The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-04-09

il in that light. Indeed. 80 far from their
position toward Turkey having been for
titled 10y this much talked Of protocol, 1t has
become even more embarrassed than IL was
before.
Unless there is another massacre. Rus
sin is NOW distinctly pledged tn di-arm
1t Turkey docs. This disarmament is not
made conditional on the acceptance Of the
protucolby Turkey, but onproposal~ in favor
of disarmament cmanating from the latter
power Turkeys policy is therefore simple.
Ni .h' has t. do H. 60 DECLINE entertaining
the protocol. aud - SEMI special commits
siuncr ~ ST. Petersburg. Offering To di-arm
Instantly. ON written pledge from the Car
Undertaking to- do the Same within Il limited
period. say eight days. If the Russian Gov
crumrni should agree to this, the peace OF
Europe would be- secured for time at all
events the Turkish Government would have
issued from the struggle victorious, and he
free to institute its reforms in its own way;
England would have obtained the moral
triumph ot having by Il skilful stroke
Of diplomacy. at the last moment. saved
Europe from the horrors Of wal; and Rus
sia. after an immense amount of
menace and hlustcr, would have been
compelled to beat an ignomlnious retreat
II. ON the other hand, she should not face this
humiliating alternative, and should refuse to
disarm when Turkey proposed frankly and
promptly to set her the example in COM
pliancc with the terms of the protocol, she
would place herself in the wrong with the
powers Of Europe, her efforts to keep the
peace would then hc proved tn have hccn
m~inccrc. the mission of Con. IGNArIEFF a
sham, and the whole diplomatic action Of
the last three months a hollow mockcrv;
and she would find herself embarked In u war
agnin-t Turkey, with England and Austria
actively antngoni~tic in sentiment, il not in
act. and with all Europe to some extent out
ragged and indignant.
To escape this dilemma it would appear
that it il the intention Of Russia to try and
make the acceptance by Turkey of the pro-
tocol sbe qua NON but this Is position
which it is impossible for the Porte consist
emily to accept. The protocol implies the
right on the part " the European powers.
IF surveillance over the Christian subjects.
of the Sultan. This was a right expressly
denied them by the treaty Of 1856, and Tur-
key cannot now admit the very principle
which was attempted to be enforced at the
Conference, aud which she at that time sue
cc-siully resisted. II Russia desires war
she can doubtless find an excuse; but every
day that passes increases the distru-t
Of Europe. and her only hope Of OBJ
tanning sympathy would be- in another
massacre Of Christians. and "a fresh
batch 90 atrocities. Ii she docs not de-ir,
war she cannot now retreat either with
credit or profit.
Hence thcre is. worry naturally. an active
feeling Of o-pcration in st. PETERSBURG
a feeling not unminglel with unccr-
tainty. in consequence of the sudden re-
| trcmcnt Of Prince BISMARCK from the
arena Of European politics, at the very mo-
mcnt when the eyes of the world were
eagerly directed toward him. a. the only
man who could control the situation. W,
may bc sure that this sinister event. at such
crisis. j. causing perturbation in more
Cabinet than one, The French seq in II Al
occult and mysterious manruVrc, the ma
turc of which it would bc dincult for then
to"Xplain. The Russians see an incubus re-
moved from Austria which may allow thai
| power To- breathe more freely and pursue Z
moro independent policy. The English arr
alarmed lest the Emperor Of Germany
whose sympathics are known to bc actiNcl,
Russian may commit himself to his rcla
tive the Car, to an extent which he woul,
not have dared t. do with BISMARCK at th'
helm, while everybody feels that the a~tut'
Chancellor has withdrawn from compli
cation for which h. did not wish 4
hn Responsible. in which he d.l mo-
,sirc t. become involved, and whlcl
Europe will finally ak HIM t. uu
uvcl. So long Is il WAS possible .
play Russia and England oG again-
each other without committing him
self I'm any duection Prince BIsMAEci
ha- d.i lumIill,d AMI proics,od, and mad
-prrlou- verbal promises. A. the struggl
.ni"u-i.ie-. and the Political situation get
-traiued To- point where the crack is be
coming imminent. he slips drxtorou-ly ou
Of the way, leaving Prince GoEcHAKoF
and Lord DERBY equally in bls,ful ign,
rance aus To- what his real policy has beer
L. e moment had come whom an explici
declaration wa forced upon him; so ho l,oe
into retirement ID avoid making it until h
-re- hYw events are turning. AMI then Ii
viii doubtless make it to some purpose
Meantime. Montenegro refuses toto 8,
feed with Turkish concessions. while Br-ui
i-arain ina state of active in-urrection. an
Infested by armed bands from Scrvia AN
Montenegro. raised and equipped under liI-
siam al-p pieces. II Is worthy OF note that dui
ing tine Scrvian war there was noiightingo
iu-urrectiun in Bosnia. but the momnl
Soryia and Montenegro made peace, Bosni
broke out again into revolt; and it is not in
ftInl,la fllf tine fauoti, SllV uri-tnrrne