The Portland daily press., 1877-05-11
London Economist
England and the War

1t is evident that any great military changes
in Asia Minor would, in the opinion of the
best military authorities, tend to affect India
ana the security Of; our hold upon it. The
growth or extension of strong military power
tnere would, it is argued, tend to throw upon
inola and ourselves more serious permanent
charges for military defense than those we now
Dear. In certain conceivable cases this should,
OF course, be submitted to. Were an indigo
nous peaceful power to grow up in
these regions, however strong it might be,
1t would be our clear duty to accept any addi-
tonal charge which would be thrown upon us
by the mere neghborhood of such power,
however peacefully inclined we might know it
to be. To act otherwise would be to commit
the mistake of France in trying to prevent the
unity of Germany in 1870. But there are other
cases in which the question is not so simple
where the military power is foreign one and
OF known aggressive character. The question,
it il urged, would then arise how far it may be
eIDedient to tolerate the approach of such a new
neighbor, whether there can ever be anything
more than an armed truce between us, and
whether we should not seek to avoid permanent
military burdens Of An oppressive kind by open
temporary warfare. The question is especially
important for Eugland, because it is quite ia
telligible that the introduction of highly de-
veloped state of military preparation would
alter our social and constitutional arrange
ments to an intolerable extent. At present we
are the only one among the great European
powers which has small army, and that raised
by voluntary enlstment-a condition of things
WEIGH has many advantages to compensate its
drawbacks. But if we are to be placed in dread
OF immediate attacks from great military DOW
ers on vital points Of our imperial position an
army OF this sort may no longer suffice. And
the existence of great military power such as
Russia in Asia Minor, within a comparatively
short distance OF the Euphrates Valley and
even OF the Suez Canal, especially allowing for
the circumstance that the same power is en-
eamped in Central Asia, and may make a
demonstration" against India thence, would
certainly raise the question whether our mill
tary preparations should not be wholly changed
in kind.
We haye thus "a keen Interest to see what
Russia does in Asia Minor, aud the first events
may be of great Importance to us. 1t may be
the most prudent policy to let events take
their course to allow Russia to add to her trans
Caucasian territory without check, as it has
added to its Central Asian territory, and CUB
init to the Increased burden Of military prepar-
alton rather than 60 to war; but we shall hence
forth If Russia succeeds, according to the best
authorities, have only the two alternatives, and
this is the Inconvenience of the policy Russia
10 pursuing. The received policy on which our
statesmen have long acted is that we should
not anticipate possible future wars by present
ones, but it is likely enough now that there
Will be strong counter-feeliDg. and there will
also be much popular discomfort If an increase
suit Of the present Russian proceedings. No
graver questions Of policy could we'll be raised
than those which are likely to come before us
should Russia have great success on the
Asiatic frontier OF Turkey We should certain
ly recommend the postponement of any hos
tile action until Russia, as the prize of her sue
cess, proceeds to make serious additions to her
territory in Asia; but we fear the possible ex.
element on the subject, and we cannot say that
1t would be wholly unjustified.
Our conclusion is shat in Russian attack on
European Turkey we should stand by for the
present, but Russian attack on Asiatic Tur-
key will be very serious matter. The meas
seriously the attention of the Cabinet and of
Parliament. In any case the development of
the Russian attack both in Asia and Europe
will require the utmost vigilance. If an event
occurs to dispose either combatant to make
peace, the government should be prepared with
every means to use that event to 4he utmost,
and SO prevent the extension Of the war