Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-05-07

british Ambassador at OF. ICtclSuutS.
LONDON, May /, 1917.
! forwarded your Exceency co toe oath ui'
limo copy Of Prince GortscaaSoh5 circular
announcing that the Emperor had glVcn orders
to cross the frontiers Of Turkey. Her Majesty's
Government has received this communicates
with deep regret.
They cannot aceapt the statements and cor-
illusions with which Prince Gorschakoi! haa ac-
compapied it as iustifying the resolution thus
taken The protocol. 10 which her MaJeSty,a
Government, at the Instance OF RuSsa, rtcen"F
beanie party, requires from the Sultan 10
fresh guarantees for reform OF his adWlnsS'ra-
ton. With view Of enabling Russia better
to abstain from isolated action it affirmed the
interest taken in common by tho other Powers
in the condition Of the Christian populations OF
Turkey. :,
It went 90 TO declare that the Powers "ouId
watch carefully the manner 10 which the prom
Uses of the Ottoman Goverome1t. were cafr!ed
into effect, and that should their hopes once
more be disappointed they reserved the glsht
to consider in common the means they might
deem best fitted to secure the peace ana Wei'
being of the Christians. To these decaratloos
of the intentions of the Powers the consent OF
the Porte was not asked or required.
The Porte no doubt has thought fit, uniortu.
nately, 10 the opinion of her Majesty's Govern
ment. to protest against the expressions II
question as implying encroachmeOt on its indie
pepdepce, but while 50 doing, and Wiiie de-
claripc they cannot consider the protoco: as
having auy biodng character Ga Turkey, the
Turkish Government have again Affirmed their
intention Of carrying into execution the reforms.
Her Maiesly's Government cannot. Therefore,
admit, as coutended by Prince GorschaSotf,
that the answer of the Porto removed all hopes
Of Difference 10 the wishes and advice OF Eu-
rope, and all security for the application oil re.
forms, nor necessarily prec!uded the possibility
of the conclusion Of peace with Montenegro, or
of an arrangement far mutual disarmament.
Har Maiesty's Government still believes that
with patience and moderation on both sides
these objects might not ilnprobaby have been
attained, Gortschakoff, however, asserts that
all opening is now closed for attempts at con-
ciiatlop. The Emperor resolved to undertake
the task Of obtaining by coercion that which
the unanimous efforts Of the Powers failed to
obtain by persuasion, and he expresses his
Maiesty's conviction that this step is in accord
auce with the sentiments and Interests Of Eu
rope.
1t cannot be expected that Her Majesty 5
Government should agree in this view. They
have not concealed their feeling that the pres
ence of large Russian forces on the frontiers OF
Turkey, menaciDg its safety, rendering dSarm-
ament impossible aad awakening feelings OF Gp'
prchension and fanaicism constitutes mate
rial obstacle to pacl6caton and reform. They
! cannot believe toe entrance OF those ARMIES
UPON Turkish soil will alleviate the difficulty or
improve the condition OF the Christian popuia-
ton. But the course on which the Russian
Government has entered Involves graVer, more
serious considerations
It is 10 contravention of the stipulation Of
the treaty of Paris by which Russian and 9TH
er Powers engaged to respect the indep eGderce
and territorial integrity OF the Ottoman EN-.
pire. In the Conferences OF London, II 1871,
ut the close Of which the above stipulation,
with others, was again confirmed, the Rrssiau
Plenipotentiary, 10 common with those OF the
other Powers, sigued declaration affirming 1t
to be an essential principle OF the Law OF nations
that no power can llberae itself from. the en-
gagement of treaty, nor modify the stipua
tons thereof unless with the consent of the
contracting parties, by means Of an am!cable
arrangement.
In taking action against Turkey on his own
part, and haviDg recourse to arms without
further consultation with his allies, the Eta.
peror OF Russia has separated himself from Eu-
ropean concert, and has at the same time dc
parted from the rule TO which he himself had
solemuly recorded bis consent. liz is lmpos5-
bic to Iorcsce the consequences OF such an
act.
Her Majesty's Government would willingly
have retrained from any observations 10 regard
to 1t, but as Prince Gortchakoff seems to as
sumo 10 his declaration addressed TO all the
Governments of Europe that Russia is acting
10 the interests Of Great Britain and Of the
other Powers, they feel bound to state in q
manner equally formal and public, that the &C.
cisiou Of the Russian Government is act oue
which can have their concurrence or approval.
DERBY.
The Roumanian Senate on Saturday adopt
ed an address in reply to the Princes speech.
err counsel any hazardous or dangerous policy,
still less any attack on Turkey, which would DC
an objectionable act of thoughtlessaess, and
concludes :-"Nevertheless, We will defend our
hearths if attacked" During the debate on
the address the Minister of Foreigu Affairs, cx-
planning the Governments policy Of neutrality,
said eve shall defend ourselves if attacked.
We signed 30 convention With the Turks, who
are sayagcs. They have informed cur consul
that they will burn TOolcha if the Russians
cross the Danube. They insult US continually.
They have suspended the functions Of our agent,
treating him as an ordinary Ottoman official.
No other Power has protested against our con-
yenton with Russia. Without a convention
the Russians might have taken extreme meas
ures aud driven away our Government. The
members of the military administration, which
dissolved last February, have been summoned
to resume their posts within q week. The
Government is purchasing war.likc stores The
question of Servia's neutrality will very shortly
be declared.
Rumors reach Vienna from Constautiuoplc
that Kars has been taken and that Erzcroum
is in danger. The correspondent says although
these rumors require confirmation, yet what We
do know already goes far to excite the suspt.
con that all is not for the Turks, as it should
be, nay, that there is good deal that should
not be.
The Russian forces in Asia are advancing in
a semi.circle toward Erzerouu, while the Turk
ish forces are concentrated in triangle of Ere
roum, Otis and Kars The Turks position is
so far good one. while the Russian advance