The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-10-04

not driven by MuKuTAR Pasha entirely out
OF Armenia, she may also obtain u slight
rectifcation of frontier, which might pos
sibly include Arabian; and as England will
not now object TO her securing the right Of
free passage through the Dardancllcs and
Bosporus, it is probable that would be ac-
corded to her.
But tho settlement of the question for
which the war was undertaken, the future
position Of Bulgaria, Bosnia, and Hcrzego-
vina, will still remain to be accomplished. and
his will not now be settled between Russia
and Turkey, but between the European pow
crs and Turkey. 1t may be notifying to
Russia, after having made such sacrifices, to
bc denied voice In the final solution of the
matter; but nations which are paralyzed
and exhausted by military efforts which
have not been successful, cannot hope after
ward to play the part of arbitcrs. Germany
and Austria will be in position utterly to
ignore the wishes Of Russia in tho matter,
simply because Russia will not have the
power to enforce them. Austria certainly
will not seek to impose conditions
relative to the provinces in question
which would cause herself embarrassment /;
while Germany has no direct interest In the
Eastern question, and now that Russia is
utterly useless to her as an ally in any com
ing European struggle, would have no Oh
jet in supporting her political prctcnsons
in the final settlement.
Turkish statesmen are not likely 10 be
blind to the altered political condition
of Europe consequent upon Russa's col
lapse and certainly would not consent
to any settlement which should go be-
You'd the terms of the protocol proposed at
the COnstantinoplc conference. This would
not have satisfied Russia had she been victo-
rious; but a. she expressly proclaimed hcr-
self satisfied with it before she declared war.
and rs, in declaring war. the Car explicitly
stated that he did not mako it for the ac-
QUESTION of territory, he Is not now in po-
sition To refuse his assent to the decision of
Europe in this respect.
The chapter Of accidents, however, contains
many events which may complicatc matters.
and not only postpone any pacific solution.
but implicatc other powers in the struggle.
These are some Of them only indirectly con-
ccrned in the Eastern question. hut might
soon become involved ia it. We have yet to
see the result Of the French crisis, the con-
sequences which may follow upon the gem
oral elections and thcire effect upon Germany.
The death OF the Pope is imminent. and will
involve questions pregnant with grave is
sizes. At any moment "A collision may occur
between Greece and Turkey. arising out of
frontier troubles. or political intrigue; while
the participation Of SerVia in the war is n
contingency which Is ever ON the point 90
arising, and might lead to far-rcaching con-
sequences. For these reasons while we do
not absolutely despair of peace being made
during the winter. we believe that the
chances ola European war ERE by no means
50 remote as is hoped by those who would
deprecate such n catastrophe. At no period
since the close Of the wars Of the first
Empire has the position Of Eu-
rope been so critical, in our judgment, a. at
the present crisis.