The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-02-16

-.
II appears that the so-called secret CORES
pondence between the Aneer Of Afghanistan
and Russia, which England claimed was the
cause Of the destruction of MAJOR Cavagnari
and his escort and the British invasion was q
q mistake which was owing TO q misunder-
standing Of the words Friendship" and s'al-
lance" II it was o mistake, and not q
golden bridge built by Russia to let the British
gracefully out, it has been a costly one, and
one that places more evidence Of ~incapacity
Tor helplessness )on the shoulders Of BeacOns-
held, who throughout his premiership seemed
70 be playing 9 huge game Of bluff with the
powers Of central Europe, which they did
not accept. He began by claiming everything
that was claimed By the treaty Of Vienna Of
'56, and lost every principle involved, for
which he reimbursed England with one more
sickly burden il the island Of Cyprus, and q
protectorate over Armenia, which latter, il
protected 81 ali, must be protected from the
Turks, and this would involve the destruc-
ton Of Turkey and the loss Of England's
whole position On the Eastern question, for
neither Russia, Germany, Austria or Italy
would leave her il possession Of Turkey CT
any part Of it, if they could prevent il.
Matters il the LeVant are boiling, although
the situation has not changed in the past four
weeks. Preparations for war still continue
IN Greece, and the strength Of the war party
still further demonstrated by the vote Of con-
hdence in the ministry headed by u. Com
oundorus. 1t is believed il ministerial circles
that there will be q concert Of the powers
favorable to the views Of Greece, should
Turkey persevere in resistance. Bulgaria and
Roumelia are not quiet, but only waiting an
opportunity to profit by the distrust Of the
powers for each other to make q superior
position for themselves out of the Turkish
empire, an occasion which they appear al
most certain to get, in view OF the evident
determination Of Austria and Germany to
Europe, and the equally evident determine
ton Of Russia to allow none but herself TO
control the destinies Of the Sclayic races, and
which she can do easier by fostering the in
dependence and growth Of the municipalities
than by attempting their government on her
own account.
Interest is centering at present in the deli
cacy Of the relations between Russia and
China, which at present are strained to the
utmost. The preparations Of Russia for a
powerful naval demonstration in Chinese wa
tiers at the opening of spring leave no room
for doubt but that Russia is in earnest. And
the preparations of China to meet them are
no less an evidence Of resolve to meet q Rus
sian attack, if not to defy il. But from later
sources it would seem that the success Of the
Russian column in Central Asia had dispirited
the war party IN China, which, unless it has
a certainty of alliance with England or Ger
many, is unwise in inviting attack from the
Northern COLOSSUS, who is silently converg-
ing his forces toward the Celestial domain
from so many quarters.
Meanwhile, the North German Gazette is
sounding notes Of alarm to the German peo-
pie over what it regards as the Warlike atti-
tude assumed by Gambetta and the French.
It has sounded so many alarms that this one
may have no more meaning than q concealed
| threat, or an intimation to France that her
designs are known and understood by her
rival. But it may be, and surface indications
only strengthen the belief, that a general war
| is impending which will admit France taking
an active part in European affairs again, from
which she has been practically debarred since
the disaster of Sedan.
The British House of Commons was the
scene Of a very curious spectacle on the 5rd