The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-29

England and the War.
In the House of Commons last night the
British government asked for vote of thirty
millions Of dollars for the supply Of the
army and navy, but not as war measure
and not rs supply connected with any
specific purpose, like that of sending the
feet to the Dardanelles. Itwanted the money
voted as an evidence of the confidence of the
country and in order that it might enter the
congress of the European Powers with the
prestige that could only be derived from
such an indication that it had the effective
support of the nation in it's opposition to
those features of the proposed treaty of
peace between Turkey and Russia which it
regards as inimical to British interests. 1t
gave, in the form of an outline criticism of
Russia's preliminary conditions the views
which by this vote it understands the
nation will be prepared to espouse as its
own, and will be prepared to intimate to
Europe that it is disposed to sustain by
war ii necessary. By this it appears that
precisely what Russia proposes with regard
to Bulgaria is "the consolidation as an au-
tonomous principally of all the dis
tricts inhabited by Bulgarians." This,
Sir Stafford Northcote said, ''wouid
bring the southern boundary Of Bull
garia almost to the sea-" That seems
to be an unfair Interpretation of the words
given, for though there are scattered points
of Thrace and Macedonia in which Bulgari-
ans are found, those vast districts are in
habited by people of Grecian race and not
by Bulgarians, and under Russias defini-
ton Bulgaria does not go further toward
the sea than Philippopolis, which is in
fact not much nearer to the sea
than it is to the Danube But on
the basis of this Interpretation and on 80
rumor" that the Prince for Bulgaria is to be
chosen by the Gear, the government rests
its opposition to the Russian programme
with regard to that province. Apparently,
therefore, it has some faith in the ignorance
of the House and in its patriotic determine
ton to vote the money without regard
to the reasons the government may
give. It will be good deal safer
for the. government to depend upon that
its statement, for the House Of Commons
has always plenty Of national spirit, and on
this occasion is not ignorant Of the subject
before it, Sir Stafford Northcote's objec-
ton to the clause with regard to the OAR
danelles is its vagueness Russia docs not
demand specifically any rights in the Black
Sea nor in the Dardanelles, nor lay down
al a preliminary that any change there
shall be conceded; and that ought to be in
accord with England's views. But the very
innocence Of the proposition is what alarms
the Ministry, which sees in this the cover
to some snare. AS wolf in want Of fresh
meat might hesitate to help himself if he
found fine cut of mutton temptingly exposed
to view at place where he expected only
to see trap, so the British Ministry dis
trusts Russias very regard for what Eng
land has clamored about On the surface
this Russian proposition is rs innocent as
an empty tin can that once held pre-
served tomatoes but to the eyes of an
English Ministry all tin cans with Russian
trade marks on them must necessarily be
filled with nitro-glycerine. Hence the
government declares that :'the conditions
are matters upon which no separate under
standing between the belligerents can be
acknowledged by the Powers" and in this
position it claims that it is supported
by Austria. But what is better still,
perhaps, is the fact that it is even
supported by Russia, since this part of the
terms of peace was left in outline, with the
understanding by the government of the
Gar that it was to be made distinct only by
the act of an international congress. The
vote on this demand tor money will be
taken on Thursday, and there will be
lively debate meantime.