New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-18
THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE.
sERvIA SAVED by RUSSIA.

TO GIVE ANYTHING HUT HOME RULE-RUssIA
MIsTkUsTED IN ENGLAND.
lFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIbusE
LONDON. Nov 2.-The situation in Turkey at the
present time may be very briefly described. The
Russo-Servian army has been routed. Alexnaz is
practically in the hands of the Turks, and there is
nothing TO prevent them from concentrating their
victory and marching on to Belgrade but the two
months armistice which the Porte has at length
agreed to concede How far the armistice is the re-
suit of the very peremptory ultimatum which Gen.
Ignatie delivered to the Porte on Tuesday night IS
question which is still in doubt, but there can be
no donbt that the Turkish victories inspired the
ultimatum. The possibility of the Turks becoming
vIctors in front Of Aexinatz was evidently contln-
genev which had been left out of account at Lvada
and the receipt of the news may well have caused
some alarm in the counses of the Car Inc ohly
hope of averting a change in the diplomatic rs
well rs the military position lay in compelling Iur-
key at say Aye or No to the question OF snort
armstice with which she has been dallyiDg for the
past month. Accordingly Tuesday, Gen. lanatIeif
was instructed to demand from the Porte the ac-
eeptance of six weeks armistice and suspension
of hostilites within as hours, else break of all
diplomatic relations with the Porte and 10 leave
Constantinople, Notwithstanding the fact that the
a1nistice was practically concluded and in reality
only awaited signature.
Assuming. therefore, that Turkey has conceded all
that Russia asks, il becomes OF less importance 10
examine with minuteness the causes which on the
one hand contributed TO the delay, and on the other
which induced the ultmatum. Still there are one
or two points in which these considerations bear
upon the future and far it is profitable 10 cxam-
inc them III the first place, TO the delay Dld III
arise from the mere diatory method of the Turks,
II. ~, ~aafNga
ouence of the system of Ottoman Government, or
was il part Of preconceived plan to make one last
desperate struggle in Servia before giving over and
thus in the case of victory to place the Porte IN
better diplomatic position than she has all along
heidi II we accept the former alternative it will
only tell against the Porte and make Russia more
exactiug in her requirement of fresh gUaran .ecs
against such administrative impotence, and If the
latter she will hardly be in better position, Tor II
is impossible to regard Turkey in the same hight as
we would regard any other victor. She VIII new
itablv have to be content with the mere hOnor-lt
such indeed il can be called-Of having subdued her
insureeDt vassal. Not inch OF territory will be
allowed her. and any sign of pressing upon the Ser
yians any of the conditions which victor generally
imposes upon the vanquished will meet with "a
sturdy opposition from Russia if not from the other
Powers Again, ~ 10 the ultimatum of Russia.
this step. but none are so feasible the one have
mentioned. For even if the Russians did not fear
that fresh victories would give the upper hand TO
the Turks, they at least knew that All ultimstum
would place the appearance la their favor, and they
could point the armisticc the result OF their
demand.
Here then is ampl, room for the recurrence Of
new az hcultits. The great hope Of succcs, lies In
the ~. era,ion Of the SHtan and his advisers, but
the turn Of events in front of NeXinliz may vel
AID new difficulties in inducing the Porte e. refuse
much that has been asked Of 10 ami bat nudpnsly
10 yield great deal more Since the accession Of
the new Sultan, however, the prospect Of Turkey
placing herself IN anita gouism 10 the rest of Europe
has very mach diminished. No one seems 80 thor
ouchly TO grasp the situation as he and for the rt
time it appears that a Sultan is on the throne who
knows what Western opinion requires of his Gov
eminent. He cannot forget that tie present is the
crisis with his country If she is to DE revived at all
or made worthy of the position of European power
now is the last opportunity which viii be given her
Of making herself so. The opportunity even now is
not of the best the surest unless the work l. nm
dertaken in n spirit which viii command the conf
dence Of the other Powers. The way IN which the
Sultan has always met the suggestions Of the
Powers, and indeed the way in which the Porte re-
ceved the ultmatum of Russia, is not tho least
hopeful sign that far AS Turkey is concerned, the
probabilities of peace are not in great danger. TGr
key seems willing 10 consent to almost anything
which does not involve autonomy of the Christian
provinces. She has shown a disposition 10 consent
10 any number Of reforms and 10 give guarantees
for their performance. The new Sultan has given
some of the worst enemies of his country the belief
that he is in earnest, and the only danger appre-
hended is that when it comes to the point the Mus
hot
proposals for reform will go the way Of all their
predecessors.
If we turn to the other Power most Interested in
the negotiations we see at once less hopeful
outlook. Apart from certain minor considerations,
il is not in the interest of Russia to have peaceful
solution of the present difficulty. As recent
writer in The Quarterly Rerec pointed ont with such
clearness her traditions her policy, and her diplo-
macy have ever been ayerse TO the maintenance of
the Turkish Empire. We have seen from Seryia
what might be the effect Of a chain of autono-
nous States under the nominal suzeranty
of the Porte and Turkey may well essay 10 fight
rather than yield such point to Russia. Ii cannot
be denied that if Russia is not playing what ~ fam
iliarly known "A waiting game, she is at least
keenly on the alert 10 gain every advantage which
can be secured. feeling of mistrust in Russia,
which is daily increasing, has among English
politicians This feeling has certainly received a
great stimulus from recent occurrences but
however originating, however stimulated. il is rank
political hcrcsy now to regard Russia in the
light of peacefully disposed power. At the pres
ent moment Mr. Gladstone is the only official pOlit
clan of any note who stands by the Muscovte and
processes To believe in his good intentions. The
ton that Russia is the dsintercstcd friend Of the
oppressed Christians has quite passed away. II
may be urged that Russian finances are not in po-
stion to stand the drain Of war; aud that her adj