The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-09
The British Case Against Russia and ID
Support Of the Treaty Of 1856.
Earl Granville's Circular to
Prince Gortschak0ff.
What the London Press SalG
at That Moment.
THE CASE-NOW AND THEM.

The following important compilation, taken from
the iles OF the HERALD, Will be read with greae
interest by the American people, as affording evt-
dence of England's policy with respect to the OBJ
servance OF treaties and their sancty, set forth
IN her arguments against the Russian diplomacy ID
1870 towards the Treaty OF Parts and her own
course to-day with regard to the Treaty OF Washing
ton and the Geneva Court arbitration.
During the progress OF the Franco-German war
Europe was somewhat more startled even than 10
had been by Napoleon's aggressive attack upon
Prussia by the announcement oy the Russian gov
eminent OF It's intention or repudiang those artt-
Giles OF the Treaty OF 1855, signed at Paris, which
related to the maintenance OF the neutrality OF the
Black Sea. The English Cabinet received circu.
lar from Prince Gortschakon, the Chancellor OF
the Gear, which declared In plain and de-
cisive terms the purpose OF his government to
set at naught the pledges OF It's faith and that with
out consulting the other parties to the settlement
or asking for conference upon the subject. The
tone OF the note was very arrogant The indigna-
ton Of the British Parliament and of the British
people and press expressed itself In very strong
terms. and 1t seemed that bellicose Old Johu Bull
was really again aroused to add fresh force to ha
old reputation OF being fighting gentleman.
England's Reply to Russia.
Earl Granville sent the following note to Sir A.
Buchanan, the Queens Minister at st. Peters
burg
FOREIGN OFFICE 1870
me 20 e the
the Emperor OF Russia ana the sultan, limiting their
naval forces In the Black Sea, signed at Paris on
the 30tn March. 1870 TO which you aude In your
telegram OF yesterday afternoon In my despatch
OF yesterday gave you an account OF what passed
between US. and l now propose TO observe upon
Prince Gortschakon's dispatches of the 10th and
20th ult., communicated to me by the Russian Am
bassador on that occasion, Prince GortschaKor de-
clares on the part OF His Imperial Majesty that
the Treaty OF 1866 has been lnlrnRed In various
especially In the case OF the PrinclpaIltes against
explicit protest or his representative ana that
IN consequence of this lnfraction Russia Is entitled
to renOunce those sttpuatOn5 OF the treaty which
directly touch her interests. 1t Is then announced
that she will no longer be bound oy the treaties
which restrict her rights OF sovereignty In the Black
Sea. We have an allegation tnat certain facts
have occurred which, IN the Judgment Of Russia.
treaty. and the assumption Is maze that Russia.
upon the strength Of her own Judgment as to the
SELF from certain other stpulatlons Of that nstru-
ment This assumption Is limited. In It's practical
DH The assumption OF a right 10 renounoe anu ore
OF its terms t1UOLceS the assumption or rt0M On
renounce tne ,onoe: This statement IS wholly indie
merits, OF the desire OF Russia TO be released
from the observations OF the .stipularions OF the
treaty of 1856 respecting the Black Sea- For the
question Is, In whose hands lies the power OF releas
been parties to the original instrument The de-
J spatches OF Prince GOrtschakOn appear to assume
that any or the POtcers 1oIiO hare signed the
cement may aue0e that occurrences haze taken
place y0hch IN its opinion are at variance nth ma
br0visf0its 6rthe treaty; and although this view Is
not shared admitted by the cosignatory Powers
they may found upon that allegation not request to
those governments for the consideration or tina
| case, but an announcement TO them that tt has
emancpated itself, or holds itself emancpated from
any stipuatOns Of the treaty which It thinks lit tJ
| diSapprove OF. Yet 1t Is quite evident tnat
the eject OF such doctrines and 0r anv proceeding
sDnich ,oih or WITHOUT dvOcai, Is rounded upon 10,
! Is to bring tbs entire authority ana e0cGcv Of
treaties under the discretionary control or each OD6
OF the POtcerS tchO may hare signed the7 the re.
Sult or tchtCh toOuid 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 parties surrenders
portion OF its free agency by the doctrine and pro-
ceeding now In question, one OF the parties, In tes
separate and individual capacity, brings back the
entire subject into its own control and remains
bound only TO user Accordingly Prince Gortschae
kofr has announced In these dispatches the inten-
ton OF Russia to commune TO observe certain OF the
provisions OF the treaty. However satisfactory IN
ITSELF 1t Is obviously expression OF the free VIII
OF that power which 1t might at any time alter or
withdraw and In that 1t Is Just open TO the same OBJ
lection as the other portion OF the communica-
TONS because 1t implies the right Of Russia
70 aanul the treaty on tine ground of
self the only judge. The question, therefore.
arises, not whether any desire expressed Dy Russia
ought to be carefully examined in friendly splrte
BY the co-signatory Powers, but whether they arc
to accept from her the announcement mat on her
o,cn act ,cithOM any consent J,0n. them, she has
released herself from q solemn covenant.
l need scarcely say that Her Majesty's govern