The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-10

The Russian Imperial Chanceilors reply
| to Lord Salisbury's circular has been waited
for in England with unconcealef anxiety
It has come, and proves to be polite. but
energetic, defence of Russia's past action
and present position in the domin-
ions Of the Sublime Porte. 1t fur
nishes without any trace of heat series OF
answers to the points advanced by the
English Foreign Secretary, and the first eff
feet of the note is said to have been molli-
| flying upon the English members OF
Parliament. In the view that war
with Russia would be very ugly
business, and that, after all. it is bet
ter to keep the peace, the English
members may read the reply with compla-
| cency. but we can discover in it no balm
for the wounds in English self-respect in
Aicted by England herself and which she is
spending money in war preparations TO
cure. In Lord Salisbury's circular the
grievances Of England were for the first time
formulated with an approach to cogency, but
yet although specific exceptions to Russla's
course were taken and broader ground as
sumed for the English interests said to be
endangered, the sum Of the objections was
vague generality that the Treaty OF San
Stefano did not suit England, and, there
fore, could not suit Europe. As may be imag-
ined, the Russian statesman deals pitilessly
though delicately with this evasiveness.
England has, through the laundering of her
government in neglecting to face the actu-
alities of the late conflict during its pend
ency on the basis Of her interests, left it
very difficult for her to do more than
grumbIe and fight shadows in her diplo-
matte correspondence now. This is, per-
haps, the greatest difficulty in the
way Of an understanding Even Lord
Salisbury admitted that great changes
must take place in existing treaties
but there is such fear that fresh sur
prise is in store for England if she consents
to anything, that to be called on to state
specifically what she desires presents an
unwelcome task This, after giving cate
gorical replies to the objections of Lord
Salisbury, is what Prince Gortschakof de-
mands in language whose fine politeness
savors of cutting irony.
1t will be remembered that the Salisbury
circular objected to the New Bulgaria which
the treaty creates that it would be Slav
State under Russian control. GortscLakof
points to Roumania, which Russia created,
as an instance Of the baselessness Of this fear,
and to the Constantinople Conference,
at which Lord Salisbury assisted. In
that Conference the Powers demanded
ali %hak <nr rs& nd
Turkey refused. The war which followed,
and which Russia alone, of all the Powers,
prosecuted, resulted and an autonomous
but not independent State was formed as
the only means of carrying out these re-
forms. As to its boundaries, says Prince
Gortschakoff, they are not defnitively laid
down; but we cannot see that he gives any
promise of their modification in o large
sense His argumentthat Bulgarian ports
on the Euxine and Egean would be
more for the benefit Of England
than of Russia is a fine piece Of
argument; but that is not what England
had in her mind. Yet as England neglected
to state that she objected to Russia having
the ports Of q friendly if not vassal Power
at her disposal we presume the Chancellor
did not see why he should put his reply on
that ground.
In replying to the niggard objections Of
Lord Salisbury to the provisions of the
treaty respecting reforms in Epirus, Thes-
sally and Crete the Chancellor is on very
firm ground. The newborn English zeal for
the welfare of the Greeks could not be
exposed more mercilessly than in his
statement that the modest reforms which
Russia demanded were carefully drawn so
rs to strike o happy medium between a
claim for Russian supremacy and O total
neglect Of the Greeks. Lord Salisbury's
objection was to the clause in the treaty
which. provided that the ordinances for
the reforms should be submitted to the Gear.
To whom else, Gortschakoff might have
asked, should sthey be submitted? To
England? England did not shed drop of
blood or spend farthing to take the posi-
ton which rendered the fulflment of these
reforms q necessity on the part of Turkey.
In the same way at Constantinople last
year England wanted reforms for the
Bulgars, and now when the reforms are
guaranteed she discovers that her new
Greek pets ''view With alarm" the prospect
of their being carried out The Chancellor
does not say all this in words, but it is
plainly written between the lines.
On the question Of Bessarabia the Chan
cellor says that the freedom of the Danube
is assured by the International Commission.
Tbaro N, nv .ba aome aufire in this but tho
student Of the late war will recall
the celebrity with which Russia prac-
tically closed the river in spite
Of Hobart Pacha and his feet; and with
friendly States on the right bank as well
as the left-Bulgaria as well MS Rou-
mania--how much moro quickly could
she do it again? This is tho practical