, 1877-06-16

w
down by mutual agreement. Our Vienna
Correspondent referted to the matter more
at length, observing, however, that in
well-informed quarters considerable doubt
is expressed about the correctness of the
report. According to the Viennese YER
sion, the proposed basis is that the ope-
%rAtions 10 Europe shall not extend beyond
the Balkans, nor in Asia westward Of
Trebizonde. We need hardly point out
the improbAbility that the Queens Govern
ment would accept any such proposal,
much less originate it. A Convention of
this kind would implicitly allow all that
it did not forbid. Such q transaction
would be directly opposed to the spirit OF
Lord Derby's Despatch, which denounced
absolutely the Russian declaration OF war
and the projected aggression of the Turk.
ish Empire. Moreover it would almost
necessarily involve this country in the
quarrel, should the Convention be OF any
time transgressed by the Russians or their
Jealous allies.
If We, therefore, put aside the rumOu
in this circumstantial form as something
quite out Of the question, it remains to
consider the probable basis Of truth watch
underlies it. There can be no doubt that
it is the desire of the Russian Government to
convince the Powers that it has in view
Only he liberation Of the Christians from
mjsgovernn.ent, and cnat it will effect this
with as little disturbance as possible to
the system Of South Eastern Earopa.
Russia knows that she is watched suspi-
ciously, and that by any %imprudent act
her uneasy rivals might be turned into
enemies. The councils Of Austria are
divided, and the e%Xtravagances OF Magyar
jealousy fad resistance in Influential re-
gions as we'll as among large sections of
the population. But the conquest Of
European Turkey by the Russians would
involve too certainly the weakening and
ultimate dissolution of the Austrian Mon
arcby to be accepted by the most faithful
partisan Of the Triple Alliance. The un-
Outstanding with Germany, which has
permitted the Russians to carry matters
with so high a hand, depends also on the
use which the Gar may make of victory.
The German Government is strong, and in
foreign affairs the Emperor and his Chan
CellOr know that within very wide limits
they may act according to their judgment.
But there is q point beyond which the
German Government could not, even if it
would, support the Russian projects. Pub
lie opinion in Germany will not be moved
by an enterprise directed to the destruc-
ton of the Ottoman State. The Germans,
with all their ratiOnalism, are Christians
OF o very decided and rather iutoIerant
type, and the Turks find little favour in
their eyes. If Russia could convince them
that the professed purpose of emancipatirg
Bulgaria and giving it selEgovernment
would not be Oyerpassed, they would be
satisfied. But o war Of conquest which
might endarger the Austrian Empire and
oil Central Europe would rouse an excite.
ment of which the German Government
must take account. Similar considerations
are suggested by tha statements of English
Ministers and she welI-ascertained DISPOSE
Zion OF tne English people. 1t has now
passed into a commonplace that we
shall not fight for the Turks, but shall
protect our own interests, and these
interests have lately been defined by au-
tnority. Tbs whole resolves itself into
this-that Russia may expect to be left
alone with ber adversary, provided she
does not proceed to carry out certain
designs, and provided her armies do not
advance beyond q somewhat indefinite line,