The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-09-25
THE EUROPEAN ourLook.

Germany and Austria, after reviewing
their forces. rejoicing that high military
authorities concede that their armies are
now July ready to meet an enemy; with
the grand duke of Baden telling the Ger
man army that they must regard the
future with energy and resolution, and
tnat the time is near at hand when Ger
many must again unsheath her sword in
defense OF herindependence; with Austria,
the ally Of Germany, deciding to in
crease the military budget 100000
Enthusiastically $1,000, 00O-and strengthen
the peace effective force of the
empire; with France boasting of her
wealth and the ability of her army now to
reverse the ill-fortune of the war of 1870;
with all this and MANY other minor com
pIcaGons, which threaten to destroy her
peace and interrupt her prosperity, the
affairs Of Europe are certainly not sub
iect for unqualified congratulatlon.
When tue treaty of Paris closed the Cri-
mean war, Lore ABERDEEN expressed the
opinion that it might secure the peace OF
Europe Tor twenty-five years. His lord
ship, however, overestimated the length
of time, for in 1877, only tweuty-one years
after the treaty of Paris was sigued, Rus
STA and Turkey were at war. The arbi-
trary and harsh terms which Russia i'm
tposed upon the Sultan as the price of
peace at the close of this wsr, brought Eng
land up in arms with a demand that the
treaty be set aside since it threatened the
integrity of the Turkish empire, which by
the treaty Of Paris twenty one years be-
FORE had besn assured by the high con-
tracing parties-all the great powers
and several smaller states of Europe.
This led to the Berlin congress of
the powers which began its slttings
on the 18th of June. 1t was a remarkable
gathering of statesmen at that conference,
and they did very curious, and what has
been generally esteemed very remarkable
piece of diplomatic work. But no ole ven
tured 10 prophecy that 1t would secure the
peace of Europe for aquarter Of q century.
No one believed it would, and it is not
likely that it will do ii. Only thirteen
years have passed since it came into exist
ence, ana the peace of Europe is, to say
the least, precarious.
The passage up the Dardanelles of the
Russian war ship VITA the permission of
the Sultan, was clear violation of the
treaty of Paris, and could have been
justly regarded by England or any of the
powers as cdSuS belli. The aforesaid treaty
stipuiates that the Sultan shall maintain
the ancient rule prohibiting ships of war of
foreign powers from entering the Bospho-
rus so long as the Porte was at peace.
During time of peace the Sultan also
engaged TO admit no foreign ships
of war into the Dardanelles. In con-
sideration of these conditions bieng
subscribed to On the part Of the Sultan, the
contracting parties guaranteed jointly and
severally the independence and integrity
of the Ottoman empire; and further de-
clared that any infraction of the treaty of
Paris-of which the foregoing are stipula-
tons -would be considered by them as
caSlts belJi 1t needs no great depth of di-
plomatic knowledge to see, therefore, that
the passage up the Dardenelles of Rus
sian war ship with the consent of the Porte
was certainly violation of the treaty Of
Paris, and gave not only to England but to
other powers which were parties to the
treaty an excuse for declaration of war
In view of these facts it is rather cause
of surprise that England did not make
seine m re emphatic demonstration of her
displeRsure than has yet appeared. 1t
would seem, too, that Turkey is becoming
. Indifferent to her own fate, since her
, very existence, in Europe at least, depends
upon cultivaung the friendship Of England
All other European nations being Chris
|, tians are rather indignant that the infide
Turk should still have his foot OF European
soil and would gladly see him crowded back
, into Asia England alone, and then only
, Tory England, insists on the preservation
, Of the Turkish empire, and that it may be
barrier to the advancement of Russis
toward India, wall over which Russian
ambition may not pass. Turkey, therefore
must be reckless to endanger her friend
: ship with England, by granting specia
| favors TO Russia, to do which she ever
violates treaty provisions which endangel
3 her very existence. For let the sustain
3 ing hand of the contracting powers TO TIT
( treaty of Paris guarant ceing the integrity
/ and independence of the Ottoman empir,
r be withdrawn and the Russians would fine
some pretext for being in Constantiuopl,
within six months.
Meantime the peace of Europe seems t.
q be in so precarious condition that it is
subject OF constant anxiety; and when Il
= the horrors of impending war threatened
, famine, or partial famine, is added, tn,
gravity of the situation is immensely In
creased. The crisis will come-must com,
ere long, for the war burden cannot b.
carried by those nations; they will sinl
: under it. And when the crisis does come
, WELL Utah will be better place TO be il
. than Europe.