New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-27
TIE STORY OF THE BERLIN TREATY.
HOW BRITISH DIPLOMACY AND INTRIGUE. wHrr9
FORCING UPON EUROPE THE CONGRESS OF
1875 OBTAINED GREAT ADVANTAGES
FROM THE LATE BELLr0ERENrs.

FORCING UPON EUROPE THE CONGHE4S "
1878. OBTAINED GREAT ADVANTAGES
FROM THE LATE BELLroERENrs.
TURKEY AND RUSSIA
Washington. JAM "a (SpeciaD.-In view Of the
efforts OF Congress and the Administration to Sc
cure some action from the signatory Powers OF the
! Berlin treaty which will put a stop to boodshed
and outrage in Armenia glance at the history ana
| provisions Of that treaty, under which Christian
Powers claim the right to interfere to protect the
Christian subjects OF the Sultan, will undoubtedly
prove OF interest. The text Of the Berlin Treaty
has never been published officially by tbs Govern
ment, which was in sense party to the agree
ment, but the correspondence files OF the state
| Department give sufficiently complete Information
about the Berlin Congress and the conclusions
which It enforced on both Russia and Turkey aftsr
the OF ls7.
Additional interest Is OF course given to the terms
OF the Berlin agreement by the rumor In circuia-
ton to-day that Russia and Turkey nave 1uss
signed an offensive and defensive alliance Little
credit is given here this report. yet In view OF
the extraordinary political conditions existing IN
the Levant no rumor be so extravagant not 10
find some acceptance. ..~
! The International intrigues associated with the
| negotiation OF the treaty Of Berlin constitute an
| interesting chapter in the history OF MODERN
diplomacy The critical state Of affairs in Europe
in 1878 threatened a general war. Russia, having
just defeated Turkey. had arranged. by the treaty
OF San Stefano. to collect heavy indemnify IN
| territory and money. The wholesale parttioning
| Of Turkey was imminent There was genera
scramble by acquis.tive Governments Tor poruo"s
| of the territory and the greed for spoils was %
eager as to bring the Powers to the verge OF war;
The relations between England and Russia were
seriously strained.
Lord Salisbury who had just become the British
, Secretary OF State for Foreign Affairs issued
circular stating Great Britains objections 70
the treaty of San Stefano declaring that no treaty
! affecting European interests could be denniteiy
concluded without the assent Of the Powers parties
to the treaties OF 1856 and 1871. and requiring the
submission OF the treaty OF San stefano to Euro
pean congress for revision. Prince Gortschakons
the Chancellor of the Russian Empire. replied %
| Sal.sbury's circular. claiming complete liberty OF
! action for Russia, as consequence OF rights ac-
auired by conquest in her war with turkey con.
tending that the conditions under which the treaty
OF Paris was negotiated no longer existed that
existing treaties had been successfully infr.nged
for twenty-five years. and that each Power In any
| congress considering the treaty OF San Stefano
would have full liberty OF appreciation and action
| A congress of European Powers was proposed by
| Austria Hungary and Germany. and II was agreed
to hold the congress in Berlin. as Offering the pest
| means OF facilitating an UNDERSTANDING" This
| Berlin Congress, 1t has been said. changed the
| face OF Europe" II advanced toward peace chiefly
II was said because Prince Bismarck had made up
| his mind that peace should be- and he INFORMED the
! Commissioner
he didn't care for the Turkish map The result OF
the deliberations of the congress at Berlin was the
| famous treaty OF Berlin signed with great cere-
| mony on July IS, 1878, and said to be the longest
| treaty written.
The negotiations representing seven OF the great
I Powers Of the world constituted an assembly OK
| the most distinguished statesmen OF Europe, ana
| included the largest number OF diplomats VINO
! ever signed a treaty, most OF whom are to-day
| leaders in the councils Of their respective Cow
! ernments. There twenty plenipotenuaries'
| three each from Great Britain. Germany, Austria
| France Russia, and the Ottoman Empire. and TWO
from Italy. Among the plenipotent.aries were
DisraelI and Salisbury. of England Bismarck ana
De Buow. of Germany; Andrassy and kerolyi. OK
Austria WsddnS'os scS Sna S of Russia Alex:
ander Caratneodory Pacha. Mehems An Pachai
e coan Sa eor and Count H' b ,ee
IN SFn ss Of T. ihs s'
come nie' historical that and bis noble friend LOra
.Ss asd Sr ana saSE
as d dark pess nd w sd q
Before going into the Berlin Congress. advantage
Ike BY Esana al IT h0d
congress and the meeting OF the congress ~ June
Russia and separate secret treaty" With Tur.
key the last % M no, sHass snd
rarely equaed in the history Of msae ONLY
few days prior to the meeting S q he Ion
then Russian Ambassador at London Il was ns de.
cared by It's signers to be founded on the desire
e Russian and nfsh the TO sse
ment OF the Eastern question by the sword -
as BEEN Of 'es
OF Russia and Great Britain, and which d, woui6
and English PlenipOensIarles a, the congress" to
be held at Berlin rns nKSnce Of England
with Turkey against any further encroachment emu,
1 and 10
Turkish territory 10y force OF arms" L any at.
to take possession of any further territories OF His
Majesty the Sultan in Asia In return the sultan ian
! Government and to guarantee the protection ot
Christians and to assgn to ENGLAND the isana o.
h and. 10 '' '''"'''4 1 ..u,..... -.
other parties to the Berlin CONGRESS until me CON
gress was nearly through it's work. when the nn
between Great Britain and TIE sublime Porte" the
United States Minister in Constantnope. MI:
Wa.hingion that 'as early as June ]. 1878. nine
T Rayiin p'a' Convention Of defensive alliance
/ signed by Her Britannic Majestys Ambassador At
! Ana,rs'' And the United states Mins;er observed
| that both Plenpotentiaries received distinguished
hha these e seem to have conduct
ed with great secrecy and not TO have been known
1 'ser nat he FIR shch Ambassador S said to
gard them with d.sfavor as impalring the en,ens.
rsa f' added
| of the Island OF cyprus is as
capital change in tae Eastern situation.
| Germany, II said. naturally approved the
course taken by Great Britain. for was 70:
| marked "she has too often suggested 20 England
| to take absolute possession OF the mos: important
! territory under the nominal suzeranty Of tho
| Porte. to object to the mere occupation OF an
island in the eastern Mediterranean while ,r the
one perpetual source of danger.
| In France, II was complained that the Republic
had been duped into serving footstool for
her rival" One Of the leading journals OF France
thus described the situation:
| Every National crow Is carrying on bit OF
| Turkey. Austria Is pecking on the right, England
on the left, and Russia the heart, without reck.
oning the smaller fry. who content themselves with
a claw"
| Bayard Taylor then United States Minister at
| Berlin in a dispatch TO the State Department az