The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-04

The Basis OF Peace ina the East.
nounced that the terms of an armistice based
on the preliminaries of peace have been ac-
copied by the Porte and signed by the Rus
sian commander-in-chief and the Turkish
delegates. This is to be followed by an inn
mediate suspension OF hostilities both IN
Turkey and Armenia. It is interesting
to note the positions in which this action OF
the principal belligerents leaves the allies
of Russia. The Porte consents to the entire
independence of Roumania, Servia and
Montenegro, but the question OF an IN
crease of territory for the emancipated
States appears to be as yet an open one'
which will probably be settled when the
actual terms of peace will be discussed.
The erection of Bulgaria into principallty
places her in the same relation to the Porte
as Roumania and Servia occupied before the
war--that is, the frontier OF Turkey proper Is
moved southwark to the line of the Balkans
from its old line of the Danube. Herzego-
VIVA and Bosnia are to have a reformed sys-
tenn of government under the Porte, which
will guarantee the inhabitants against the
expressions and outrages which drove them
into instruction. The fact that these prov
inces will be almost surrounded by INDIE
pendent States, and that the principally
of Bulgaria will lie between them and
the territory of Roumelia, affords them
protection which will eventually become
guarantee Of their independence, because,
if they revolt, the advance of Turkish
troops against them would be the cause of
reopening all the questions settled by the
war just ending. So far, therefore, the Slavic
States have been effectually rescued from
Turkish rule by the success Of the Russian
arms.
But the relations of Russia and Turkey
are by no means settled by the armistice.
although Turkey comedies all the demands
of the conqueror. The questions that will
arise in the conference proposed by Austria
and accepted by the European Powers will
be Of the gravest interest, and a solution of
the Eastern problem is by no means assured.
When we consider that Russia aims at ac-
complishing that which would necessarily
prove fatal to Turkey, and which will be
strenuously opposed by Overwhelmingly.
the opening OF the Dardanelles to the free
passage Of Russas war and mercantile
navies-the prospects of a lasting peace do
not look bright Turkey, shorn Of some Of
her fairest possessions, utterly crippled by
disastrous defeat, and demoralized by
the misfortunes that have overtaken
20 oh hnfvy
her powerful enemy, Russia, and
her exacting friend, England. The one
presses demands that are in terrible accord
ance with her victories, while the other en-
forces o kind of resistance to these, which,
while beneficial to English interests, means
simply destruction to Turkey. The signif-
cant removal to Greek waters of the Turkish
fleet, under the command Of an Eng
lish admiral, suggests its possible surren-
der to England, who fears it may fall into
the hands Of Russia as part of the war
indemnity claimed. Hence the rumor that
a programme for the seizure Of the fleet
is already prepared. Unable to use it
for the purpose of part payment Of the
indemnity Turkey must submit to loss Of
territory in Asia far greater than if she was
able to redeem her obligations in money or
ships. The Greek complications only afford
England the desired opportunity of de-
feating Russia's plan for acquiring q
ready made Black Sea iron-clad navy.
Hence Turkey will be crushed between
the millstones of fate represented
by Russian power and British interests.
But will Europe consent to repetition Of
the coup of Copenhagen? Besides, if the
Turkish fleet becomes English property in
the Levant, does not Russia's small but
effective fleet in the Black Sea become Of
considerable Importance in case Of re-
opening of the war, and her attack on the
Bosphorus and Constantinople?