Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1878-01-04
European Cable News.


LONDON, Jan. 3d.-A special
from Vienna points out that by
permitting Russia to negotiate
separately, the Powers recognize
the privileged position she has so
long claimed In the settl e ment of
the Eastern question and to cancel
which was one of the main objects,
if not the chief one, of the treaty OF
Paris, by allowing Russia to take
upon herself the enforcement of
certain things upon Turkey. The
Powers, indeed, have already
taken q great step in this direction,
but so long as Europe upheld the
principle that no negotiations
could be carried on between the
belligerents themselves, this priv
LEGGED position assumed by Russia
would cease the moment negotia
tions began. If, on the
contrary, the principle of
separate negotiation is ad-
mitted, an exceptional position Is
thereby sanctioned and it beco mes
only q question Of how far this ex-
ceptionaI position is to extend.
The firm ground is abandon ed and,
in spite of all reservations, the
powers have given up their right of
participating in the settlement of
the question. The disincIination
shown by the British Government
to encourage separate negotiations
Is an indication that it was aware
of the Importance of the principle
at stake. Still the principle, which
is an European one, could only ac-
quire validity by the joint will of
all or most of the powers, and it
has been abandoned by all except
England. There remains but one
alternative for England, either to
dispute single-handed the claim of
Russia or follow the example of
the other powers and mako reser-
vations Oh paper to secure guaran-
tees.
We hear from st. Petersburg
that the intercourse between Prince
Gortschakoff, Russian Foreign
Secretary, and Lord LOTUS, British
AMBASSADOR, on this matter, has
been of the most friendly character,
and the te egraphic reply sent from
ST. Petersburg was drawn up
jointly by them, as if for all. The
reports that the Porte has already
come TO the conclusion of accept
ing an,armistice, seem to be prema-
ture, as it is not likely that any
thing decisive will be done until
Russia's reply has been officially
communicated to England.
The Times, in leading editorial
article, says: Once more, in the
midst of disquieting rumors, We
have the satisfaction to report the
reassuring statement made by one
of the ministers, which, at the
present moment, ought to be re-
garded as finally deciding the
position assumed by this country.
We may interpret his words as
meaning at least rs much as they
say, and as an unmistakable ex-
preston Of the present view of the
ministry. What, then, is the up
shot of the Earl of Car
narvon's speech ? 1t is an
emphatic, a peculiarly plain,
notice of a lenient policy.
1t has been made not at all too
soon, but 1t ought to terminate the
alarm by which the public have
recently been disturbed. For this
purpose it should be only necessary
to add single consideration to the
Earl of Carnaryon's statement. If
this is the deliberate judgment of
members of the Cabinet, it is in
conceivable that any less decisive
opinion can be entertained by the
nation as a whole. If there be any |
anywhere to enter this
war, if insanity of such kind any
where prevails, it is to be found,
beyond question, in the conserva-
tive rather than in the liberal
ranks and if the Earl of Carnarvon
cannot conceive of repetition of
the policy OF the Crimeau war by
his own party, Is it for "a moment
to be supposed that the other half
OF the nation would entertain it?
1t should be clearly understood
that the most earnest and ener-
yetic section of the community is
decisively and without
to support the principles
aid down by the Earl of Carnar-
7un. Let it be understood once for
vi that the most responsible lead
RS in both parties deem the policy
If the Crimean war SO obsolete
hat it would be insanity to revive
{, so there will be an end Of the
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