The Portland daily press., 1877-05-08


dny Saturday.
The Sultan Resolved TO Proclaim a Holy
War.
A telegram says the Sultan has resolved to
proclaim holy war.
ATTITUDE OF THE POWERS.
France PrOclaims Neutrality.
PARIS, May IAN official journal publishes
the neutrality decree and an official notification
of the Black Sea blockade.
The Channel Fleet Sent 10 the Medtter.
rRuean.
MANCHESTER, Eng, May THE Guardians
London despatch states that the channel fleet
has received orders to proceed to the Mediter-
ranean. The recent statement about the regl-
ments being assigned to active service is
incorrect.
Derby's Reply to Gortsthakod's Circular,
LONDON, May Lord Derby's answer to
Gortschakoff's circular note dissents from the
conclusions therein expressed. and says that
England cannot endorse Russia's declaration of
war. Russian policy it, says the answer,
sin contravention of the stipulations of the
treaty of Paris, by which Russia and the other
powers engaged to respect the independence
and territorial integrity OF the Ottoman empire.
In the conference of London in 1871, at the
close of which the above stipulation with 9TH
ers was again confirmed, the Russian plenipo-
Tertiary. in communication with those of the
other powers, sigHed a declaration affirming it
to be an essential principle of the law of nations
that no power can lberate itself from the en-
gagement of a treaty nor modify the stpula-
tions thereof, unless with the consent Of the
contracting parties, by means OF an amicabe
arrangement. In taking action against Turkey
on his own part, and having recourse to arms
without further consultation with his allies the
Emperor of Russia has separated himself from
European concert, and has, at the same time,
departed from the rule to which he, himself
had solemnly recorded his consent. 1t is i'm
possible to foresee the consequences of such an
act. Her Majesty's government would willing
ly have refrained from any observations in
regard thereto, but as Prince Gortschakoff
seems to assume, IN his declarations addressed
to all the governments of Europe, that Russia
is acting in the interest of Great Britain and of
the other powers, they feel bound to state, in
manner equally formal and public, that the de-
cision of the Russian government is not one
which can have their concurrence or approval"
The Times ON Derbys Note.
The Times leading article says: "We think
| the Russians assumption of the concurrence of
Europe in her action made formal protest
| imperative. Earl Derby's despatch makes this
| protest with effect and dignity. Our hands at
| all events are free"
The Panic in London.
The Times says the tendency to panic per-
vadeS the city on all Sides in consequence of
| distrust of the governments intentions. 1t
| may pass away, but there is danger that any
bad news now would develop 1T.
Military Preparations in England.
| The dockyard authorities have ordered the
| torpedo gear for the Minotaur completed by the
| 25th instant, month sooner than was origin
| ally arranged, SO that she may proceed to
Plymouth.
Debate on Gladsfone's Resolutions.
The debate on Gladstone's resolutions began
| this afternoon in the Commons. A crowd was
| present both in the House and galleries, Louis
Napoleon and other foreigners were in the
latter.
Aytoun gave notice be would ask Hardy,
Secretary of the War Department, tomorrow
whether it was true that special roster was
prepared for certain regiments for foreign SER
vice, including brigade of Guards.
Mr.. Trevelyan offered an amendment to Mr..
Gladstones resolution, worded as follows:
"The House is of the opinion that the Porte
by its conduct toward its subject populations,
better government, has forfeited all claim to
the moral and material support of Great
Britain"
There was most tumutuous scene.
The House agreed to allow Mr.. Gladstone to
move the resolution with Mr.. Trevelyan's
amendment. The third and fourth resolutions
were abandoned.
In preliminary discussion as to whether
the House should suspend the ordinary bust
ness so as to permit Mr.. Gladstone to move the
resolutions, Mr.. Gladstone explained that he
had given notice of his resolutions in response
to repeated challenges from the Minister'S and
IN order that the opposition should declare its
views in the House. He had never proposed a
removal of the Ministry, but had asserted the
necessity of modification of their policy. He
desired no party advantage. but ne wanted to
relieve his country from most serious risk of
dishonor and guilt. He would be the basest
Of men if, believing that danger existed, he did
not endeavor to avert it,
After the House had agreed to suspend the
ordinary business, Mr.. Gladstone, in moving
his first resolution, said he did not intend to
move censure on the government, because he
did not see that the public interest would be
thereby promoted. He did not refrain because
he believed them unreasonable, for he knew no
chapter in the history of the last sixty years of
our foreign policy SO deplorable as that of the
last eighteen months. He repeated his former
accusation as to Sir Henry Elliotts encourage
ment of the Turks during the conference. The
conference became farce from the moment
Turkey was informed that England would not
enforce any decision that might be arrived at.
There was power behind Lord Salisbury
which determined he should not succeed and
when the Porte was informed of the fact it
drew from the Grand Vizier expressions of
gratitude to Lord Beaconsfeld. Mr.. Layard's
mission was another mistake because Layard
is partisan Of Turkey. A declaration by the
House that Turkey had lost all claim to the
moral and material support of England, was in
his opinion necessary, because under the name
of moral support such had been done as might
at some not distant day be done in the name
of the protection of British Interests. The
squadron sent to Besika Bay had been in.
creased to fleet to overawe the seaboard prov
inces of Turkey. For the last two or three
months we seemed to have been relapsipg into
the position where outrages were to be regard
ed as a matter OF sentimental regret, action in
regard to which was to be determined by what
might be considered British interests. The re-
forms in the Turkish constitution in which
Lord Derby expressed disbelief, were revived in
Earl Derby's answer to Prince Gortschakoff's
circular In that answer Lord Derby not ex-
pressing the feeling of the country, had ven
tured in the name of the country to rebuke the
power which had made itself the organ of the
united governments and the solemn conclus-
ions of Europe. He (Gladstone) looked with
alone. The settlement of the question by Aus
tria and Russia would be unsatisfactory, be-
cause as neighb0ring states they are exposed
to great temptations, but the conscience of
mankind would no longer be content with re.
monstrance and expostulations If we are I'M
prepared to 60 further we must be prepared to
see the duty pass into other hands.
Gladstone declared that the Porte, especially
Midhat Pasha, directly investigated the atroci-
ties 1t is incompatible with the honor of Eng
frances after the atrocities had been mentioned
in royal speech. No British interest is en-
dangered. Russia was not mad enough to
touch British interests. She knew we had
given her magnificent position. She could
plead that what she asked was what all
Europed asked. But Others were content with
refusal and she was not. 1t was terrible
thing to infuse into the minds of Turkish
Christians that Russia was their only hope.
The Eastern question could no longer be trfied
WITH 1t could only be satisfactorily settled
by the united action of Europe. His complaint
against the government was that whenever
they had seemed to concur in promoting united
action they had always done so under condl-
tions that rendered it futile.
He personally adhered to all the resolutions
he had originally placed on paper, but was
thankful for Lord Hartlpgton's aid as far as it
went, and would feel even more thankful for
the aid of the government because ne fully
recognized the importance of unanimity. The
cause of those who revolted against their Turk
ish oppressors was one of the noblest that ever
animated human breast. Whether England
now defended or deserted the cause of the op-
pressed nationaltes the knel of Turkish
tyranny had sounded. Itsa downfall, come
from whose hands it might, would be gladly
accepted by Christendom and the world
Sir Henry Wolff Conservative, deprecated
binding the country to a hard and fast line of
conduct. He moved the House decline to en-
terrain anyi resolution which may embarrass
tho government in itS majntainacca nf paaoo