The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-08
The Turkish Question Under Diplo-
matte Treatment.

matte Treatment.
The Eastern question has now passed into
another phase, and diplomacy, which for
the last six months has never been idle.
has resumed its functions under new con-
ditions. Gen. TcHERSAYEFF and the Sir
dar Ekrcm will no longer be able TO upset
the delicate combinations of foreign Cabi-
nets by sudden proclamations or unex.
pected victories, and the war of pens will
be waged untrammelled by military COM
plications.
The immediate task TO which diplo-
matists will have probably, in the first
instance, to apply themselves, will be
TO settle the prelminaries to a general
conference. This is in itself so difficult
that IL is quite possible that the two
months armistice may expire before the
powers can agree upon the terms under
which a conference shall be held. In the
first place. the lines OF demarcation be-
tween the contending armies have to be
fixed, and various details affecting their
position must be agreed upon with Turkey.
II Russia really does not desire
conference, II will be easy for her TO
propose such conditions as Turkey will ind
II difficult 10 accept, or which may seem to
the other powers to be too onerous. II Is
probable, in order not TO put herself in the
wrong with the rest Of Europe, that she
will ultimately yield these, but negota-
delay. The exact position which Turkey
will occupy in the conference will also
have to be defined; and lastly. the general
propositions to be discussed must be ar
ranged before the conference can meet
II is to be presumed, from the attitude as
sumed by Germany, that she will take no
part in these preliminary questions. Its not
Improbable that Italy will also hold aloof,
and that the powers chiefly concerned
will be those more directly interested, viz (:
Russia, England, Austria, and TO n lesser
extent France. All of the signatory powers
to the treaty of 1856 will, however much
they may maintain q reserve in the early
stages of the negotiations, necessarily be
invited TO the conference. But that treaty
will, in fact, prove the greatest difficulty
with which the powers Will have TO con-
tend. However unpleasant the prospect
may be, England and France had better
make up their minds at once 10 see, as one
consequence of the conference, the treaty
which was the result OF the Crimean war
torn up.
Up TO this time Russia has carefully
avoided any allusion TO this treaty; but
II is impossible to imagine that any So
luton of the question can be satisfactory
to her which does nos give her back all
she lost by it, with something more. IL is
not difficult TO show how she may be di-
reotly aiming at this result. She has de-
manded from Turkey what II will be i'm
possible for the Porte TO grant or agree to,
even under the pressure OF all Europe.
Whatever concessions the Sultan may
make in regard to Serva and Montene-
gro, whatever guarantees he may be forced
10 yield under eompulsion to secure the
administrative or even the political au-
lonomy of Bosnia aud Herzegovina, he can
never oongent 10 grant such an autonO-
my for Bulgaria. This would be equiva-
lent to the extinction OF Turkey as Flu
ropean power, and of this Russia, III de-
| mauding it, is well aware; but the Car
has no desire to extiuguish Turkey as a
European power at present, though pop
ular delusion to that effect exists. What
he really wants Is TO get back the slip of
| Bessarabia commanding the northern
mouth Of the Danube, which the treaty OF
1855 took from Russia, and TO obtain, un-
| der proper guarantees, the free passage to
| the Mediterranean for her fleets, through
| the Bosphorus and Dardanelles, which she
has never possessed. Her policy is simple
read by the light of her past diplomacy il
becomes transparent; aud 1t may here be
] remarked-en ndrenttsSs-that. howsvsr