, 1881-01-26

they have something for their money, and
~denounces the surrender of the Kurum
Valley and the approaching evacuation OF
Candahar as sfatal and ruinous" decisions.
His main arguments are that Russia will
obtain any iufuepce that we resigD,': that
We are pledged to the people to keep the
positions, and that blood and treasure have
been expended to obtain them. The first
argument is v~alueles, it being our presence
In Afghauistan which alone gives Russia
influence there and the second is answer
ed by the fact that the people in Candahar
and Kurum release US from any promise,
being only too anxious that we should be
gone. The third argument is based on
fact, a precise fact for which Lord Lytton
has to answer. He, and no one else, sacri-
feed the lives aud expended the treasure
uselessly. 1t is characteristic of Lord
Lvtton that he admits that when be sent
General Roberts into the Kurum, the
''whole field Of operations was Q terra IN
cognita to everybody 10 India" Exactly
like his chief, Lord Lytton took q big leap
in the dark, and came down smash. And
like him also, he carried out of tbs scr am.
bic un Eari's cotonet.
The text ofthe Turkish Note to the Pow
ers on the Greek Question issued on the
14th of December was sent by cable to the
Daily Telegraph exclusively. It is full of
mockery. The Porte declares that it ad.
here's to it's tormer otfer,-the line of Trik'
hala and Margeritti, and expects his Hell.
lenic Mojesty to accept that as the "irre-
yocable decision OF Europe u phrase
evidently inserted to ridicule the similar
words used at Athens. The Mole points
cut that IN Greece the whole country has
become one vast camp, ard that the Jour
uais encourage an 81 unjustifiabIe and sau-
Culinary ~struggle7 against the Ottoman
Empire. Turkey Twill remain calm in
presence Of these provOcations,' but will
"dtf.nd her rights with energy" and
meanwhile is confident that the Powers will
exert "eflicacious" pressure on the Cabinet
OF Athens, urging it to giVe Up warliN e pre-
partitions, AID enter into direct negotiations
with the Porte. Ia short, Turkey despises
Greece, and cares nothing about Europe
until she uses force, and will give up 10th
ing until she is made. That is always the
first attitude OF the Porte, unless an enemy
is 10 sight of Coustautinople. Then every
thing is surrendered. 10 the hope that the
Treaty may be cancelled by external inter
ference, to the sole benefit of Mahomme-
daus, as the Treaty OF San Steiano was.
If the Standards correspondents may be
trusted, the proposal to request Greece
aud Turkey to submit their difference to
an International Council CT Arbitration has
been accepted by Germany, Austria,
France, and England. 1t will also, it is
believed, be accepted by Italy and Russia.
1t has not, however, been as yet accepted
either by Greece or Turkey, each of these
Powers fearing 10 lose too much by the
decision, and being, therefore, unwilling
to sign d distinct pledge to abide by the
award. This pledge is, of course, an indis-
pensable condition precedent, as othsrw
Europe, after the award had been propo1n-
ced, would be just where it was. Should
the reluctance at Athens and Constantine
pie be overcome, the proposal has these
advantages, the Council could not travel
out of the record, and would not, therefore,