The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-05-11
Russia and Europe Whatthe Powers Want

A despatch from London dated May z
says "A basis of the arrangement which
the powers desired to submit to the Gar
has been agreed upon. The arrangement
is separated into five divisions. The first
proposes that the two regions of Bulgaria
Situated north of the Balkans shall be con-
ceded to Russia, and stipulates that the
southern portion of Bulgaria shall remain,
to great extent, under the authority of
the Sultan. The second relates solely to
the Asiatic compensation, which it is pro-
posed shall be reduced to a minimum.
The third relates to the Straits question,
and will be arranged hereafter. The
fourth demands defnitive settlement OF
the war indemnity. Under the fifth divi-
sion it is proposed that both Thessaly and
Epirus shall be accorded the right of self
government, thus securing for them the
protection of Europe and their national
independence.
The Philadelphia Times comments as
follows, upon the proposed arrangement:
There is nothing indicative of peace
full settlement of the Eastern difficulty in
the scheme of adjustment reported as a
greed to by the European Powers. So
far, indeed, is this scheme removed from
practicability that its genuiness may be
questioned. If genuine, it only increases
the stringency of the diplomatic deadlock.
With the exception of the concession re-
lative to the annexation of Northern Bull
garia by Russia-and it is not by any
means clear, from the synopsis of the
agreement that comes to US by cable, that
even this concession means more than the
erection of Northern Bulgaria into prin-
cipality under Russian protection-with
this single exception, there is nothing in
the document in the smallest degree ia
vorable to Russian interests. The second
stipulation, ruling out the claim upon
Asiatic territory, and the fourth, demand
ing defnitive settlement of the war in
demuity, are both actively hostile to the
letter and spirit of the Treaty of San
Stefano; the third, relative to the right of
use of the Straits, is pure negative, and
the fifth, proposing that Thessaly and
Epirus shall become independent, is side
blow looking to the creation of an anti
Russian sentiment in Southern Turkey
that shall make the future extension of
Bulgaria in that direction impossible. If
these several stipulations really have been
agreed to as the basis on which the pre-
posed Congress shall meet, there is very
little probability that the Congress ever
will be convened. To accept such whole
sale notifications of her claims would be
equivalent on the part of Russia to throwing
away the substantial reward earned by a
brilliant but most arduous campaign.
Simultaneously with the publication of
this platform that may not mean war but
that certainly does not mean peace, comes
from Constautinople news of decidedly
pacific character-being nothing less than
an offer in form from General Todleben
to withdraw from before the Turkish cap
ital, provided that at the same time the
English feet withdraws also,
1t is unfortunate that this the most decid
ed symptom of willingness to entertain
compromise measures yet manifested by
Russia should have come at the very mo
ment when Europe is in the act of deliv
ering an opinion that seems to put com
promise quite beyond the limits of possibil
ity. Russia scarcely can fail to discover il
its provisions determination on the part
of Europe to keep her out of the fruits of
her hard-won victory, and will be tempted
to reason that if so much in the way Of
positive loss must come as preliminary
to the Congress, by the time the Congress
is ended there will be nothing left at all