The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-04-10
THE EASTERN QUESTION
GORTSCHAKOFF's REPLY TO SAL
ISBURY.
IutiOn-COngreSs Again in the
RacBground-What Rus
sIa Demands.

RacBground-What Rus
sIs Demands.
GOrtschak offs Reply TO Salisbury
LONDON, April 9.-The London Time
issued special tonight containing tn
text of Gortschakof's reply to Salisbury
circular. Gortschskoff contests Lore
Sslisbury's assertion point by point, bu
the general tone of his reply appears t.
be conciliatory. He denies that the
treaty of San S!efano creates strong
Slavic state under the control of Russia
and declares that the arrangements rels
tive to Bulgaria are only developments
of the principle established by the Con
stsntinople Conference. He continues
Lord Salisbury admits that a re-
turn 10 the programme of that
conference pure and simple is rendered
impossible by the war. The fact thai
the San Stetsno treaty is preliminary
indicates that Russia has not prejudcec
defnitive results and has left room fol
an ulterior understanding. Bulga rio
will be under Russian control no more
than Roumsnis, which also owes its ex
lstence to Russia. Russia is quite ready
to abridge the term of the occupation Of
Bulgaria as much as possible. The
limits of Bulgaria have only been in
dicated in general terms in accordance
with tae nationality of the population
The details will be left to the mixed
Commission. The only object in assign.
ing the ports to Bulgaria is to aid her
Commercial development, by which
England and the Mediterranean powers,
whose commerce has always been u
powerful lever tor their political Intlu-
ence, are likely 10 profit far more than
Russia. Prince Gortschakoh expresses
surprise at the objections TO the stipula
tions of the treaty relative TO Thessaly
and Epjrus. BY the modest reforms stipu-
lated for it is intended to avoid the sp.
pearance of either establishing Russian
supremacy on one hand or Utterly neg
lecting the Greeks on the other. Rus.
sa did not forbid the Porte to consult
the European powers on the reforms for
the Greek provinces. There is no longer
any pretext 70: debarriDg Russia from
the possession of Besssrsbia, as the free
dom of the Danube Is secured by
the international Commission. Prince
Gortschskofs tone in regard to Ar
meula is much more energetic He
says that Batoum is far from being
equivalent TO the peCuniary indemnity
which it represents. The Russian ac-
QUESTIONS in Armenia have only de-
tensiVe value, and Russia wishes TO hold
them so as not to have to besiege them AZ
the beginning of each war. These terri
torial concessions are natural Conse-
quence ofthe war.
If England wished to avert them, she
had only to join Russia in exercising the
pressure on the Porte, which would
probably have compelled it TO grant re-
forms without war England having re.
fused to do so, she has now no ground to
question the right for which Russia has
shed her blood, namely, the right
TO establish state OF things
which will henCeforth render
such saCrsfCes unnecessary, or
at east less onerous. The assertion that
Russiss anneIstions in Armenia will in
terfere with the European trade with
Persis, conflicts with the statements
previously made by the British ministers.
Such assertions push mistrust to the
extreme. The complaints concerning
the indemnity are equally i'll founded.
The sum is out OF all proportion to Rus
sia's sacrifices. Independent of the
payment of the indemnity, it
is easier to see a design TO keep
the Porte up to its engagements in the
interest of all than design to psrsIize
Turkey, but there is no remedy against
suspicion. Prince Gortschakof says in
conclusion. "The situation may be sum-
med up thus, the existing treaties have
been suCcessiveiy Infringed by the Porte
in violating its obligations towards the
Christians and by the powers in inter-
iering in behalf Of the Christians"
Lord Salisbury himself Tecog-
nizes that great changes are
necessary in the treaties hitherto reg
ulaung the East. 1t remains for Lord
Salisbury to say how he would reconcile
these treaties and the recognized rights
of Great Britain and other powers with
benevolent ends, TO which the united sc-
tion of Europe has always been directed,
and the attainment of which one learns
with pleasure. The English govern
ment desires, namely, good government,
peace and liberty for the oppressed pop
ulations. 1t Is equally for the MARQUIS
OF Salisbury to say how he could sllaln
the desired end outside Of the preIimina.
ries Of San StefaLo, and yet at
same time take due account OF the rights
Russia has acquired By the sacrifices she
hs- borne alone
Lord S.llsbury's dispatch contains DO
reply to thcss questions. 1t seems that
entire liberty of appreciation AID
action would hsve been more naturally
found by formulating side by side with
the objections contained in thst dispatch
some practical propositions OF nature 20
assure an understanding for the solution
OF the present difficulties.
what Russia Demands.
ST. PETERSBURG, April 9.-The JoLHu-
al dc ST. Petersburg SAYS: Russis de-
mauds that the benefits obtained tor the