Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-02-02
ENGLAND'S POSITION.

it Is no use trying to conjecture
what England's position will be in
the new settlement of the Eastern
question till the terms of peace
offered by Russia to Turkey are
officially made known; we may
state that no armistice has been
signed as yet, but that the Russians
are still contending for more adj
vantageous position from which to
negotiate that negotiations are ac-
lively prosecuted between Russia,
Austria and England, the two lat
ter nations being manifestly dissat-
isfied regarding the proposed settle
ment; that some of the intended
conditions have been modified by
Russia in consequence Of protests
from the other two, especially that
which relates TO the temporary oc-
cupatiOn of Co nstantinOple by the
Russian forces (Which would doubt
lessly have become permanent or
some pretense or anOther). Further
than this the only indication we
have of what is going on is to be
derived from a speech of Sir Stafford
NOrthcOte in the House of Com
mons as imperfectly cabled and re-
corded in the Cincinnati Enquirer
Of the 10Th. Sir Stafford speaks for
the administration, the Marquis of
Harting for the opposition:
Sir Stafford NOrthcote also said
no intimatiOn had yet been received
that an armistice was signed.
The peace proposals were not vet
officially known, but have been
communicated as authOritiVe by
Count SchOuValOff, the Russian En-
basSador. They are mainly the
same as those printed this morning.
Sir Stafford NOrthcOte also said he
would express no opinion which
might be used for the guidance of
Turkey, but he considers the terms
very sweeping. The question Of
autonomy for Bulgaria was not
that agreed upon by the CONSTANT
nOple Conference. Administrative
autonomy was then conceded. Now
there is provided a total separation
from Turkey, under a Prince.
Regarding tributaries becoming
independent, he W0iiiu say nothing;
but it must raise difficult questions,
since it touches other interests. The
idemnity condition is very elastic.
How Russia may elect to take the
idemnity, and what territory she
may ask are highly important to
Europe. European concert is, there
fore, necessary. The understand
ing regarding the Straits may mean
something or nothing, but it is an
European, an English interest. He
explained that the credit asked for
was not connected with the sending
Of the fleet to the Dardanelles, but
is permanent measure, that Eng
land may appear at the Congress
that must assemble with proper
prestige. Sir Stafford said the Gov
eminent asks for credit as a vote of
confidence, SO that she can still
firmly enter the Congress. The
Marquis of Harrington asked, since
q vote of confidence was wanted,
that the debate be adjourned to
Thursday next, Che 13th.l
Sir Stafford NorthcOte iii the
course of his statement in the House
of Commons to-day, pointed out
that the Russian proposal for con-
solidatiOn as an autonomous princi-
pality of all the districts inhabited
by Bulgarians would bring the
southern boundary of Bulgaria al
most to the sea. He said a rumOr
having some appearance of author
ity stated that Prince for Bulga-
ria was to be chosen by the Gar.
Thus a powerful State would be eS-
tablished in the very heart of Tur-
key, with a Prince devoted to
Russian interests.
After touching upon other cOndi-
tions, as reported in a preceding
dispatch he said, referring to the
vagueneSs of the final conditions re-
lative to the Straits: 81 call atten-
ton to this, to point out that the
conditions are matters upon which
no separate understanding between
the belligerentsc can acknowledged
by the Powers. We have expressed
this opinion TO the Powers, and be-
lieve it will receive their assent.
Austria has repeatedly declared
that she entirely shares our views.