New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-02-28
THE REVISION CONFERENCE.


terested in the Treaty of Paris, Of 1856,
when the Crimean war was settled At
that meeting Austria was represented by
Count Apponyi, Italy by Signor Cadorna,
Prussia by Count Bernstorff, Russia by
Baron Brunnow, and Turkey by Masurus
Pacha. France was not represented and
the conference was adjourned from time
to time until the seventeenth instant, in
order to afford an opportunity for the ar
rival Of French plenipotentiary.
It will be remembered that during the
late Franco-Prussian war Russia took
occasion to express her intention of null
ifying the treaty Of 1856, and OF pro-
ceeding to extremities with her former
antagonists for the supremacy Of the
Black Sea and the possession Of portion
of the Turkish territory adjacent to and
bordering on that sea. The English gov
eminent became alarmed, and, through
its ministers, protested, and demanded an
explanation. Russia responded that in
was under duress, and therefore not bound
to hold to its stipulations any longer
After several diplomatic notes, it was at
last agreed that new conference should
be held for O. revision of that treaty,
and hence the meeting as above stated.
That the subject for which the conference
has been convened, SO far as the interests
of Russia are concerned, IS one Of vital
Importance. can not be denied. 4 Southern
outlet for her navy is what she must have
to contest with England for the mastery
of the seas, and to add to her commercial
prosperity. Besides she still entertains a
desire for aggrandizement and the acquisi-
ton of territory bordering on the Black
Sea at the expense of Turkey in Europe.
The restraint which has been put upon
her by the other great powers OF Europe,
in the treaty of 1856, necessarily partook
of penal character. 1t was, no doubt,
a humiliation to Russia, but it was claimed
that such restrictions should be placed
upon her as would prevent her from again
breaking the peace of Europe as had been
attempted, and which had brought about
the Crimean war.
For fourteen years Russia has been
chatting under the penal stipulations of
this treaty of 1856, but the destruction Of
the military power of France culmi-
mating by the surrender Of the fortress Of
Metz, was favorable time for her to take
advantage of the situation, and announce
that she would no longer be bound by that
treaty, as far as it related to the neutral
ization of the Black Sea. and would hence
forth treat the provisions Of it which had
that end in view as Of no force. Sebas-
topol had been destroyed, and the Black
Sea. which washes the southern coasts of
Russia, had been neutralized. and
no ships of war beyond the
small size, were permitted to appear in
the waters of the Euxine. During the
years that have passed since the close Of
the Crimean war. Russia has been MAX
ing all the necessary preparations for re-
newal Of the struggle at the first favorable
opportunity. The wars with borde. eau
casian and other Asiatic tribes around
the Black Sea. and between the southern
Russian boundary in Asia, and the Anglo
Indian possessions have some time since
ceased. Gradually the Russian govern
ment has been increasing its military and
naval power, and establishing an1 build
ing railroads and other means OF COM
munication within the vast territory of
that country for the final trial of strength
with those powers which had crippled and
placed her in forced subsection, and had
thwarted her ambitious designs.
England especially INDUCES the hope
that the convention will settle the diff
Guilty and dispose Of Russian demands
quietly and peacefully, and some Of her
people look upon the whole matter and
the conference as mere diplomatic for
mality, having no serious political signifi-
canoe. It is apparent, however, by the
action of the English government, the
proceedings Of her ministry and Parlia-
ment in relation to placing her army and
navy upon war footing, the desire to
effect settlement of accounts between
herself and our government, that she is
not altogether sanguine in regard to the
peaceful adjustment Of the differences
which are to be submitted to this Russian
treaty revision conference.
Heretofore she has had the advantage
in the making of treaties with and for the |
other European powers, and the mainte-
nance Of her views in relation to the |
undue extension of limits Or boundaries, |
and the improper absorption Of territory, !
by being represented by her best states
men and plenipotentiaries, and by her
power and influence has carried ont her
system OF diplomatic settlement Of inter
national differences which have invaria-
bly, enured to the benefit of that nation.
All this was well so long as England stood
IN the front rank Of the military powers of
Europe but the past twenty years, with
the progress of invention and improve
ment in the appliances for the prosecution
OF successful war, has caused hitherto
dependent and inferior powers to redress