The Red Cloud chief., 1877-05-17

allowed In its waters. Russia was h
disarm. and the Notifications on tn.
Black Sea coast were TO be dismArtiet
The Christian provinces Of Wailachis
and Noldavia, lying between Austris
and Turkey. were formed into the in
dependent principality OF Roumania
and placed under the guardianship OF
Europe.
In 1870, when France was powerless
and England embarrassed. Russia re
coded from certain provisions Of the
treaty Of Paris and placed a war fest
On the Black Sea. She began the work
Of putting her army on a war footing
and under various ~pretenses. made ready
for the coming struggle.
The Herzegovinian instruction o!
two years ago was the rebellion Of the
Christians Of that province against
Turkish taxation and persecution. Ser.
via was drawn into the conflict AM
as Servia was a creation Of the treaty
| Of Paris-made semi-independent under
the rule of native princes and placed
under the protection Of the European
powers. although tributary to Turkey
all Europe became incidentally in
terested. European interference CON-
PEELED a truce, and negotiations were
| commenced looking TO a permanent
peace. Russia secretly assisted Servia
in the struggle against Turkey. and de-
manded that the great powers should
interfere in behalf Of the Christians Of
the northern provinces. Certain re-
forms were demanded, and these met
the approval of England, France, Ger.
many, and Austria Turkey adopted
! a new constitution and announced her
intention to carry out reforms herself.
Russia held that this was a mere prom
Use, and demanded that certain plans
should be followed. Turkey rejected
all plans and denied the right Of any
power TO interfere. Russia proposed
the protocol, published some days since,
suggesting a basis of peace. The great
powers signed this, but Turkey rejected
it, and, in rejecting il, denied the right
of Europe to manage the Eastern ques-
ton or to dictate any policy to the
Turkish government. Russia holding
herself warranted in such action. pro-
poses to enforce the demands for re-
form made by herself. This leaves the
other powers free to act, by the terms
of the agreement or protocol. a they
deem best. While Turkey clings to the
treaty of Paris the other powers hold
that she has practically ignored it.
Montenegro has been for two centu-
ries a bone Of contention. The Turks
claimed it as a part of the Ottoman
Empire, but the Montenegrins resisted
every attempt to subdue them. and as
early as the beginning Of the eighteenth
century asked the aid of Russia. For
many years Montenegro has been a semi
independent State under the protection
of Russia. And whenever there has
been a rebellion OF instruction in the
Christian provinces of Turkey, MOnten-
egrO, with or without the encourage
ment of Russia, has plunged into the
conflict. She was fighting in 1861. and
she joined Servia in the late war with
Turkey, and it is to be noticed that
while the Servians were defeated the
Montenegrins were not. The question
of peace with Montenegro is now n
of the elements contributing to present
complications.
AS to the present attitude of the ma
tons little can be said with certainty.
The ancient Turkish policy was to
crush and virtually enslave the Chris
tians conquered. 1t meant neither toll
Grafton nor consideration. The interfer-
ence of Russia and other nations has
secured a modification of this policy,
and COW Turkey expresses a willing
ness to carry out all needed reforms.
Her position is that she will do herself
all that is asked, but she will not allow
either Russia or Europe to superin-
tend it.
Austria, lying to the north of Turkey,
must shape her policy so as not to en-
danger Hungary and the part of Poland
in her dominiOns. The Poles and Hun
garians are anti-Russian in feeling, and
bitterly SO. Some years ago An alliance
was formed between Russia, Austria,
and Germany, but whether this had any
bearing on the Eastern question is not
known. While Austria is interested
in maintaining a friendly attitude to-
ward Russia, her interests as they ap-
pear on the surface will not permit her
to join with Russia in a war against
Turkey.
Germany occupies an independent
position, and is interested in maintain.
ing her supremacy in Europe. Her att
tude is friendly to Russia. France has
declared that she will remain neutral.
England is interested in keeping Russia
as she is or in crippling her power, and
if involved in war will throw her in
fluence against the nation whose ascend
ency she fears.
One scheme has been to form the
Christian provinces of Turkey. north of
the Balkan Mountains, into an independ-
ent nation. But, as the members of the
Greek Church ale to the Roman Cath
olics as ten to one. the independent
nation would be in sympathy with
Russia, and Austria would not tolerate