Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-24

Ire pail Mall Gazette has news from
consianiln0ple wnic. u true. shows that
another very Significant step has been
taken IN the matter Of isolsting Great
Britain. n g. that a treaty. offensive
and defensive. has been concluded be-
tween Russia and Turkey which is a
tgaefgc1I revival Of the treaty u Cnkiar
FsesessL The Jnkiar Sseiess. agreement
,ss made soon after the treaty Of Adfi-
ample. wnen Russia had NOn complete
sscendency ~ Coustautiuopie, and had
IL been permitted 70 stand. would doubt
yers have materially changed the current
OF history IN Europe. Under its conni-
lions Turkey WAS reduced 70 the state 81
a vsssaI % Russia. the control Of the
DardaneIIes was Transferred 10 the latter
Power. and the entrance % the BACK SEA
Va converted into "a Russian fortress.
The treaty vas 10 uOrded a. % disguise
In great measure the dependence u Tur-
key which il established. but II none the
Iess placed the Ottoman empire complete
Is IN the grip Of the Gar. and gave Rus
ia the right 70 Interfere in the Internal
anairs 81 Turkey. One Of the articles de-
eiared that IN order 10 diminish the bur
den. Of the Porte the Czar would not
.ernard OF Turkey the material AID 70
which the agreement entitled him. but 10
lien thereof the Porte agreed whenever
Russia vas at war 70 close the Dsrda-
nelleg to the vsrships o. all nations.
The other Powers refused 70 recognize
the treaty. and after long struggle on
The part 81 Great Britain and France,
e-t,ecially. to break down Russian iniiu-
snce with the Porte. the Car vas COM
relled fscitly 10 abandon the agreement
Jn THIS struggle. however. though the two
Powers just named made common cause
against Russia. they antagOnized each
other a. between Mehemet All and the
SULTAN. France becoming me patron 81
the former and Great Britain adhering
10 the fortunes Of the latter
The Gazette attacres the gravest I'm
variance 70 its information. and We can
Ur1 understand why. The treaty, and
the Gazette vOuches for III Information.
- hostile 70 every British Interest In ne
East. and what adds to the seriousness
OF the situation 70 far as Great Britain
IS concerned. Il that there appears 10 Be
good ground FOR believing that France is
also party 20 the agreement. Considering
this. and Great BTitain's many other com
pIlcstions. she will be At an unusual dis
advantage In any step she may take
10 protect those interests.
Another point scored az against Great
1g-itsin 81 that civilization. 10 the extent
that II II Interested IN the Armenians,
viii. az regards the agreement lean to
tbe side Of Russia The Gazstte. 10 Us
eong;ruc.IOn OF the treaty says That Rus
sia Is entitled 10 dispatch troops 70 any
mart Of the Sultan's domains whenever
there II the least breach OF order This
cpcns the door for the throwing Of .
Russian army into Armenia, and for
,unmarily putting an end to the outrases
there. Russia. we know. has long ee-
glred 10 make such move. and for two
reasons. one n that she may strengthen
her position a. the champion q the down
trodden Christians Ia the Ottoman en-
nlre. and the other y that she may open
the way for pressing towards the head
OF tho Persian Gulf. thus gaining another
eo.cu Of vantage from which 10 threaten
Brltain's Indian possessions. We may
therefore. conclude that she will not be
ions IN availing herself Of her rights under
the treaty. 80 far. at least, a. tney can
l,e exercised in solving the Armenian
trollen