The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-01-19
THE BLACK SEA CONFERENCE.
The Circumstances Under which tn,
Conference Meets-The Present Post
tIon OF the Black Sen Question.

The European Conference, which began its
deliberations IN Tuesday, in London, has been
caused by the circulars addressed, in Novem-
ber, to the principal European powers by
Prince Gortschakoff. In these he declared
that Russia would no longer consider herself
bound by the treaty OF Paris so tar as 1t re-
stricted her from having ships-of-war in the
Black Sea. Addressing England, who, next
to Turkey, was the most deeply interested In
the treaty, Prince Gortschakof pointed out
the various ways in which 1t had been violated,
and the manifest Injustice of preventing hns-
sia from properly defending her own coast.
He then, in these explicit terms, defined the
decision of the Gear:
"Our august master cannot admit in law that
the treaties, infrnged in several OF their essen
tial and general clauses, remain obligatory ID
those which touch the direct interests OF ms
empire His Imperial Majesty cannot admit,
In fact, that the security OF Russia should de-
pend on fiction which has not Withstoud the
TEST of time, and be put in peril by his respect
for engagements which have not been ooserv-
ed In tneir integrity. The Emperor, confding
in the sentiments Of equity OF Inc slSnatory
powers of the treaty OF 1856, and In the con-
sciousness they have OF their own dignty, ln-
structs You to declare that his Imperial MaJes-
t. can no longer consider himself bound oy
the obligations OF the treaty of lSthl9tll March,
1856, so far as these limit his right OF soVer-
eighty in the Black Sea-"
The Russian Chancellor, however, ADDED tnaC
the Emperor was ready to come to an under-
standing with the powers who signed this ar
lalions, or to renew them, or to substitute Tor
them any other equitable arrangement which
may be thought suitable to secure the repose
of the East and the European equilibrium"
The Russian declaration Immediately pro-
duced an ouLburst of Indignation In England.
The leading journals declared that 1t was I'M
possible to admit for q moment the Cars
assumption: that the question "inyolveu the
very existence" OF England as a power, ana
that the 'sretraction of the Russian c'rcnlar
should be demanded under the penalty IT i'm
mediate war;" The government reply was as
firm. but nos as defiant in tone as tnaI OF the
British press. Earl Granville, under uate Oh
November 10, represented that the course pur-
sued bv Russia virtually amounted 10 nu.liiy-
in@ ib,, entire treaty. and, after dealing with
the arguments OF the Russian Chancellor, 90
served that it was ''impossiole Tor her MaJeS-
TVS Government to give any sanction on lheir
mart 10 the course announced by Prince GorIs.
chakoff." and concluded by observing tnat IL
Russia mad proposed the question Oh noolyims
the treaty, with the approval OF the powers
who were parties to it, the British Govern. ih,,
ment would be quite willing to discuss tne
matter, and that. whatever might nave oeen
the result" risk OF future complications
would have been avoided. ,.,
Prince Gortschakof replied. on November
20, that the attempts TO assemble lne poWMet,o
in general conference had lnfarlaoiy iaiIeu,
and That in the meanwhile, 'the position IN
which the treaty left Russia has become more
and more intolerable." He then, without mou,
flying in any way the tenor of the original
note, made the following observations, Whlcn
convey the consent OF Russia to the preseuI
conference, and indicate the character lts ue-
iberations will assume:
ave cannot admit that the abrogation OF
purely theoretical principle, not followed by
its immediate application, and which Vlsloly
restores to Russia right Of which no great