new loan is contemplated at Tours by the
government.
The Prussiaus are sending more artillery to
Paris.
The North German Parliament will meet at
Berlin on the Oath.
Berlin correspondent reports that the
powers do not hasten to consider the propriety
OF modifying the treaty of 1856. The Austrian
ana hungarian Journals unanimously de-
nounce Russia for her proposed violation of the
solemn treaty obligations.
THE TREATY OF 1856.
Odo Russell has informed Earl Granville
that Bismarck says hat Prussia has not been
and will not be party to the abrogation of the
treaty OF 1856 by Russia; that Gortschakoff' s
circular took Bismarck by surprise, and that
no secret understanding exists between Prus-
STA and Russia Bismarck's protestations are
received with Incredibly by the best informed
circles here.
THE POPULAR SPIRIT OF DEFENCE.
Tours, Nov. 16.-The government decree or
dering the departments to furnish cannon is
obeyed with alacrity in all the unoccupied dis
~ A
only are made.
A batch of Prussian official dispatches we're
found at Orleans yesterday, from which the
government obtained valuable information of
the enemy's intentions.
The French journals treat England's anxiety
on the subject of Russia's renunciatiou of the
Paris treaty as ust return for her indiffer-
ence to the sufferings of her former ally, The
government here seems to give no attention to
the incident.
ATTACK ON MEzIEREs.
Mezieres is surrounded again by the Ger.
mans, and lively artillery fire is kept up be
tween the town and the besiegers.
RUSSIA.
THE BASIS OF RUsSIA's DEMANDS.
LONDON Nov. 16-[N Y. World special A
member of the English government in con-
versatlon this morning concerning the nten-
ton of the administration in regard to Russia's
demand that the Paris treaty be abrogated
said that in point of fact Russia demand was
not unreasonable; nothing we should be un.
willing to concede. 1t is useless to fight against
destroying Russia. Russia is certain ulti-
mately to accomplish all her designs. Why
should we, by endeavoring to thwart her, in
vOlve ourselves in dc structive cOufict? How
ever, notwithstanding Russia evidently counts
on the peculiar situation of Europe at this mo-
ment as securing her single handed fight
with Turkey, 1t is by no means certain that
such conflict would result in Russian tri-
umph. Turkey is not weak. Her railways
have been constructed with view to defence
and then add greatly to her strategic advan-
tages. Her army is capable of extraordinary
deeds of valor. Her feet, although not 80 nu.
merous, is more powerful than that Of Russia
The army of Russia to-day numbers 100000
men on paper. They are poorly armed and
imperfectly equipped. Russia is not yet ready
for war, nor will be for two years.
Tribune special.] Dispatches from Prince
the powers who signed the engagement NAV
allege that occurrences have taken place which
in its opinion are at variance with the prOvis-
ions of the treaty, and although this view was
not shared nor admitted by the cousignatory
powers, we may found upon that an allegation
not request to those governments for con-
slderation OF the case, but an announcement to
them that it has emancpated itself or holds
itself emancipateG from any stipulations of a
treaty which it thinks fit to disprove; vet it is
4ullO CViuCut tudt tuc cuGCt VI SuCu n QOCCrl00
and of any proceedings which with or with
out an avowal is founded upon it, is to bring
the entire authority and efficacy of treaties
under the discretionary control of each one OF
the powers who may have signed them; the re-
suit of which would be the entire destruction
OF treaties IN their essence. FOr whereas their
whole object is to bind powers to one another,
and for this purpose each one of the powers
surrenders portion of its free agency. By
the doctrine and proceeding now in question
one OF the parties in its separate and individual
capacity brings back the entire subject into its
own control, and remains bound only to ITSELF
Accordingly Prince Gortschakoff has an
nounced in those dispatches the intention of
Russia to continue to observe certain provis-
ions of the treaty. However satisfactory this
may be in itself, it is obviously an expression
of the free will of that power, which it might
at any time alter or withdraw, and in this is
open to the same objections as other portions
OF the communication because it implies the
right of Russia to annul the treaty on the
ground OF allegations of which she constitutes
herself the only judge.
The question, therefore, arises not whether
any desire expressed by Russia ought to be
carefully examined in friendly spirit by the
cosignatary powers, but whether they are to
own act, and without any consent from them.
she has released herself from a solemn cove
nant. need scarcely say that Her Maiesty's
Government have received this communica-
ton with deep regret, because it opens di
cussion which might unsette the cordial uu-
derstanding which it has been their earnest
endeavor to maintain with the Russian empire,
and for the above mentioned reasons it is
impossible for Her Maiesty's Government
to give any sanction on their part to
the course announced by Prince Gortschakoff.
If instead of such declaration the Russian
government and other powers who are parties
to the treaty of Sc and had proposed for con-
sideration with them whether anything has &C j..
Cured which could be held to amount to in
fraction of the treaty or whether there is any
thing in the terms which from altered circum-
stances presses with undue severity upon Rus
STA or which in the course of events had be-
come unnecessary for the due protection of
Turkey, Her Maiesty's government would
not have refused to examine the question in
concert with the consgnatores to the treaty,
whatever might have been the result of such
circumstances the risk of future complications
and very dangerous precedent as to the val
idity OF international obligations would have
been avoided.
am, ETC.,