New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-24
EUROPEAN AFFAIRS.
GEN. IGNATIEFFs MISSION.


fFRoM AN CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRiBuNkl
LONDON March 1O-Gan. Iguatief is to-day the
center to which the attention of ali Europe Is al
tracte, His mission causes profound anxiety, Dut
whether he il al GRAND OF peace or war Is 10
great extent matter OF cOnjecture-at all events We
have nothing 70 judge by but the gossip OF the Eu-
ropean capitals. Ii is universally admitted that he
has come West more with the view OF opening Other
peopies eyes than to seek advice concerning
his own, but here all basis of agree
ment ends. There are those VINO take
the view that the willy dipomatist is adrolty SUI
ring up strife between France and Germany IN order
to further the ends of Russia. 1t is urged that ne
knows well enough that if he can get the Germans
into one ca,np he will have no difficulty i'll getting
the French into the other and by this means secure
a general scramble for Turkey in which Russia
might have n good share of the spoil This Is, now
ever au extreme Russophobist view, not worthy OF
consderation-scarcely of mentiOn-except 1t be 10
show that among the antRuSsian party In TINS
country there is dcep-rooted distrust OF RUSSIAN
diplomatic movements and a profound hatred Of
Ignatieh He is regarded by this party as the arch
fiend of diplomacy as who is always plotting
and schemIng, with no other object in view than the
undue ACKNOWLEDGEMENT nj his master
The view which finds most favor and which ap-
pears to me TO he amply justified by such scraps 0i
mission is neither directly of peace or war. The
attitude of the Turks and the k.up of the Con-
ference has left Russia III awkward position, but
still position which it is i'll her power to endeavor
to turn to her own account. 1t is clear that the
Car wants to retire gracefully as possible from
the attitude assumed by his now famous MOSCOW
speech. Though he has modified an army OF half
million men and has planted them on the European
and Asiatic frontiers of Turkey, for some
reason he hesitates to strike the blow he has
with much Ostentaton prepared. lie does not
like the idea of "acting Independently as he SAID
at Moscow lie would in case of the failure of the
collective action Of the Powers Here is the Key TO
the difficulty The Gar cannot disband his armies
and at the same time preserve his own influence and
dipnity-possibly, even his thrOne-especlally III the
face of tie defiant attitude of the Turks. The col
lective action of the Powers has ended in what
Lord Derby calls moral influence" which has had
no doubt some effect, but not that for which the
Slave clamor was raised. Accordingly the Russian
circular was sent to the Powers month ago, but as
this circular threw the OF taking the next step,
if any fresh step was to be taken, upon Europe gen
eraly il Is natural that Russia should desire, If pos
sible to get recognition OF coercive policy.
That circular has not, up to the present moment,
been answered by any one of the Powers, and ac-
cordng to Mr.. Bourke. the British Undcr-SccrctaTy
for Foreign Affairs, the reply has been delayed at
the request of the Russian Government itself.
Ii is clear that other communications have passed
since the reception of the note from ST. Petersburg
and the Russian Government which expresses itself
with apparently much sincerity as desIrous OF con-
tinuing the European concert, has pressed upon the
Powers the adoption of COercive policy, and in or
der to Gid the pill, it has suggested that ~ months
grace be given to the Porte to carry ont It's reforms.
This is how the question stands and 1t is apparently
with the view to the avoidance OF long diplomatic
core pondcnce that Gen. IGnatieff has been dis
patched TO press this proposal or something very
much like it, on the attention of the Powers. The
assuupton is justified by what we learn of his say
inrs and doings at Berlin. There he was most
frank and open in his avOwals that Russia did not
wish for war, and that he most anxious not to
take any course which would disturb that concert
among the Powers which the Conference. with all
its disappCintmeis, must at least be credited with
having brought to light. In this sort of informal,
rowing way it is quite possible Russia may get more
from the Powers than if the negotiations had been
conducted with all diplomatic forrnalities.
Iumor has been current during the week that
Russia Lad formally asked the Powers either to
engage 10 enforce the Conference programme or TO
cancel the Treaty of Paris, andSt SAID that the
sole object Of Gen. Ignateii's mission TO place
this ultimatum before the cabinets most interested
This rumor has received sem-Oliical denial, but it
has obviously originated i'll by no means I'M
Unsuitable inference that il is the logical in
tcrrTctatIon to place upon the views OF Russian
statesmen and Of the Russian press. good
deal has been said of late about the Treaty OF
Paris and the Interpretation to be placed upon
its obligations. There is a great disposition
to give il an Interpretation in individual cases
which accords with individual views. IL is Of course
generally admitted that the Porte has placed itself
beyond the protection which that treaty gave to lur
key but there ~ the jealousy that there was OF
permitting Russia to abrogatc its provisions and
once more to constitute herself the special protector
of the Christian Of Turkey. Again III spite OF
the Conference we are continually hearing Of tie
clauses in the treaty which bind the guaranteeing
Powers not to interfere with the internal affairs OF
Turkey. OF course the fact that Turkey has placed
herself ont of the protection of the Powers Is an
ample answer TO the demand that they should
not interfere with her internal affairs Yet
there is this disposition t, strain the provisions of
the treaty. 1t is little difficult to see how, when
an obligation Ike the Treaty Of Paris has ceased to
be binding in many directions, it could be con-
strued only as against Russia. However, Russia
does not show any disposition TO take advantage CT
this point Recent events have given her all the
moral influence Of the Protector of the Turkish
Christians and Size may rest content with the feel
ing that the present crisis would probably have been
deferred for years but for her action indirect and
direct in bringing to the notice of the world the dis
content Of the Christian populations.
The question Of cocrcive policy is looked upon
with increasing disfayor. Whether the cause is
jealousy OF each other the part of the Powers or
love Of tie Turks DO not know. The British Gov
eminent has cmihatlcaly declared against it, and
Lord Derby is as much an advocate of
",uor,I iitlurrtfr Both France and Germany look