Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-02-08
Foreign News.
THE EASTERN QUESTION.

the report of the advance of the Russians to-
wards Coustautinople. "The advance, the
Chancellor said, may be in accordance With
the terms of the armistice, but the Turks al
feet surprise. Eogland has asked Ru:sla TOR
explanations, particularly calling the Cars at
tention to bis statement OF July, that CoDstan-
tinopIe should not be occupied unless the mill
tary situation rendered it necessary.
The House, after short discussion, agreed
to tho withdrawal of Mr. Forster 8 amendment.
The following additional points Of the armls-
tice conditions arc asserted in dispatches to
the London morning papers:-That the rail-
way between Adrianoplc and Constantlnpe DC
repaired and operated, and also the telegraph
liIe between Adrianople and Odessa, by way OF
Constantinope; the raising OF the blockade or
the Black Sea and the Danube Tor everything
except ammunition; the huss'aDs 10 occu'
py the Black Sea coasts from the Russian from.
tier TO Baltehik, and from Missioni to Derkloj,
ON the Sea of Marmora; the Russians to occupy
Batuk, Tchakamadje and Tscharkioj, and on
the Kgean Sea, from Enos to Mckri. These
arc 10 addition to the points held by the Rus
slams at the signature of the armistice.
|. is stated that the Russian Grand Duke
| Nicholas and staff will 60 to Constantinoplc
| during the armsticc.
A Berlin dispatch says :-"Russia's motive
| 10 delaying the acceptance OF Austrla's invita-
| ton to the Conference is now explained. Rus.
sia makes distinction between the bases OF
peace and the preminaries themselves. Tho
| bases having been signed, Russia is DOW intent
upon concetning the preliminaries which are to
be founded upon those bases. Only after the
completion of the preliminares does she intend
to 90 to the Conference. For the completion
of the preliminaries General Ignaticf Is going
to Adriauople."
| Al Adlianople correspondent :-"The
| delay In signing the armistce was caused by the
refusal Of Server and Nanyk Pashas 10 accept
tho conditions creating the prlucipality OF But.
garia, which they declared would be the de.
struction of the Turkish Empire 10 Europe.
The Grand Duke Nicholas was not authorized
to moderate the terms, so the negotiations came
to standstill. The pleDipotentiares tele'
graphed to the Porte for instructions, but up
to the 2Sth of January had net received them.
| 20 the Russians continued to advance on Con
stantinople."
| A dispatch received from the Grand Duke
Nicholas announces that 10 accordance with
the understanding between the Russian and
Turkish plenpotentiaries, free commercial 10.
course by land and sea is to be Immediately
reestablshed between Turkey and Russia.
In the British House OF Lords yesterday
afternoon Lord Derby said be received tcle.
gram from Mr. Layard, dated February 5;h,
that at that time, Notwithstanding the arms.
tice, the Russians were pushing toward Con.
stantinople. The Turkish troops had been
compelled to evaeuate port on the Sea OF
Marmora. Notwithstanding protest of the
Turkish commander, which the Russian Gene;
raj declared that according to bis orders
it was necessary that he should occupy
that day. The Porte is ID great alarm and
cannot understand the Russian proceedings.
Representations have been made to the Grand
Duke Nicholas. 1t is understood that the
Sersiuns have destroyed apaos called Vrankea.
and are advancing gu the railway towards Sa-
louica. Five days have elapsed since the sig
nature of the armstlce, and the prelimlnariess
of peace but the protocol has not yet reached
the Porte, which is in ignorance of some of the
terms. Another telegram, dated yesterday
and received last night, states that the Russian
Government has requested that the Chekmadje
lines shall DO abandoned, which will leave Con
stantnope undetended. The Russians had
| occupied 10 considerable forco Tchatadjs,
which is part of the Turkish lines of defence,
extending across the peninsula, and less than
thirty miles from COnstantinople. 1t may be
that the steps now being taken by Russia arc
in pursuance of the conditions of the armistice,
| because we do not know the conditions, bat it
appears that the Porte is equally in ignorance,
and is pcrplexcd as to the meaning Of these
movements. by a telegram sent this day VIC
have asked Russia to give US some explanation
on the subject and we have called attention to
the declarations made by the Emperor to Col.
| Wellesley in July last, that he would not occu-
by Constantinople for the sake of military hon.
or, but only it it were rendered necessary by
| the march Of events Considering that the
| Turkish resistance has ended, it does not APP
pear 10 her Majesty's Government that there
| can be aDy Iccossty for an advance by the
| Russian troops.
Lord Derby added that it was possible that
| instructions had not been given to the Russian
| troops at the time MIR. Layard's telegram was
despatched, and that the various steps which
were taking place were not 10 contraveDtion OF
the provisions of the armistice, the eXa act terms
of which her Majesty's Government did not
know.
Both Houses oftheRomanian parliament have
passed joint resolution declaring that they
| are determined to maintain the Integrity Of
Romania, and will not agree to exchange any
portion Of the country tor territorial or other
compensation. The Senate appointed COM
mittee to draw up protest to the guaranteeing
powers against the rctrocession Of Bessarabia.
A despatch from London at p. m. yester
day, says: There is tremendous excitement
outside of Parliament. Crowds are thronging
the streets singing God Save the Queen" and
making demonstrations in favor OF the Govern.
ment. 10 the House of Commons Sir Stafford
Northeote said that England assents to Aus.
trias proposal of the Conference, and an.
bounced that Count Sohouvaloff, the Russian
Ambassador, has received telegram from
Prince Gortschakof, the Russian Premier.
stating that the Russian commanders have
been ordered to stop the advance at all points,
and that there is no truth 10 the rumors Of an
advance on Constantinople. The excitement
10 the House is intense.
10 the course of the debate Sir Stafford
Northcote read letter from Lord BeaconsGeId
referring to the statement in the AdrianopIe
Al