Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-02-02


We cannot disguise the vast ina
pOrtance of the questions now raised. /
The keystone of Southeastern Eu-
rope is being removed. Relative
to the Encouragement which must
be made, one thing is eertain-that |
Turkey must not be urged to con-
tinue the struggle for purely Euro
pean objects"
The Chancellor then explained
the negotiations which immedi-
ately preceded the ordering of the
fleet to the Dardanelles. He stated
that Russia, in her reply to the no
ted dispatch defining British in
terests, only promised not to ac-
quire Constantinople permanently.
Lord Derby, on January 18th, sent
a dispatch to Count SchOuyalOfT, de-
claring that the Government was
strongly of the opinion that it was
most desirable to avoid even tenn
porary Russian occupation of Con-
stantinople, which might seriously
endanger the relations now happily
prevailing between Russia and Eng
land. Russia replying, her assu-
RANGES against the permanent acqui-
sition of Constantinople, but added
that ifthe Ports obstanancy required
the Gar to continue military oper-
ations, he reserved full liberty of
action. The Car could not under
stand how the course he was pur-
sueing could affect British interests,
and he asked a statement of those
/ interests.
The English government, shortly
after preceiving the Russians APP
preaching Gallipoli, replied that
they considered any operations
/ tending to give the Russians control
| of the Dardanelles would impede
consideration of the terms of peace,
and asked for an assurance against
/ the occupation of GallipOli. They
received a reply that GallipOli
would neither be occupied nor at
tackled unless a regular Turkish
army should be concentrated there.
But, preceiying that the movements
of both the Russians and Turks
were tending toward GallipOli, the
British Government asked, and on
January 18th obtained the Sultan's
permission for the entry of a feet
into the Straits. The orders TO en-
ter were countermanded in cOnse-
quence Of the receipt of a telegram
from the British ambassador at
| COnStantinOple, aVOWing his belief
that the Russian conditions provi-
ded that the question of the Straits
was to be referred to European
Congress. After the orders were
cOuntermanded a correction of the
ambassadors telegram was receiv-
ed, stating that the question of the
Straits was to be left to the Sultan
and the Car. The Chancellor added
that from subsequent information
he had not the slightest doubt that
Russia intended this question to be
settled separately between herself
and the POrte-nOt, of course, eX-
Guiding England from the ultimate
discussion, for Russia cannot eX-
clude England. He now asked for
vote that when they went into
the Council of Nations they might
be able to show that when England
had once decided on Il course she
was determined not to leave the
sword unsharpened. The Ministry
would not consider the vote an in
centive to war.
I Sir StagOrd NOrthecOte subse-
quently concurred in the notion for
a postpOnement of the debate until
Thursday.
In the House of Lords this
evening Lord Derby, in a few
words, explained that he had
rendered his resignation because the
Government decided on a step with
which he could not agree; but in
! S,.Ar - S.s,. ,%fav
having changed, and the Govern
ment reconsidering its decision, he
withdrew his resignation.
TheresolutiOn of Lord Stratheden,
that opposition to any occupation
of ConstantinOple would not be a
breach of neutrality, was with
! drawn, Lord Derby opposing it as
of purely an abstract character the
opposition will fight the vote.
The Press Association under
stands that upon the announcement
that the Government would cOnsid-
er the money vote TO be vote of
confidence. Lords Granville, RipOn
and Kimberly and some of the 9TH
er opposition leaders hastily con-
ferred together, and although no
definite resolution was taken it
is understood the opposition will
accept the Governments challenge,
and arraign the whole Eastern
policy. Lord Harrington proposed
a postponement of the debate,
so as to give the country an
opportunity to express its opinion.
In the lobby it is expected the de
bate will occupy four nights. If
the Government is defeated Parlia-
ment will be Immediately dissolved,
but defeat is almost impossible, the
Conservatives are confident of a
majority of over fifty.