The Portland daily press., 1878-07-10
TIE EASTERN PROBLEM.
BatOnm to be a Free Port.
EngIand's Occupation of Cyprus
FavOrabEy Regarded.
Russia and England on Better Terms.

BERLIN, July Cit is believed that the Con-
| eress has decided that while Russia receives
Batoum as free port, the territory principally
INHABITED by the Lazis is excepted from Rus
1 sian control. In return the British plenipo-
tentiaries have accepted the substitution of the
| expression essentially commercial instead of
Exclusively commercial" as applied to the
port of Batoum.
There has been much controversy on the
| subject of the Sandjak of Sophia between the
Russian and Austrian military delegates, the
| latter proposing strategical line reducing the
territory OF Sandjak nearly one-half 1t is un-
| ders TODD that Schouvaloff has regained the
territory which the military committee pro-
| posed to take away from Saudjak.
The AnaIo-Tnrkish Treaty.
| LoNDoN, July Sin the Commons this
afternoon, under-sectetary Bourke said that
| the English ratification of the convention with
Turkey was sent to Constantinople some time
ago, and everything is settled. Mr.. Barring,
| legation, has taken the firman to Cyprus 1--WE
have not yet said Bourke, 'had official notfi-
cation that tbs convention has been formally
notified to the hover"
The Times Berlin correspondent say that a
considerable sensation was created there by the
news of the Anglo Turkish alliance. There is
feeling that the Oriental question has
entered upon new and decisive STAGE and
that the remodelling process will continue after
the Berlin meeting is over Some diplomatsts
and African domains of the Porte are less like
ly to remain in Stdtu quo for the protection
specially awarded to the Levant' The first
move, it is thought, will be made by the
Bosnia and Herzegovina, which desire to be in
corporated by Austria. In such case, Italy
it is expected, would occupy Albania and Offer
to exchange it fol-. South Tyrol. Little
curiosity is felt respecting the action of France
and Russia in the immediate future,
A Paris doSDateh saws that fha ARA N oo mo nt
between England and Turkey, especially the
matter of Cyprus, is not fsvorably received by
public opinion there. Some newspapers are
very bitter against it.
Order received at the royal arsenal to cancel
the demand for 100000 cartridge remaining
on the books of the department. There are
various other evidences that extraordinary
activity in the government establishments
during the last three weeks is about to decline
At the opening of the stock market yesterday
foreign. securities were very firm and rush
upward was expected but the market dropped
by heavy selling from the continent
LONDON, July 9-The London newspapers
excepting the Daily News comment favorably
on the Anglo-Turkish treaty. The Times
says: Although the transformation of Batoum
into free port is a valuable guarantee for COM
mercal interests which would otherwise be
threatened, Russia has successfully insisted
on the retention of her more important con-
questes in Armenia. Lord Salisbury argues
gerous tendency and create sense of the
instability of the Ottoman power throughout
Servia, Asia Minor and Mesopoaomia. In
plain words the Times says: The Gear would
begin to be recognized as the natural heir of
the Sultan.
Lord Salisbury continues:
ut is impossible for her msjesty's govern
ment to accept without making an effort to
avert he effect such state of feeling
would produce upon the regions whose politi-
cal condition deeply concerns the oriental inter-
est of Great Britain" This sentence, adds the
Times, contains the turning point of the minis
terial policy, and upon the agreement or disa-
greement with the conviction it expresses must
depend the judgment of the country upon the
easy question weether it will be worth our
while TO undertake vast responsibility for the
purpose of excluding Russia from Asia Mi
nor and the Euphrates Valley.
1t must be decided on balance of conflict
ing considerations and of this balance the prac-
ticable test is the settled opinion of the coun-
try at large. But of that there can be little
Russia should be allowed further opportunity
to encroach upcn the Ottoman power in Asia
we should feel it an imperative necessity to in
terfere but this being the case it is certainly
common prudence to ADOPT at once measures
which will render such entertainments obvi-
ously impracticable. If we mean to stay the
advance of Russia in the end we
dence in checking her at the outset
This can only be done by guaranteeing on our
own authority the integri y of the domnions
of the Sultan in Asia as they are left by the !
treaty of Berlin.
Though the announcement of the Anglo |
Turkish treaty was not unexpected, it created
profound sensation.