The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-27
THE sITUITION IN EUROPE

LONDON, Nov. 1l-Lord Bcaconsfleld's |
speech at the Mansion House. which was |
looked forward 10 with 80 much interest. decid- |
edly disappointed public expectation. Devoid |
OF all those flowers OF rhetoric which have al |
ways furnished his advcrsaries with convenient |
pegs upon which to hang their satire. It was
no less deficient in tho information which |
even his supporters desired. for thoy labor un-
der tho disadvantage Of having TO support In |
their public utterances and their private con-
troversies policy In regard 10 the motives and |
principles OF which they are profoundly ig- |
norant. There was vagueness Inconsistency. |
and inaccuracy In most OF Lord Beacons1elds !
statements the other might which Is not calcu-
lated TO help his followers. The invasion OF |
India by Russia by way Of Afghanlstan Is I'M |
possible and impracticable' One fails 10
see thcn. tho necessity OF going TO war
with the Ameer in order TO attain a recti-
fcntion OF tho frontier avowedly rendered
necessary BY the danger OF Russian
invasion. II. as he says In the ncxt breath.
there is q danger OF the Russian invasion Of
India by the Asian passes" ono asks ones self
whore those Asian passes are. which are not In
Afghanistan. and which are strategically com
manded by the island OF Cyprus the occupa-
ton Of which he justifles on military grounds.
This idea in the minds Of the Government has
evidently originated in the advance OF Russia
TO Kars. The acquisition Of that fortress. II Is
supposed. gives the Russians a new base OF
operations. from which they could march down
tho Euphratcs. and so sklrtng tho Persian Gulf.
advance upon India through Bcloochistan; hut
this Is far moro impossible and .mprac ,icable
operation than q march through Afghanstan:
and tho notion Of collecting an army in Cyprus
landing il in Syria. and then cutting the Rus
sian line OF march in the Euphrates valley Is
one which will never be realized. for II will be-
quite rs difficult and hazardous for English
troops TO march from tho Mediterranean 10 the
Persian Gulf as 1t will be- for tho Russ ans to ad-
vance from the Black Sea to meet US there. SO
far the strategy OF the Government is as un-
practical rs their diplomacy.
As for tho somewhat scntentious cnumcr-
alton Of tho results already accomplished by
the Berlin treaty. It was not strictly accurate.
and the Prime Minister was compelled to
admit that the Russians hal so far oyaded
the fulnlmcnt Of their share Of the obi
cations. and 10 threaten that II they refused 10
carry them out at the expiration Of the term
fiNed by the Berlin treaty &" TO tho letter" the
whole energies and resources Of England
would be employed to force them to do so but
any one who knows the feeling Of the country
must be aware that II the Russians content
themselves with passively remaining whore
they are. without advancing on Constantine
pie. II would DO impossible 10 enlist
public sympathy In n war which should have
for its object the driving OF the Russian armies
ont Of eastern Roumelia and back across the Bal
kan. II Russia is so III advised rs 10 come to
opon hostilities with Turkey again and besicgo
Constantinopc. then there would bc no DIM
Guilty in rousing the British lion but II between
this and May she creates such feeling in east
ern Roumelia ne 20 make her withdrawal from
that province the signal for u revolution against
the Government imposed upon il by the treaty
OF Berlin. which it would be. then it would DO
quito impossible to carry tho English nation
into n war which should be designed to force
Turkish government on Christian popula-
ton against the wish OF the people.
If there ia one thing certain in the future.
II is. in spite OF Lord Beaconsneld's as
sortion ut the Mansion House. that tho stip-
ulations Of the treaty Of Berlin In regard TO
eastern Roumclia will never be carried out
At present there is something luderous in the
open defiance by Russia Of the work which was
supposed to have been accomplished at the
Congress. Not only docs she show no disposi-
ton 70 cooperate In insttutlng the form Of gov
eminent provided by the treaty. but her armies
are still occupying Turkish territory outside Of
that province altogether. in portions OF tho Sui
tan's dominions which have never been in
der the pretext Of keeping order and protecting
Christians, she retains her forcposts far nearer
| Constantinople than she has any right to do.
| Russia does not want England to 60 TO war in
| AfghanistAn till May OF next year. tho month
when she is TO be forced TO keep the treaty OF
Berlin to the letter" Then. II the English
public can be worked up in any way to show
their teeth. she would like 20 see them drawn
by the Ameer Of Cabul. Whereas. If England
should succeed in "rectifyinE hor northwest
frontier now and should conclude an Afghan
| war before Russia is ready to nut her eastern
Roumela policy into execution, the Govern
ment,would concentrate It's attention upon Tur-
| key in Europe with the enhanced prestige OF
having achieved a triumph in Asia. For this rea-
son it is TINT the Emperor of Russia has afford
| od assurances 10 tho British Government
that it II his wish to give all due respect to the
stipulations of tho treaty OF Berlin and TO
bring about the much desired pNcincation by
the faithful execution Of the treaty, and that no
imperial functionary will be wanting In that
respect = and hence 1t is That Count Sohouyaloff
has gone to confer with Count Andrassy at
| Posth and give the Austrian Government like
| assurances, or more probably intrigue to do
| tnch them from tho understanding with Eng
| land. which was on tho point OF bong ar
| rived at. and which Austria found herself
driven 10 by the turn AFFAIRS were taking in
Macedonia, n direction In which she was uhi-
mately looking Tor an extension OF her own
| frontier.
| and France arc being cemented uy the Anglo
| French loan in favor OF Egypt, which Is nego-
tinted by the Rothschids In favor Of Egypt
and the GOVERNMENTS Of both countries are
drawing together as closely as possible ON the
! Eastern question.