New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-14
ENGLAND md RUSSIA.

"A might have been antlcIpatcu, dltcr lHc
events of the past six months, the acceptance
of an armisticc in the East is only the begin
ming of new difficulties. The old jealousy, the
incladicablc suspicion, the long rivalry OF
interests burning under the placid surface Of
diplomatic intercourse, already flame out again
Where there is so much fire, there must be
great deal of smoke, and it is sometimes quite rs
dangerous to play with the latter as with the
former. The after-dinncr speech OF Lord
BcacOnsiicld, on Thursday last, was intended
to bc mainly smoke, which, it is well known
seemingly magnilies by obscuring; yet there
WAS the flash of a lighted brand at the close,
and on Friday sharp, answering fash
streamcl over Europe from Moscow. Neither
of these manifestations was necessary but, II
one did not actually provoke the other, the
coincidence is very remarkable.
Russia appeared to have taken m unassaila-
bic position by making her ultmatum to Iur-
key virtually accord with those demands OF
England which Turkey had already rejected
These it will be remembered, included reforms
i'm the government of the insurgcnt provinces.
Lord Derby was forced to conccdc that much
to the overwhelming sympathy OF the English
people with the tortured BugarianS; and al
though England RETAINED from further urging
her demands after Turkeys refusal, she was
none the less declared from protesting against
Ruysa's course in substantially repeating them
This the latter Power did, in the most ciicctua
way-wth an army ready for invasion stand
ing behind her words. Turkey yielded to the
pressure, and thcn-thc world supp"sed-thcrc
was a basis for negotiations upon which all
could readily unite. But more than week
ha, passed and we lean, in spite of Lord
BcaconSiicld's declaration to the contrary, that
all the Powers are not yet agreed and hence
that the proceedings looking toward peace
have not yet been formally inau2nrtcd.
It is. therefore, surprising that Lord Bcacons-
field, at such critical juncturc, Should have
spoken 50 nconsidcmtely. He simply repeats
the ancient policy in regard 10 the territorial
"intcg.ity" of Turkey. barely aliuding TO the
proposed reforms of internal administration,
without which that territorial integrity cannot
be- preserved. Ills declaration that the Russian
ulimatum was unnecessary, and the threat of
war with which he closed hi, address, were in
direct antasoni,m To his acknowledgment of
lussas readiness to act in accord with En-
Gland. II /, naturally assumed that the tenor
rival Power. and if they reached Moscow, as
Is reported, two or three hours before Alex
audcr II. was called upon TO speak, hc I'M
doubtcdly answered England in addressing his
own people He boldly expressed the point
concerning which Lord Bcaconsucll was silent
tho necessity of adequate guarantees FOR the
better treatment Of the Christian subjects of
Turkey.
This, then, is ihc present situation. Russia
stands ready to 20 to war for the sake of
guaranteed reform England is ready 10 90 to
war for territorial integrity. There is no
necessary conflict here: let each accept the
Others condition II there were time for .
years dclibcrtion, such would probably be
the result; but Turkey SETTLING with fierce
cXcit,mcuts, cannot afford to Wait. There Is u
lul in the confusion the only effective soii-
ton of the difficulty is becoming tolcrably
clear to the world, and this is no time Tor
menace and cOuntrr-mcnacc. II War Is Z" De
avoided, there must be an end oil speaking
and "a beginning of work. Above al, common
sense and mutual Cancellation must take the
ulacc of tradition and suspicion.