The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-04-21
FOREIGN NEWS.
The Russo-Turkish War.


a week ago it was conceded that the ques'
ton of peace or war in Europe hung on the
nature OF the reply Turkey should make to
the protocol of the great powers, which Eng.
land was the last to sign. That reply was
made public on the 18th, and is flat rejec.
language. /. To the demand tina. Turkey
should make peace with Montenegro, the
porte replies that the same terms are offered
Montenegro that satisfied Servla. 9. AS to re-
forms, Turkey claims the right to institute
them in her own way. 3. Turkey will dis
arm when Russia takes measures to the same
end f. AS to Disturbances in Turkish pre-
vinces, the port is not responsible for them as
they are due to foreign (Russan) instigation.
And lastly, Turkey scouts the idea of allow
ing foreign agents to have any mission OF SUI
pervlsion in her territory, against which the
treaty of Paris gave her special guarantees.
\ council of war at st. Petersburg, TO whom
this reply was read, decided exactly as LORD
Derby decided on the same day when the
Turkish note was presented to him, that Vi;
rendered further discussion useless" and a..
that Russia could do was to prepare TOR war.
And that, in spite Of indefinite hints at al
temp,s to renew negotiations, is exactly what
Russia is doing. First, as preliminary steps,
the emperor was to so to the head quarters O.
the army at Klschenatf on the 18th. Then
Gartschakcff was to have his circular TO Eu.
rope ready, to be issued simultaneously with
a formal declaration Of var and the issue o..
u manifesto by the Emperor to the army. AMI
this programme on the nth was exactly car
ried out The war declaration was issued BY
GartschakoT from St. Petersburg, and follow
ing are the points of his simultaneous eXpla'
natory circular to Europe:
|. The abrupt manner in which the porte
rejected the protocol would make demoOlI!'
cation on Russias part look like retreat.
.. Turkey desires u conflict, and forces on
war.
8. Ia her circular note, Turkey notonly re-
jected the protocol, but in principle, denied
to the European powers the right and faculty
of urging in any way internal reform IN Iur-
key or demand guarantees tor the execution
and control ofthose measures of amelioratlon
4. nus an ucW olutC VI 'hih5o mas
been created by Turkey, by which even the
base of the conference has been set aside.
). Russia,-who modified with view to
prevent the advance Of the crescent to Be-
grade, to obtain reforms in Turkey insurlnS
the security of the Christians, and guarantees
tor The execution and control of the measures
of REFORM has given during the last five
months fair example of her pacific inten-
tions and conci.iatory endeavors. Turkey
having rejected any opportunity 10 give
pacific turn to affairs, now urges forward
decision by arms.
1t is hence concluded that Russia, who IS
now in arms and has manifested her desire
for peace, cannot retreat.
As an earnes: that Russia "means business
she has already put her army in motion TO-
wards the SOUTH and third of ii IS to cross
the Pruth on Monday. At the same time
Turkey Is not idle. She is gathering large
army at Widin and has within a few days
placed 70 Krupp guns in position at Ruts.
chuk. At the same time her navy is IN splen
did condition, and the forts of the Bosphorus
were never in better order.
While thus the clash of arms between Rus.
STA and Turkey is certain to break out in a
very brief time, fighting between Turkey and
Montenegro and Turkey and the Meridtcs
has already begun, the MGntenegrns anG
Meridites of course relying on Russia to helr
them out