The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-17
The Black Sea Question.
The London Conference.
The Meeting To-day.
Etc., ETC.. Estc.s Etc.s Etc.
THE BLACK SEA QUESTION.

The Circumsinpces under which the London
Conference Meets-Thc Present Position of
the Question,
The European Conference which begins It's
deliberations to-day In London has been caused
by the circulars addressed, in November, to the
principal European powers by Prince Gortscba-
koff. In these he declared that Russia would
no longer consider herself bound by the Treaty
of Paris 80 far as it restricted her from having
ships of war in the Black Sea. Addressing Eng
land, who, next to Turkey, was the most deeply
interested in the Treaty, Prince Gortschakoff
pointed out the various ways in which 1t had
been violated, and the manifest injustice of pre-.
venting Russia from properly defending her own
coast He then, in these explicit terms, defined
the decision of the Czar:-
"Our august master cannot admit In law that the
treaties, infrnged Ia several OF their essential and
general clauses, remain obligatory in those which
touch the direct interests of his empire. His Impa-
rial Majesty cannot admit, in fact, that the security
OF Russia should depend on fiction which has not
withstood the test OF time, and be pu In peril by his
respect for engagements which have not been OBJ
in the sentiments OF equity OF the sgnatary powers
OF the Treaty o 1856 and in the consciousness they
that his Imperial Majesty can longer consider
himself bound by the obligations OF the Treaty OF
OF sovereignty In the Black Sea-"
The Russian Chancellor, however, added that
the Emperor was ready to come to under
standing with the powers who signed this ar
rangement either to confirm it's general stipula-
tions or TO renew them, to substitute for
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 outburst of indignation in England.
The leading journals declared that il was "im-
possible to admit for moment the Cars
assumption; that the question involved the
very existence of England as power, and that
the ''retraction of the Russian circular should
be demanded under the penalty of immediate
war;" The Government reply was as firm, but
not as defiant in toue, as that of the British
press. Earl Granville under date of November
10, represented that the course pursued by
Russia virtually amounted to multiplying
the entire treaty, and, after dealing with
the arguments of the Russian Chancellor OBJ
served that 1t was impossible for her Majesty's
government to give any sanction on their part
to the course announced by Prince Gortscha-
koff, aud concluded by observing that if Rus
sia had proposed the question of modifying the
treaty, with the approval of the powers who
were parties to it, the British Government
would be quite willing to discuss the matter;
and that, ''whatever might have been the result"
a risk OF future complications would have been
avoided.
Prince Gortschakoff replied, on Nov. 20, that
the attempts to assemble the powers in gene
raj conference had invariably failed, and that,
in the meanwhile, ''the position in which the
treaty left Russia has become more and more
intoerable." He then, without modifying in
any way the tenor of the original note, made
the following observations, which convey the
consent of Russia to the present conference,
and Indicate the character its deliberations will
assume:-
1--WE cannot admit that the abrogaton OF purely
theoretical principle, lot followed by its immediate
application and which vislbly restores to Russia
right Of which no great power could consent to be
deprived, ought to be considered as a menace to
OF 1856, the abrogation of all is inped. The Impe-
rial Cabinet nevsr had any such intention. On the
contrary, our communicating Of 0ctooer 10 declared
peror maintained his adhesion to the general prln-
ciples OF the treaty of 1856, and that he is ready
TO come 10 an agreement with the signatary
powers OF that treaty. either 10 confirm its general
stpulatioDs or renew them, or 10 substitute
which may be thought suitable to se.
cure the repose OF the East and the equilibrium of
Europe. There seems, then, to be no reason why
the Cabinet OF London should not, II it please,
into explanation with the signataries OF the
Treaty OF 1856. For our part, we ready to join
In any deberation having for It's object the settle
ment OF guarantees for the consolidation OF peace
In the East, and are persuaded that fresh guarau-
tees would he found ia the removal OF permanent
cause OF irritation existing between the two powers
tual relations would be more firmly established on
the basis OF good and solid understanding"
Earl Granville promptly proceeded to issue
invitations for "a Conference to meet January 3,
but subsequently postponed IL until the 18th inst
The diplomatic correspondence of Russia with
Austria resulted in Austria virtually acceding to
the proposed infraeticn, while disappearing of
the form in which IL was made known to the
several powers. AS regards Germany, it is
now beyond doubt that there is a secret treaty
between her and Russia. wherein the right to
practically nullify the Treaty of Paris is ac-
regards the deliberations of the coming Con-
ference with Indifference, looking upon il
evidently only brief respite from further
exactiOns on the part of Russia, and as, like
many similar assemblages the prelude to a
desperate war. Italy maintains on this Ques-
tion the same reserve that she has shown
towards the belligerents ia the Franeo-German
war. France is no longer able to dictate to
Europe, and will be more concerned for her
own safety than that of Turkey. So far the
Government of National Defense has not made
known its views on the question at issue.
The Powers who were parties to the treaty OF
1856, and their probable representatives at the
Conference, are as follows: England, Far
Granville; Austria, Count Apponyi; Prussia
Count Bernstorff; France no representativ,
named; Italy, Count Cadorna; Russia, BaroI
Brunow; Turkey, Monsonrons hlsha.
"A Chicago paper estimates that 5000 ladies
received calls in that city on New Years Day