The Ottawa free trader., 1876-11-18
FOREIGN NEWS.
TIE EASTERN QUESTION.

two months armistce that has been extorted
from Turkey, fails apparently to meet the
hearty acquiescence Of the great powers that
was anticipated. OF course, the assent of
Russia before all others was essential, and to-
make the dose as paatable as possible to that
power, the basis of the conference was made
10 cover the integrity, but not the absolute
dependence of Turkey. To this Russia is
SAID to have returned bland reply, asserting
10 the proposed conference, but as a sort Of
explanatory note to such assent, the Gar
made an extraordinary speech at Moscow,
announcing his purpose to insist on certain
essential preliminary points, as the disarma-
ment of:the entire population of Bosnia,
Herzegovina and Bulgaria, without distinc.
ton of nationality or creed; the abolition of
irregular troops; native Christian to be ap-
pointed by the porte in each of the provinces
named, with various other important reforms,
based on the principles of justice which
have been recognized as necessary by the
whole of Europe to be carried out in Turkey
under efflcacious guarantees" And that
these etlicacious guarantees" might not be
wanting, whatever the outcome of the pre-
posed conference might be, the Car takes
steps at once to mobilize his army to place
immense bodies of soldiers on the Turkish
frontier, and to act, in all respects, as if war
had already been declared and was IN active
progress between Russia and the porte. Yet,
in the face of these menacing demonstrations,
the Czar processes anxiety that the confer
ence shall meet without delay, and that Its
deliberations shall result in maintaining the
peace of Europe. Turkey, under the circum-
stances, assents to the conference with mani.
fest msglvlng and reluctance, but being
threatened with deserlion by England in case
of refusal, has no other choice, though fol
lowing the example OF Russia in mobilizing
her armies. France, Italy, Germany and
Austria are supposed to assent to the confer
ence without special alacrity, and evidently
with no overwrought confidence in its results.
Meantime no date is fixed for the meeting OF
the conference, and no preliminary steps are
taken to arrange the programme.
In the midst of these movements, however,
with difficulties. While the government has
no other aim than to prop up the "slck man.
substantially In his present position, the
atrocities in Bulgaria and the other Turkish
provinces lnIEurope have raised such an un-
der-current OF pro- Russian feelngthroughou
England as to seriously endanger the tenure
of the present ministry. The pro-Russan
feeling finds ominous expression in the Lon
don Times as follows:
"Supposing the armistice expires without
a conference, or the conference fails, the cZar
would declare war, Gisavowing probably
desire to add to the Russian domlnions, or
any other object than securing good govern
ment tor his Slavonic brethren Many would
say this was'mere hypocrisy and falsehood,
but 1t is clear that England could find pre-
tense for interfeI renee until much more had
happened than the outbreak of such war
for such an avowed purpose. The time
might come when we, declaring to the sultan
our regrets at the inevitable partition of his
dominions, might be obliged to demand that
he shoula resign Constaniinople to power
able to take care of it,"
The Times says it does not suppose 1t would
come to this, and adds:
nc car WOulu DSlOTe Hc pIUNOhSu u
crisis calling for Englands intervention
with Servia aggrandzed and Independent,
with Roumanla independent and aggrandized
south OF the Danube IN exchange for territory
ceded to Russia on the north-he would stop
well contended with what he had done in q
work the completion whereof must be left for
another time But what a result this wonld
be of policy having for its first note the
maintenance ofthe independence and integrity
of the Ottoman empire. What we have de
scribed is the probable course of events 10
which we must look forward if the armistice
expires without peace being proclaimed.
Without saying that under no circumstances
could a shot be fired from English cannon,
this much may be unhesitatingly declared
that If Russia took up the war from Servla
failing hands English opinion would no more
justify armed opposition to Russia than 1t
did justify armed opposition to Servla, ana
the diplomacy of Russia would show itself
altogether deficient IN the sagacity attributed
to it if il did not so describe the objects OF
the war and restrict It's operations so as 10
prevent the occurrence of any sufficient reH
son for our interfering"
On the other hand the Pal Nal Gazette,
referring to the article OF the Times, says:
with such evidence as this afforGs of the
attitude OF England, Russian opinion is only
too likely to be content. That 1t will te Ut
terly and most dangerously mistaken we need
not say, but mistake of this kind has al
ready once in the history of these two nations
been detected too late, and IN any case it is
dlsuuieling to find that Russia is entering
upon difficult and critical negotiation un-
der as profound a deluslOn as TO the temper
of this country as that which precipitated the
CrImean war"
England.
Heavy gales on the channel coast prevailed
on : lrday, resulting IN a number of disas-
ters to shipping.
About SSOO,00O on Saturday, S300,000 on
Monday, and S50O,COO on Tuesday, in Amer
lean Eagles, were Withdrawn from the Bank