Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-09-01
RUSSIA AND TURKEY.
THE czAR CARRIES A VERY lMPoR-
TANT POINT.
Russian War Transports Hereafter 90 Pass
Through the DArdancllss, Treaty TO
the Contrary Notwithstanding.


[By Angio-Amcrican cable TO tho Dispssch.l
LONDON. Esa., August 31.--The informa-
tion telegraphed to the Standard OF tins
city from Constantinople to the effect thas
the Porte had yielded to Russia's demands
respecting the Dardanelles would seem TO
be founded on fact. The question at issue
between Russla and the Porte referred to
tho detention at intervals recently OK
Russian volunteer feet steamships bound
for Vladiyostock. the eastern terminus OK
the Trans-Siberian railroad. on the Sea OK
Japan.
The CASE OF THE MOSCOW.
The most recent case was the detention
of the steamer Moscow Of the Russian
volunteer feet. Russia claimed that
though these ships were armed. they were
outside of the category OF war.snips'
which are debarred by the treaty OF iS4l.
confirmed at London in 1871 and at Berlin IN
1873, from passing through the. Dardanelies-
The treaty referred to was concluded De-
tween the five great Powers and Turkey,
aud provides that no shIp-of-war belong
ing to any nation save Turkey shall pass
through the Dardanelles without the ex.
press consent of Turkey, all merchant
ships being also required to show their
papers to the Ottoman authorities. Nus.
sia besides claimed that these vessels OF
the volunteer feet were not war-ships IN
the proper sense OF the word.
THE PoRTE's CONTENTION.
The Porte, on the other hand, replied
that even were this admitted TO be tact,
the vessels detained were war transports:
since they had on board o number of
troops intended for Vladivostock.
10 Rps
ing conveyed to the eastern terminus of
the Trans-Siberian railroad were not SOL
diers but reseryists, who were doing duty
as railroad laborers. To these apparently
uaanswerable arguments from Turkey .
powerful enemy the Porte appears to have
been forced to submit IN the most humble
manner, though there Is no reason 10
doubt that Turkey must hrst have ASKED
the five Powers If they were willing 10
support her should she still further con-
test the point with Russia. Apparently
the Powers have not thought the point
worth troubling about in 1891, though ten
years back such demand might have led
to war.
THE PORTE'S sUBMISSrON-THE PRECEDENT
ESTABLISHED.
And so IL il that the Porte submits, and
besides paving an indemnity TO Russia for
the detention of the steamers the prece-
dent Is established which will permit OF
oil such vessels i'll future being allowed to
pass the Dardanelles i'll spite Of the treaty
of 1871.
The first vessel of the volunteer fleet
bound for VladIyostock vas stopped on
April 18th. She was loaded with railroad
material and had on board a number OF
military workmen," according to the
| term used by the Russian authorities.
Her commander appealed to Nj. dc Nell
| dorff, the Russian Ambassador, and aftei
| considerable parleying and energetic pro
| tests and threats upon the part OF the Rus
sian Ambassador the vessel was allowed te
| proceed. Since then there have been tw'
| or more vessels of O similar character
stopped In the Dardanelles with the re
| suit that, in tho case OF one of them. the
| Moscow, test case was made ana con
| cluded in the submission of the Porte ant
the payment OF an indemnity.
THE INTELLIGENCE GRAVE.
The 81. James Gazette this evening, re
ferring to the Moscow affair, holds that tn
submission of the Porte to Russla's de
mands establishes q precedent which per
mits Russian war-ships to use the passag
of the DardaIelles as they please, Will
war-ships of othe nations must not ente
those straits, This news, according to tn
same paper, is by far the grayest publishes
for some time.