The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-14
THE HISTORY or TIE BLACK SEA
Ola USE.
From The Pan Man Gazette.


hoped French representative may be able
to attend. Meanwhile, in dealing with this
matter the Liberal press of London is doing
its best to fasify the hsttering but quite IN
accurate view of the Times, that the da'iy
journals are gradually abandoning formal
partisanship, which only little while ago
discredited the Conservative press almost
alone. The competition between the most
influential journal in the world, and the jour
nal with the largest circulation
in the world, and the journal with
a worldwide circulation leads Eve
have no time to explain how at presently to
another sort of mpetitioR-namely, as to
which of them shall most clearly manifest its
consciousness of the honor of being 'primed'
by q Minister. There are too many signs
that in this question of the Black Sea clause
this process of priming has been largely aud
carefully carried out. 1t is all the more i'm
portant, therefore, that some one should ex-
plain what are the questions at issue, their
origin and true value. A full and interest
ing account of the negotiations which resulted
in the treaty now under consideration will be
found in the new number of the EdtnbUrgh
ReUieao. For our readers benefit we note
some of the principal features in that narra-
tive.
On the 23d of July, 1854, M. Drouyn de
Lhuys wrote to the French Minister at
Vienna, pointing out that the facilities which
Russia possessed for developing a maritime
power in the Black Sea were permanent
menace to Turkey, and laying down four
points for which the Allies were contending.
The third of these was that "the treaty of
the 18th of July, 1871 (known as the Treaty
of the Straits), should be revised by the
high contracting parties in the interest
of the European balance of power, and
with q view to a limitation of the Russian
power in the Black Sea-" The Allies held to
hair fnY1r fnfc fhrnu urhn thn onA
above all, to this third point, to which, on
the other hand Russia was equally strenuous
and determined in her opposition. Austria,
when consulted, declared that without the
third point she would not negotiate, and
Prussia also accepted it. 1t was thus incor-
porated in the memorandum of the 2Sth of
December, 1854 which was the basis of the
Vienna Conference
The revision Of the Treaty of July 49, 1871, must
have for its object to connect the existence OF the
Ottoman Empire more completely with the Euro
ponderance Of Russia in the Black Sea AS to the
arrangements to be made in this respect, they de-
be possible at present to determine the basis it is
sufficient to point out the principle.
In the conference Russia declined to make
any proposal on the subject Austria recon
mended a system of naval equipoise-that is
that the two riverain powers, Russia and
Turkey should bind themselves by treaty to
maintain in the Black Sea certain number
of ships and no more. France also thought
there should be limitation of naval
forces there. Lord John Russell,
supporting this proposition, remarked ''that
the Black Sea was exceptional; that the prin-
ciple of closing the Dardanelles had been
adopted by the public law of Europe; that of
the two powers which alone command the
shores of the Black Sea the one, already very
strong, continually augments its forces, while
the other is weakened by her contest with
Russia. In this state of things England re-
CARDS the excessive increase of the Russian
fleet in the Black Sea as a perpetual menace
hanging over the Bosphorus and CONSTANT
nople. To admit that the Ottoman Empire
is an essential element of the European equi-
hbrium, and to wish to maintain at the same
time perpetual menace directed against that
empire, is fragrant inconsistency.
While Russia rejected the principle of a
limitation of naval forces as incompatible
with her dignity, Prince Gortschakoff SUBJ
mitted a document rebutting the charge
against Russia of abusing her preponderance
in the Black Sea, and proposing to open the
Dardanelles and Black Sea to the flags of all
nations on condition that Russian ships should
have the right with the consent of the
Porte) to pass out as freely as the others
entered. This was negatived absolutely by
Turkey, England, and France as totally
incompatible with their policy and objects,
.
Although Lord RUSSELL with M. Drouyn de
Lhuys, leant towards the principle of a
counterpoise between the Russian aud Turk
ish fleets in the Black Sea, the British Gov
ernment insisted that the limitation should
be absolute. In q circular to the Queens
representatives abroad, Lord Clarendon made
the following remarks, which have not yet
lost their appropriateness or force:-
Russia has asserted that a regard for her dignity
precludes her from acceotng TO the terms proposed
by the allies ON the third point. But the dignity
of Russia cannot require that she should keep up IN
time OF peace, and on the immediate threshold OF
her weaker neighbOr, force wholly unnecessary
shortest notice to subvert the independence of that
neghbor, and to change the territorial distribution
OF Europe. Yet such is the position which Russia
has maintained in the Black Sea, and which she has
even now publicly avoWed her determination not to
It is needless to dwell on the absence OF any mo-
tive OF sef-preserVanon to justify this determination
on the part OF Russia. 1t would be a mockery To
pretend that she has anything to fear from the hos
tilty OF Turkey; and waile Turkey is at peace and
free from threatened attack by Russia, aud while
the Straits between the Mediterranean and The
Black Sea are closed except to a small and limited
number OF ships OF war of the Western powers,
Russia has nothing to fear from the naval forces OF
England and France; while, ON the other hand, the
present state OF things in the Black Sea demon
strates that when war exists between Russia and
Turkey and when the straits are consequently open
10 all the naval forces OF the Sutan's allies Rnp
land and France II suhcient time be Afforded them
can collect In the Euxine naval armament stronp
enough to sweep from the waters OF that sea e7erS
ship bearing the nag OF Russia.
Russia has, indeed, aleged that the preponder
ance which she wishes TO maintain In the Rlack
Sea is essential for the security OF the
Turkish empire against the aggressions o.
OF the Western powers, but from tht
traditional, and II is not too much TO say ayowed
policy OF Russia that the Turkish Empire has dange
to apprehend. The present has been under
taken to provide securities tinst those ambitious