, 1880-03-10

I'LL W ~ OA0N4 "a WI =
cry of Italia Irvcdenta as it may be con.
venient to Austria to grant. If this plausi.
BILE, though perhaps not very practicable,
arrangement for preserving the peace of
Europe on behalf of two bandit Powers
should break down, then the prophets
reveal to our ~astonished gaze another and
even less inviting vista of events. Russia,
France, and Italy are to be arrayed against
Germany, Austria, and England; other
Powers which may have something to gain
and have not much to lose will join which
ever side seems to promise them the largest
share of the spoil, and even America which,
as is well known, is burning for the destruc-
tion of English maritime commerce, will
join in the general fray. This, however,
is mostly imagination, and as such it is
nothing like so well done nor so entertain
inc as the talk of the Emir Fakredeen in
Lord Beaconsfeld's "Tancred"-an mimi
table sketch of Oriental political fancy
which throws no little light on the orscles
of modern Pera. What the seers of Con.
stantinople really seem to believe is that
Austria and England are preparing to
divide what remains of the Ottoman En-
pire between them. Ofcourse, even If this
were true, the project would be impracti-
cable without the connivance of the other
European Powers interested, or, at least,
without such a combination as would
reutralize their separate resistance. As
neither Of these alternatives is in the
least degree probable, the first part OF the
prophecy, which looks more or less plauSi-
bic in itself, needs the latter part to give
it political consistency; and when the two
are taken together and seen to be depeu-
dent on each other, sensible men will
have little difficulty in giving to both the
importance they deserve as a contribution
to practical politics.
Such are the apocalyptic dreams which
float about 10 au overcharged political
atmosphere. IF it be asked on what
basis OF fact they rest, there IS very little
answer to give. No doubt the uraasiness
and sense of insecurity to which the we'll
nign desperate condition OF the Ottoman
Empire gives rise are more keealy felt in
Censtantinople Tran in other parts of
Europe. No doubt also the presence of
an active and civilized Power like Austria
in Bosnia and herzegovina extends its
influence beyond the Turkish frontiers,
and gives rise to the wish, which 10 some
cases is father to the belief. that sooner
or later Austria may make a fresh advance
in the direction Of the Egean. No doubt,
again, Sir Henry Layard has been com
PEELED to represent to the Porte, with
constantly increasing persistence and
that an amelioration Ut the
State Of toe Asiatic provinces is imperative.
ly demanded by the new relations of Tur-
key, and that England cannot and will not
undertake to save The Ottoman Empire
spite of itself. The integrity and indie
peudenoe of what remains of Turkey now
not on the Tripartite Treaty, which
has been left in abeyance by tecis but CON-.
.ou consent, but on the European obliga-
tons of the Treaty Of Berlin, ard on the
and conditional engagement of
the Auglo-Turkish Convention. Tlese
obligations are clear and definite, and they
are ratified alike by the consent OF Europe
and by the paramount interests Of the
Powers which were parties to them.
Neither England nor Austria has any
thought Of treating them as OF no effect.
at least, are uos in the babit OF tearing
up treaties of which the ink has hardly
yet had time to dry. We have put our
hands to C solemn engagement, AID it is
both our duty and our interest to abide by
it faithfully and to leave nothing undone
which may give it its full effect. We
have had not a little experience lately of
the scares and rumours of wars which
float about during the uneasy subsistence