The New York herald., 1876-12-27
AN EVASIVE ANSWER EXPECTED.
Plain Words to the Porte from the
British Representative.
THE RUSSIANS NEARING THE PRUTH.
The French Senate and the Chamber-Dis.
cussing the Situation.
[BY CABLE TO THE HEaALp.l

BIZ CABLE TO THE HERALD.
LONDON, Dec. q, 1876.
The most significant this morning Is despatch
which foreshadows the probable action OF England In
the event OF tho Porto refusing comply with the
demands OF the Powers.
WILL ENGLAND ABANDON TURKEY?
despatch from Constantnopc says the Marquis Of
Salisbury will demand to-day from the Sultan his
cepancc Of the proposals agreed upon by the Powers
Should the Sultan refuse Lord Salisbury is instructed
leave Constantnope and ordor the British fleet TO
quit Turkish waters.
THE BRITISH FLEET ORDERED TO THE PrRxUs.
special dispatch from Pera states that the British
Admiral at Beska ay has received orders to move
his fleet to tho Pir@us, which is better winter
anchorage. The change has political significance.
PORTE WARNED rixEs
Tho Times leader referring to this report says the
concerning tho withdrawal of tho neot appears
ut all events premature but credits the despatch,
which is later IN date, concerning Lord Sails
bury's representations TO the Sultan, and concludes
that tho Porte may rest assured that the first snot
fired in defiance OF the united demands of Europe
would be tho beginning OF the end. Neither England
any other Power would interposc save it from
ruin II might havc more foes than Russia even az
the outset
THE PLEyIPoTExTIARIRs TO WITHDRAW.
Other dispatches from Constantinope say It is un-
flenlpOtcntarleS
should tho Sultan reject the proposals submitted
him to-day. Tho respective embassies would then be
intrasied with the direction OF affairs. Reports are
that the Turkish Council OF Ministers decided
yesterday 10 reject the proposals. and that In the
Of war tho Porte viii its Armenian, Greek, Bulga-
rian and Christian subjects. Edheim Pacha has been
appointed permanent President of the Council OF State
TURKISH OBJECTIONS.
The Porte does not appear TO have decided
brmally to reject the proposals OF the Euro
tcan Powers Midhat Pacha has visited the Am
bassadors andP enipotentiaries During tho conver-
sation which took place he said to have oreshad-
owed that Turkey would raise objections especially
relation to the guarantees and the foreign gendarmere
but n Ia stated he did not speak OF an absolute
refusal
TIE POWERS UNANIMOUS.
The Marquis OF Salisbury yesterday Informed the
Sultan that the Powers unanimous in insisting
the adoption OF their propositions. and in the event
Of q refusal the Ambassadors would quit Constant-
nople
THE PoRrR's REPLY DELAYED
The Porte will not mako known its Intentions until
the sitting Of the Conference Thursday. It
believed the armistce will be prolonged and prompt
solution Of the pending questions is expected.
EXPECTED EvAsrvE REPLY.
A despatch from Vienna reports that the Political
Correspondence Of that city says 'the latest re-
ceived in St. Petersburg indicates that the Porte will
give svasive reply to the proposals. This would
make the situation hopeless, the conditions SUBJ
mitted are considered unsusceptble 10 modinca-
tion A proongation Of the armisticc until January
18th is proposed"
OF THE INTEGRITY THE RxPIRx.
Tho plenipotentares are said TO exclude from the
term Bulgaria all localities wherc the Mussulmans
are In majority Tho Porte is still firmly resolved
rot ynaka any vrhich IN tho
maintenance Of the integrity of the Empire, TO
grant broad administrative authority to tho Provinces
nor the disarmament OF the Mussulmans
PRESS CRISIS.
lie Phdre dn Bosphore (ncwspaper) to-day publishes
IN article the crisis, concluding as follows:-"Non-
;avonic people will consent TO being sacrificed
o Pan.Slavism, but Will fight, and, IL victorious, will
lavc the satisfaction OF having saved not only
lional existence but British interests
ArsrRIA's ATTITUDE ENCOURAGES THE FORTE.
Berlin correspondent reviewing the situation says
tho moderation OF Russa's demands is largely oue
to Austra's military preparations. Tho force which
Austria has prepared for mobilization in Croatia,
Pennsylvania and Dalmatia numbers 90 Oo0 Austria's
uttudc however. has proportonatcly encouraged the
Porte in its disposition to resist the reforms.
BELGIUM AND OCCUPATION !.
Brussels despatch says:-The independence Beige
says the Belgian government up to tho present time
has only received purely confidential overturcs con-
serning the occupation Of Bulgaria II SAID that
Minister Malon has notified Belgian representatives
,broad that Belgium, without absolutely rejecting the
request which may eventually be made to her, would
10 obliged TO mako her acceptance conditional OBJ
aiming certain financial and moral guarantees. The
ndepcndence doubts whether there is any chance OF
,he Powers accepting Bclgum's conditions.
Rad TEMPER MussuLnASs
sra temper OF the Mussulmans induces doubt whether
The sultans reply on Thursday be favorable The
question OF the extension Of the armsticc will bo
preached and it's solution will clearly reveal tho n.en-
lions OF Turkey.
THE RUSSIAN HEADQUARTERS ADVANCING.
Avienna despatch says some believe the question OF
proiongng the armisce will be made dependent upon
Turkey giving decisive declaration on the subject
OF reforms and guarantees This TO tally
with news IRON Kischenen that preraratons
making 10 advance tho Russian headquarters TO
Chotn, on the frontier Tho signal for this
movement was expected from Consantinoplc No one
at the Russian headquarters doubted that tho army
would cross the Pruth at skulka in the direction of
Jassy, when tho headquarters would be transferred to
Urgheri II is calculated that this movement would
take place about tho 10th OF January. This
date important, as IL comedies with
tho expiration OF tho fortnight's proonga-
ton Of tho armsticc advocated by Russia
The above ncws from Kischcnen evidently de-
spaichcd before the time. Tor tho second meeting OF
the Conference altered from Tuesday to Thursday.
TBg GRAyD NICHOLAS ILL.,
telegram from ST. Petersburg says The Grand Duke
Nicholas commander OF the southern army, has been
NJ since the i9th An official bulletin, signed by
nvc physicians has been published In 81 Petersburg.
stating that the Grand Duke Nicholas taken III on
December 10 with abdominal COMPLAINT. caused by
a cold ana there was improvement IN his condition
up TO tho evening OF December ~
rrr ESTIMATES FRENCH cnAnngR.
A despatch from Versailles says the Senate ycstcr
day passed the estimates Tor 1877 and adjourned. The
chs,nber OF Deputies, on motion OF N. Gambeta