The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-01-06
FOREIGN NEWS.

The Eastern Question.
The third meeting of the plenary confer
ence of the European powers on the Eastern
question at Constantinope was held on the
Goth, at which the porte Turkey declared il
impossible 10 accede to the demands that had
Deen submitted by the conference, but asked
time to present formal answer; upon which
the conference adjourned to Dec, Both.
On reassembling, at the latter date the
Turks again announced that thei' counter
proposals were not ready, and asked for more
time. Thereupon the French plenipotentiary
became impatient, and addressing the confer
ence pointed out that the propositions OF The
European powers contained nothing contrary
to the integrity of the Ottoman empire, and
that it was Turkeys interest to accept them
Lord Salisbury and the Austrian and Italian
representatives expressed their approval of
these statements. The conference, however,
after voting to extend the armistice one month";
TO which Turkey and Russia assented, ad
journed to Tuesday, January 2d.
AT that meeting, the counter proposition OF
Turkey was finally presented, and while it
embraced a fiat refusal to accept the PROPOSE
ton of the conference, it offered to establish
system of its own very like that proposed
by the powers, but ignoring the question of a
foreign gendarmerle and absolute refusal
to subject the appointment of governors of
the European provinces to the approval of
the powers. After some conversation, the
Marquis of Salisbury expressed the views of
the plenipotentiaries upon the Turkish coun-
ter proposition, and then asked the Turkish
delegates if this declaration was tantamount
to absolute refusal The reply was that they
must refer that question TO the porte; upon
which the conference took another recess to
January 9Th.
Meantime, however, dispatches from Russia
seem to take the porte's refusal to accept the
conference propositions as certain, and Gen.
Ignatief, the Russian ambassador, has tele-
graphed to Sebastapol for a vessel to take
him home. A Berlin dispatch, or the other
hand, says that notwithstanding the serious
turn affairs at Constantnople have taken,
no immediate rupture is apprehended. 1t is
quite certain that Midhat Pasha is ready to
fight if he must, and that the Russian gov
eminent does not wish to fight unless it
thinks it unavoidable. 1t is expected that
negotiations will continue while the weather
renders war all but impossible. Even the de-
parture of delegates to the conference would
leave matters unchanged, as negotiations
might be continued by ambassadors. What
will happen in the spring or toward the end
of winter is different question.
England.
A gale OF unprecedented violence prevailed
on the south coast of England on Monday.
Dover pier was partially destroyed. AT East
bourne there was great destruction, and the
loss foots up 100000. Nearly every town on
the south coast from Dover to Portsmouth
was partially inundated by high tide. Furni
ture was washed out of houses. Floods, caused
by heavy rains, continued to be reported
throughout the country, and the damage done
is widespread.
The Marklane Express OF Monday says the
decline of shilling in wheat last week has
been recovered with unusual activity IN the
strong, in consequence Of decreased receipts
and the depletion of granary stocks. The
same influences have strengthened London
trade. The slight tendency toward lower
prices during the recent temporary lull
has heen more than recovered, and healthier
feeling pervades trade than at any time dur
ing the year. American wheat is now running
very short, and holders have realized an ad.
vance of one shilling to two shillings per
quarter on the week.
France.
The ministry gained signal triumph in
the chamber of deputies on the 2Sth over the
opposition raised by Gambetta to the right of
the senate to restore items in the budget
stricken out by the deputies. Gambetta's
proposition was voted down by $50 to 1877
The deputies then by a vote of 300 to 1874,
passed the naval estimates, insisting on re-
duction of the grant for chaplains. The whole
budget of expenditures was finally adopted |
by vote Of 42 to 80. In consequence of
these votes the conflict between the senate
and chamber of deputies is considered term
mated. Next day the senate unanimously
and without discussion, adopted the budget
as it was voted by the deputies. 1t is admitted
on all sides that the vote in the chamber of
deputies caused schism in the republican
majority, the moderates having definitely
separated from the extremists.
India.
DELHI, Jan. Victoria was today pro-
claimed empress here and throughout India
with great ceremony.
Among the incidents of the recent railroad