The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-02-13
THE PORTE STILL REFUSES
ENGLAND's REQUEST
But Will Not Probably Resist Her
RlrnOred ENTRY OF the Russians
into COnstantinOpie.


the responsibility by the transparent excuse of |
affording protection to Blush subjects and |
other persons, in the event of excitement in |
the Turkish capital 1t is best to avow the |
simple truth that we intend to have a voice
10 the settlement of the future of both Constan-
tlnople and the straits, we deem it prudent and |
our plain right to assert some hold upon these
important positions
But Russia beyond question has not the
slightest occasion for any further military
guarantee for her own claims than she already
possesses, as the Turks and Constantinople it.
self are at her mercy.
The Post says:
A fatal mistake has been succeeded by
great humiliation. Dsrby's career as minister
ought to terminate, and "Dardanelles'' ought
to be engraved as an eptaph on his political
tomb. 1t will now become us to speak in ex-
tremely moderate language until our deeds
shall justify the resumption of that confident
tone in which the England of Lord Palmerston
championed the cause of law and order.
The admiralty has purchased two iron-clads
now in London docks, built for Turkey, but
prevented from leaving by the governments
neutrality declaration.
Noon-In consequence of the refusal of the
Porte to allow the British fleet to pass the
Dardanelles, the channel feet has been or
dered to assem- BILE at Gibraltar Immediately for
orders.
-Four iron clads comprising the channel
squadron were directed by telegraph to pro-
Coed Immediately to Gibraltar for orders on its
had been refused permission to enter the Oar
danelles.
Lord Lotus, British ambassador OF St Pc
tersburg, telegrapbs to Lord Derby as follows:
st. Petersburg, FEB. 81 have received from
GortschakoH the following answer to your tel
egram OF the 7th, asking Russia to give some
explanation about the advance of the Russians
towards Constantinople, etc.
I'm answer to your excellencys note res
pectiug the occupation of certain stategics1
points in the neghborhood of Constantinopls
by Russian troops in consequence of the armis-
tice, it is my duty to inform you that we are
not yet in possession OF positive information as
to the details of the armistice and as to its ap-
| application. L should add that the military
line Of demarcation traced previously to the
armistice has been agreed upon between the
Russian and Turkish authorities and is a ques-
ton which exclusively concerns the belliger-
| ents.'
| LONDON, Feb. 12.-Derby in the Lords this
afternoon said he hoped to inform the House
Thursday that the intention of the government
was carried out and that the fleet would be be-
fore Constantinople. France and Italy have
suspended their movement towards sending
| their fleets, probably because firman was re-.
fused. Regarding Austria he only knew she
had asked for tirman. The only difficulty
regarding the conference was about the place
| of meeting, which difficulty he believed would
be overcome
| Joseph Cowen, radical reformer.) member
| of Parliament for Newcastle-on-the Tyne
l HdUo II Nlcloub SpeGcu III Lub house OF C0s9-
| mons last night against Russia, which the
morning papers criticlse sharply as tending to
provoke war.
The Times Athens despatch says all the
| regular troops who crossed the frontier have
/ returned to the Greek territory. The irregulars
| continued to enter Thessally and keep alive
| the instruction. Rifles are being distributed
to them under government superintendent
| The Greeks seem to have acted with great
| moderation during the short invasion. During
4 of ba
| manned over the Greek consulate by order Of
the commander Of the Turkish garrison.
| CoNSTANTINOPLE, Feb. 12.-To-day the
Grand Duke Nicholas has expressed satisfac-
ton to Vefyk Effendi at the non-admission of
the British feet.
| In to-day's sitting of the Turkish Parliament
several deputies urged the Vetyk Effendi to
| act with consideration towards England rela-
tive to the passage of the Dardaneles.
| VIENNA, Feb. 12-It is considered in we'll in
formed circles probable that the Porte will
grant hrman for the entry of the British fleet
in view OF Russian occupation of CONSTANT
nople, which is hourly expected Austrsa does
not OBJECT to the retrocession of BeSsarabia if
Roumania retains the mouth of the Danube
and does not acquire Widdin com pensatioL.
Disturbances are reported in Syria. Several of
| the leading citizens of Damascus have been ex-
lied to Pola. The Austrian turret ship Kaiser
Max leaves for the Levant today. The iron-clad
Hapsburg follows tomorrow.
it is decided that Greece shall participate in the
conference.
ATHENS, Feb. 12-Great indignation is
aroused here by despatch that the Bashi Ba-
zouks and Circassians are massacreing Chris
tians at and around Domaco.
CONSTANTINOPLE, Feb. 10 -Safyet Pasha has
started for Adrianople.
CoNsTANTINoPLg, Feb. 11.-Sobdoullah Bey,
Tarksh Ambassador at Berlin, has been ap.
pointed second delegate to concuot the peace
negotiations in place of Sadyk Pasha. Vefk
Efendi informed the Chamber today that he
hoped to communicate the peace conditions
four days hence. He declared that if the Brit
ish fleet passed the Dardanelles he would pro-
test, and cast the responsibility for the conse-
quences upon England.
LONDON, Feb I2.-Wm. e. Smith, first Lord
OF the Admiralty, replying to question in the
Commons tonight, stated that the orders
Which had been sent to Admiral Horribly were
clear and distinct. and were sent on the govern
ment's responsibility, but it would be incon-
slstent with his duty to state their nature.
The press association says il ia understood
that Admiral Horribly is instructed to force the
Dardanell5 With, if necessary, the whole of his
fleet of ironclads. The matter caused a long
discussion in to-day's cabinet council.
Vefik EHendiS declaration on Monday in the
Turkish Parliament, as reported last night,
seems to indicate, however, that it will Eo5 be
necessary to use force.
A despatch received by Reuters early on
w ounosudy mOrullS, from CODStalGln0ple,
ports that Minister Layard telegraphed Lord
Derby at midnight that he was still without in.
structions to the fleet.
Another despatch from Constantiuople on
Monday states that the Grand Duke Nicholas
telegraphed to the Porte that the Russians will
enter Constantinople if the British feet enters
the Bosphnrus
All ths workmen in Sheerness dock yard have
been ordered to work over time.
PARIS, Feb. ia telegram from Athens
states that according to semi-Official telegram
from ConstantinOple tie Porte has intimated
that it would order the forts to fire on the Brit
ifh fleet if il attempted to enter the Darda-
snelles.
LONDON, Feb. 1.-THE correspondent at Ber-
lin telegraphs to the Times: 1t is reported that
torpedoes are being placed in the Bosphorus.
Russia has notified Austria that among the |
questions withdrawn from consideration of the |
conference are recognizanee of Bulgaria. the |
occupation of Bulgaria by Russian troops and |
the remuneration of Bessarabia The note has |
given umbrage at Vienna. The Roumapian |
ministers have informed the Chamber that the |
Russians did not occupy the Danubian fortresses |
when evacuated by the Turks, but occupied |
neighboring positions.
Prince Bismarck has notified the parliamen- |
tary leaders he will postpone ans weriDg the in |
terpelation on the foreign policy in consequence |
OF the continual changes In the aspect of the |
Eastern question.
The Daily Telegraphs Pera correspondent be- |
heves the British fleet has been ordered to pro-
coed up the straits. He does not apprehend |
that the Porte will offer active resistance
The Daily News correspondent at Vienna |
says it is reported that Germany has announc-
ed she will not send ships to the Dardanelles
IT is reported that Bismarck desires to be pres
ent at the conference.
Russian officials were yesterday selecting
quarters for Russian troops at ConstantinoDle
The Telegraph's special from Athens says
that if the English feet goes to Constantnople
the Greeks will reoccupy Thesally and Epirus.
A special from Paris to the Telegraph says it
is reported that the Russian embassy aud
small Russian detachment entered CONSTANT
nople Tuesday. The report is not confirmed.
LONDON, Feb. 13.-The Standards Constan-
tinople despatch states that Vefk Efendi in
the Turkish Parliament Tuesday, replying to
the deputies who urged him to act with mod
GRAFTON towards England, promised to consider
their representations.
M. Onou, formerly first dragoman of the
Russian embassy to Turkey, has arrived in
ConstsntiDople on a special mission.
A despatch to the STANDARD from Vienna
Tuesday saws two of the embassies here have
received information that II Russian batsal-
inns will enter ffOuSf2ntiDonla fOmOrrow |