The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-12-23
"7HE ARMENIAN QUESTION"

Under this heading the Pail Mall Gazette
prints the following extract from a recent
despatch of Mr. Layaid, British Ambassa-
dor at Coastantinople, to Lord Derby, rel
ative to the dangers to England from the
Russian conquest of Armenia:-
may be excused for pointing ont the dan.
gers to England of prolongation of the war,
and of a complete subjugation of q large part
of the empire by Russia.- Should Russia de-
sire to annex at this time any of the European
provinces of Torkey, European interests would
probably be called in to play, and she would be
prevented from carrying out her intention.
The influence, however which she would inc
vitably establish over these populations would
be almost tantamount to absolute possession,
and would enable her to annex them sooner or
later, when she could do so with impunity but
in Asia Minor the case is different. The inter
este of England would then be alone con-
cerned. 1t would probably signify little to
the rest OF Europe whether Russia retained
the ffsot of the annexation to Russia of this
important province upon the British posses.
sons in India. Russia would then command
be whole of Asia Minor and the great valley
of the Euphrstes aud Tigris, which " ould inc.
vitably fall into her hands in the course of
| time. Persia, moreover, would be placed en-
| tirely at her mercy. The suspicion that Russia
has already made secret offers to Persia to as.
sist her in acquiring the province of Bagdad
in exchange for Ghilan and Mazanderan may
be unfou nded, bnt the fact that it exists, and
has been entertained by persons not generally
ill-nformed, proves that this consideration is
one not to be altogether lost sight of. In most
cases, when the evident interests of two par
ties are concerned in eftectiDg An exchange, the
exchange is sooner OF later Effected. The de-
sire of Persia to possess the province of Bag
dad and the holy shrines of their prophets and
martyrs is of very ancient date, aud is shared
by the whole Persian nation. On the other
hand, the possession of Il Q entire coast of the
Caspian Sea. and the direct road through
Herat and Afgbanistan, aud ultimately to In
dia il af4 If Va pnl iTlnN "a n
Russia. Such being the cEse, there is every
reas On to believe that when Persia fads that
the Turk'sA Empire is threatened with dis
memberment, her own inter: SIS will get the
better of any sympathy for it founded upon
community of faith. and that, completely un-
der the control of Russia, she will not be in
would be acceptable to the religious feelings
and to the ambition of the Persian people.
The pess ssion by Persia of the Province OF
Bsgded would be, IS far rs England is con-
cerned, ! pcss ssion by Russia.
It must not be forgotten that the pc sse Ssion
of Armenia by Rcssia ss regards any designs
that she msy have upon India, supposipg her
to entertain them, would be very different
from that of any part of Turke sian or Central
Asia. In Armenia nd the north of PeIS' q sh 9
would have o hardy and abundant population,
army, ready at any time to advance upon our
Indian frontier, and resting upon oopve-
nient and sure bsse OF operations, in direct
communication, by the Caspian Sea and by
The moral effect of the conquest of Armenia
and the annexation of Ghilan and MAJ zandersn
~ Russia upon our Mahommedan subjects,
and upon the population of Central Asia, can
not be overlooked by a ststesman who attacheg
any value to the retention of India as part OF
the British Empire.
The Cologne Gasette says on this subject
Field Marshal Moltke, who knows Asia
Miner from personal experience, is reported to
have said recently that the Russian conquest
of Armenia would be q very serious affair for
England With Armenia Russia advances to
the Euphrates, and once she possesses the Eu-
pirates the way to India would for the greater
part be already closed to England. The ques-
tion now is whether the conquest of Ksrs, as
formerly the burning of the Tui kish fleet be-
fore Sinope, will at last ipcite England to man
ly action. Here Cat Berlin) the opinion of
England's power of action has sunk 80 low
that it s doubted whether we shall see her
rise from her lethargy. These remarks are
made in reference to the explanation now
given from the Russian side of tho Emperor
Ale1snder's word of honor that he spoke only
of Europe, and not of Asia, and in reference
to the cry of the Russian Journals that Ar
menia should be kept as q war indemnify"