New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-26
TIE SITUATTON ~ THE EAST.

The Sultan may not break his word after
all The determination Of three OF the Powers
to send feet to the Levant and cut off the rev.
enues of Smyrna forced him to make ono
more promise. On October 9 he agreed to
surrender Dulcigno without unnecessary de-
lay. Orders were dispatched to RIA Pacha to
allow the Mentenegrins to take possession OF
the district but the negotiations have dragged
on for six weeks. Possibly the Montenegro
Prince has been more cautions than was neces-
sary more like ly the Sultan has been en-
couraged by the attitude of France and the
two German Powers to defer the final settle
ment, in the hope that something might hap
pen at the last moment to prevent 1t alto
gether The Turkish commander has been
accused OF melting the Albanians to resist the
will of Europe, and the Indifference of three
of the great States that have ordered the cessiOn
of Dulcg no has given ample opportunity for
treachery and intrigue. The diplomatic pres
sure at COnstantnOple does not seem to have
been relaxed. The will of the British Premier
has prevailed. Dervisch Pacha, the COM
mander who surrendered Batum to the Rus
SLAMS, was sent to Albania to execute the or
ders of the Porte and after ascertainipg that
rines he has concentrated small body of
troops and forced an entry, after several
hours of sharp skirmishing. 1t is never safe
to forecast the events of week. OF even of a
day, in the changeful East ; but the Monte
negrins now seem to have every chance of get
ting what belongs to them. With an inter-
national fleet anchored off the coast the Turks
will scarcely venture to allow the Albanians
to slip in and cheat their ancient foes out of
their rights.
The British Premier will be fairly entitled
to the credit of settling this controversy. He
has been rcclllessly charged with pursuin" a
policy of adventure in the East. This is not
rrue The rectifcaton of the Montenegrin from
tier was distinctly provided for IN the Treaty
of Berlin. He has compelled the Porte TO
recognize the binding nature of its obligations
to Europe. He has proved that the Powers
can be kept together if there be determined
leadership, and that the Porte will yield to
pressure after deceit and prevarication have
run their course. He has applied that pres
sure by naval MEANS much to the advantage
of Great Britain, whose military system il so
lax He has made the moral force of Europe
operative, and given to his own Nation the
foremost place rs Il cOeGclNe agent.
Nor is his work finished. The Greek ques-
ton will be pressed to n settlement as soon
as Ducigno Is surrendered. 1t is matter of
good faith not only with England but With
Europe. The supplementary Conference at
Berlin marked out the new frontier; an army
of 10000 men is waiting for marching 'Or-
ders the King of the Greeks declares that
he cannot restrain the ardOr of the soldiers
much longer, and that as for dIsbandng them
altogether, ii is out of the question. Europe
has committed itself to policy of action and
cannot with dignity beg off or back out. Nor
is Mr.. Gladstone the man to suffer the moral
force of the Continent to go to waste.