The Portland daily press., 1878-04-02
The Eastern Situation.
LITTLE HOPE OF A PEACEFUL
SETTLEMENT.
Strong War Feeling in ST. Pc
tersburg.
ENGLAND EXPLAINS HER OBJ
JECTIONS TO THE TREATY.


A st. Petersburg View Of the Situation.
New YORK, April IA st. Petersburg de-
spatch dated yesterday. says that is admitted
In the higher official circles there that the visit
of Ignatieff to Vienna has proved a failure. The
fact is variously regarded, but nothing has so
far occurred that would indicate any change in
the Russian programme. In fact, any receding
from the position heretofore assumed would be
extremely unpopular with ell classes of Rus
slams. Ignatef returns to st. Petersburg with
out going to England, as originally intended.
The general situation in st. Petersburg is dis
quieting, and great uneasiness as to the fu-
tnre is expressed by persons in the confidence
ton of the Eastern difficulty is imminent, and
the next two weeks will be pregnant with
events that will materially affect all Europe.
The amour pr0pre of the Gar will not allow
him to yield anything and the feeling of the
people is such that any concessions to the other
powers might produce serious consequences. 1t
is ten on all sides that war cannot be averted,
and the only question seems to be as to the
powers that will take part in it.
Calculation has been made as to the strength
of the fleets of the whole world, and the result
is belief in the almost indispensable necessity
of obtaining the aid of the French feet against
England, and it is thought that means of secur-
ing the aid of France has been hit upon. If Ig-
natieff should at the last moment succeed at
cooperation of France is to place before the
French government the following alternative:
You must either abstain from the Congress
and thus act on the side of England against
the whole of Europe, or come to Congress and
agree to abide by the consequences, whatever
they may be-.
By this means it is hoped that France will be
forced to abandon her present attitude of neu-
trality, and declare herself on one side or the
other, before any decisive step is taken. 1t is
IL -
be traced in this proposition, but such is the iu
tention, should Ignatieff succeed with An
Grassy. In consequence of her reserved atti-
tude, great irritation prevails In Russia against
France, as it is felt that by remaining neutral,
while half of Europe would be exhausting it.
self in gigantic war, the influence of France
would be enormously increased and her power
to great extent restored. While she is stand
ing silently watching the conflict, she could de-
eide at critical moment to throw her sword
into whichever side of the scale is best suited
to her interests, and thus determine the result.
Should all hope OF general understanding
be given up, Russia will put an end to the sus-
pense and face the issue directly. England will
be summoned to withdraw her feet immediate
lV from the sea Of Marmora. In case Of refusal,
which is certain, the Russians will occupy, in
the course of few hours, Coonstantinople and
the whole shore of the Bosphorus, and thus
England and Russia will face to face with moth.
ing but the sword to decide their differences.
England Hurrying Her Preparations.
LONDON, April 1.-The Times says the Ad-
miralty has made urgent requisition on con-
tractors who are manufacturing large number
of picks and shovels at Northampton and
demanded to know when they would be ready.
Recruiting officers are experiencing an increase
of business, and the men coming ip are of a
superior class. 1t was expected that with the
close of the financial year March 31) beyond
which 96 000,000 credit will not run, an extern
oil mis- So of an rkoo OF
witch would occur but the war Office ordered the
extra men retained, only suspending over time
work.
Italy's Policy.
Times Rome correspondent telegraphs:
"Count Corti, Foreign Minister, has promised
the deputies to explain the governments East
ern policy as far as he may feel inclined to ex-
plain. He will undoubtedly say that observant
inaction and neutrality are inexorably Itay's
policy"
Ill Feeling toward Derby.
A ST. Petersburg despatch to the Times states
that Derby's resignation of the foreign Office is
complete surprise and caused an immense
sensation in official circles. Derby, saws the
despatch, is reproached for having misled Rus
STA and England by going as far as he did in q
direction which he disapproved.
Austria Abandons the Congress-.
Times Vienna says in consequence of Derby's
resignation and the calling out of the reserves,
promise about the Congress. feeling sure that
Russia will not yield to England's demand
now, when doing so would seem somewhat like
submitting before threat. But what nay not
be possible low may become SO later.
Iguatieffs Mission.
The impression is that whatever may have
originally been the object of Ignateff's mission,
he confined himself in fact to giving and re-
ceiving information, and returns to St. Peters
burg to report what he heard. He probably
discovered Austria too anxious for European
condemnation of the treaty Of San Stefano to
enter into any bargain about it with Russia
alone, which would seem to have given it
Austria's sanction. Moreover Ignatieff's later
declarations indicate that after he com NUM-
Gated the feeling here to St Petersburg, he re-
ceiVed new instructions which forbade him to
go so far in the direction of concession to Aus
tria as he at first expressed himself incliHed.
This was probably because after England's
determination singly to resist that portion of
the treaty unacceptable to her it was hardly
worth while for Russia to surrender that large
portion OF it unacceptable to Austria without
knowing whether she will be able to maintain
any of it or not The peace at any price ten
dency is still, however, very strong in Vienna.
Herr Tisza's visit here was arranged before
Saturdays. demonstration in the Hungarian
diet and is not therefore in consequence of it,
but 1t may be supposed that Tisza will take the
opportunity to represent to Andrasey the state
OF public feeling in Hungary.
Turkeys Attitude.
The Times Pera despatch dated the 29th
says although the Turkish policy may short
time ago have been philo-English, Just now it
is philO-Russian as Osman and Raouf Pachas
have become more Russian than English. The
Turkish and Russian soldiers franternze, the
latter going about Constantinople in uniform
freely without evoking any animosity such as
usually exists between invader and invaded,
If war comes England must contemplate the
possibility of having to fight Turkey and Rus
STA. At best she would get fro IA Turkey one.
sided neutrality OF little or no substantial use.
CONsTANTINoPLE, April lin the event of
war between between England and Russia it is
expected the Porte will remain passive and en-
deavor to make its territory respected failing
in which the Porte will simply protest to the
powers.
Salisbury Succeeds Derby.
LONDON, April 1.-Stsfford Northcote an.
nounced in the Commons this afternoon that
was appointed Foreign Secretary.
The Queens Message.
The Queens Message for the calling out of
the reserves was read by the Speaker of che
House. 1t is as follows:
The present state of public affairs in the East
and the necessity of taking steps for the main
tenance of peace and for the protection of the
interests of the empire having constituted in
he opinion of her Majesty q case of great
emergency within the meaning OF the acts of
Parliament, in that behalf her Majesty deems
it proper to provide additional means for the
public service; therefore in pursuance of those
acts her Majesty has thought it right to COM
municate to the House of Commons that she
10 about to direct that the reserve force and
militia reserve force or such part thereof as her
Majesty may think necessary, be forthwith call
ed out for permanent service.
A discussion of the Message was postponed
until Monday next.
p. m.-Sir Stafford Northcote, Chancellor
IF the Exchequer, in reply to question by
Lord Harrington, said that circular has been
'ent to the powers by the British government
explaining the views of the government regard |
ng the present position of affairs The Lord
chancellor read the royal message in the House
If Lords. Lord Beaconsfeld intends to move
N Monday an address to the Crown thanking
Ter Majesty for the message.
Austria Preparing TO Assume Control of
NeighbOring States. |
The Reuters Vienna despatch says an ex-
haDge of views has recently been proceeding
between the Austrian and Hungarian govern |
nents upon the expediency of laying stress up
N the economic interests of the monarchy in |
he states of the Balkan, peninsula, the nav- |
'ation OF the Danube, the junction of Austrian |
always with those IN AUDITING territory, and |
ne consular and postal services in such terri |