New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-04-05
BEACONSFIELD'S TROUBLES.

NAu-THE SOUTH AFRICAN EMBARRAsNMENTs
TFRoM REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSE.l
LONDON March 22.-Matters have not been gong
well with the Government this week. To the pre-
vious difficulties of their position is now added
fresh dispute with Russia touching the execution of
the Treaty of Berlin in Bulgaria and Eastern Rou-
melia. To speak more accurately, the dispute has
entered upon a fresh and more acute stage this
week Prince Gortschakof-s reply TO Lord Sails
bury's dispatch of January % has been re-
ceived. and is of a nature most disQuietng
to the Jugo mind. Lord Salisbury complained
that Russian agents in Bulgaria were going beyond
the lines Of the Berlin Treaty, and called upon the
Russian Government to pull them up. Prince
Gortschakcif replies that the principles of the
Treaty are not in question, that the British Govern
ment have probably mistaken the intention Of the
Russian agents whose acts are complained of, and
that lie is not disposed to continue a discussion of
which he does not see the practical utility. The
Princes dispatch IS curt TO the brink of diplomatic
decorum Lord Salisbury is perfectly capable OF a
sharp ret0rt but that would not relieve the stress
of the situation which Prince Gortschakoh
indicates with sufficient clcarneSs in single sell
tence. After remarking that Russia cannot hut
support the interests Of the population for whose
defence she made war, he says: We believe that
a general understanding would be greatly facili-
tated H. on the other hand, those popua-
Ions acquired the conviction that their IN
terests will be eifectually defended by Europe
within the same limits (the limits OF the
treaty. when our troops are no longer
there to protect them. Strp that of diplomatic
circumlocuton, and this PLAIN meaning stands out:
Z" II Europe will protect the BuGaraGs Of Eastern
Roumelia well and good; if not, Russia will' This
Ical disquietlng to the lingo mind because il fore
BODIES the approach OF the moment when the divls-
ion Of Bulgaria must cease to be anything but
nominal Russia cannot ana will not let the people
whom Lord Beacon,feld reserved for Turkish rule
undergo the fate prepared for them. How
they are to he protected against spoa-
ton and massacre is q questions but that
they shall be protected IL not question. Yet the
efficient protection of them involves Withdrawing
them from the Sultans swav and when that has
been done the last of lingo glory vanisbes from
the Berlin Treaty. The division of Bulgaria was
Lord BcacousGeld's one triumph. The reunion OF 1t
will be the signal proof of his final discomttuTe
Nor is this all. Russia j. once moro stirring in
Asia as we'll as Europe. There are ominous reports
from General Lomakinc. The forces under this
very energetic officer are being strengthened and
an early movement upon Mery Is once more |
threatened. The Chancellor of the EXchcGuer was /
asked about 10 in the House on Thursday. lie SAID
he had heard the reports. but did not know where
the troops were gong. As their number has been
publicly stated at 10000, it Is worth while
TO find out; the more so that a Russian !
advance upon Merry is held by Anglo
Indians 70 require an English advance upon
Herat: which latter would prove a very pretty adj
difon TO the present burdens of the Afghan cam
paigr. Even cautious q man as Lord Derby has
committed himself To the opinion that England cam
not witness tho occupation of Merv with lHt.ter-
ence The view is shared hy many Liberals who DO |
not belong 10 the Jugo persuasion, hut who watch !
tho progress of Russia i'm Central Asia with solicit
tude. Russia knows that well enough, and She has |
timed her present uoyemcnt-ifit be really entered
ONO correspond with the efforts Of the Zulus and |
the immucnce of a Burmese war; TO say nothing OF |
the Afghan enterprise which Is probably very far |
from being concluded.
So entirely Is the English mind occupied with the |
Zulus that Afghanistau is half forgotten, and the
BurnIh business seems TO belong TO another world.
Both. nevertheless. are in n critical condition.
General Roberts has been forced 20 abandon Khost,
and Lori Iytton makes use of this reverse to urge
once NOR, the necessity of an advance on Cabul.
II apn.ars that the victories of which we heard so
much at the beginning of the campaign have daz-
zlcd the wild IiIndooS less than they did |
Mr. Halstead, who thought them superior |
TO the Russian tuumphs over the Turk.
The Afghan Niger must be thIashed /
q little moro before British prestige Is sniff |
cientIy restored and Lord Lyttous yaultiug anb.- |
ton appclscd To the same end war !5 90 be made /
On Bur1nah. II seems well established that Lord |
Iyttou sent OF two regiments 10 British Durmah, |
on pref XXI of danger which does not exist without
50 much as acqumntug the Government at home |
with their dispatch. When Ministers were ques- |
toned IN the House, they denied that troops had /
been sent. Next day they heard Of II from then |
Siceroy, aud had TO swallow jhcir denial. More /
have since gone, and ! heard last night that /
regiment IA ENGLAND is under orders TO
sill tins .yeek; which seems odd, but II was an |
.,ft r.tn VIII ID SAT-
aljsm with vengeance. Lord Lytton and SIR
Barte Irere have bettercl the instructions OF their
chief and have got up a war apiece, each ON ms
own responsibility. Neither OF them does the Gov
<rnmeut dare disavow recall
As 80 Sir Barte Frere and Zulu matters generally
Ministers have at last indicated the line they mean
TO take. It's one which none but Government on
the downward path would ever have Int upon. 1t
looks dangerously like those resolves winch are due
decentralization in the camp. They have publicly !
avowcd that they do not mean q defend Sir B1rtIe
Frere against the attack 20 bo made upon him next
Tuesday in the House Of Lords. They have
publicly censured him in = printed dispatch |
Bnt they do not recall him. 1t Is likely !
enough that when Sir Bartle Frere reads Sir
Michael Hicks Bcach's dispatch. he will save them
ali further trouble IN tho matter by Teeigning |
Seldom has great iunctIon2rJ been taken to task
in such terms. Sir Bartle Frere IS really NccrOy At
tho Cape, under the title Of High Commissioner |
Against hIs Instructions lie made war on Ceil UaYo
H. excused this act Of insubOrdnation on the plea
of urgent necessity. lis superior now writes him
that after giving full weight the consideration he
presse. they have been unable to find in the docu
rents you have placed before them that evidence Of
urgent necessity for immediate action which alone !
could Justify you In taking without Their full |
kuoyledae and sanction course almost certain 20