Washington sentinel., 1898-06-04
StasdarG--London, May II.

SkaHGaTG-London, May II.
The treaty suggests even more thar
1t reveals. 1t seems to bring within
measurable distance another stage OF the
partiticn o. Turkey. Servia, it is true
is an independent kingdom. But Bul-
garia is subject to the suzerainty of the
Sultan; and the other regions in which
overlordship IS to be exercised are in.
tegral parts of the Ottoman Empire.
What will Turkey and the peoples who
are to be watched and policed by their
great neighbors say to this comprehen-
sive scheme for keeDing them we'll be-
haved9 They are only too likely to see
IN 1t, not merely a precaution against
disturbances such as those that we're
threatened in the Balkans az the time
of the Greek war, when the treaty was
made, but also a step towards their
ultimate incorporation. Minor States
with treaty such as this made over
their heads can have no real independ.
ence, no true liberty. II will be incum.
bent upon us to see that one of the
objects Of the treaty-the maintenance
OF the status qHo-is not departed from.
II the compact really means that Aus
tria and Russia Intended, If possible, to
settle the Eastern Question by them.
selves, to the exclusion of England, our
statesmen have new problem to con-
front.
DafH NeWS-London. May II,
The secret treaty between Russia and
Austria is, if authentic, a document of
hrst rate importance. Two qualifying
remarks must be made. The first is
that the treaty is on the face OF 1t a
scheme not for dividing up Turkey, but
for preserving the status quo. For the
time being, this, We do not doubt, is the
real as well as the ostensIble object of
the instrument, But by making out
spheres of influence for the two
countries respectively, 1t indicates
clearly enough the ultimate aims
and ambitions OF the two empires
respectively. In this connection a
second remark must be made. The
partition Of Turkey, when it actually
comes, must be matter not for this
power or for that, but tor the Great
Powers collectively. This is the prrn-
ciple which Great Britain has always
striven, not unsuccessiully, to maintain,
and which she is not at all likely either
now or in the future to abandon.
Meanwhile, under the terms Of the
reported treaty, Roumania, by far the
most promising OF the Balkan States,
may ask, Where do we come in? A
Russian sphere of interest in Bulgaria
hens Roumanla in on both sides. above
and below, 1t would be a last state
worse than the first, under which the
old Russian protectorate proved an in
tolerable tyranny. Roumania was ere.
ated as buffer State between Russia
and Turkey, but it would only be a
buffer between two Russian provinces
ii Bulgaria were handed over to the
Gar.
Morning PoSt-London. May II.
If the two powers made an agreement
last year ofthe kind suggested, the last
twelve months have sensibly altered
both the conditions under which Aus
tria-Hungary and Russia work and the
situation OF the territories which are the
subject matter Of the suggested agree
ment. Moreover, there is some reason
to doubt if Germany would cordially
acquiesce in scheme which must IN.
volve the disappointment OF her hopes
for the Turkish market, and ultimately
shut her out from the strong commercial
position at COnstantinople to which. in
spite of Prince Bismarck's famous die.
tum' she now aspires. II the agreement
exists, however, and has taken the form
or treaty. il can only be said that it
could not be admitted as valid until il
has received the consent of Turkey,
France and Great Britain. The Porte
would certainly oppose such an arrange
ment with all its force, while Great
Britain could not possibly recognize
Russian influence at Constantinople
without the most clear and material
reserves. Turkey is not dead yet, and
neither the Porte nor the British Cabi.
net could agree 20 the policy Of pro-
spective vivisection which is aduu-
brated in the telegram before US, We
trust that an official pronouncement on
this point will shortly be made in this
country.
Morning .ddOsytiSey-LO Ondon, MAY II,
The Tsar of Russia has now been lust
over three years and a half on the throne.
and by this time the world has had the
opportunity of making up its mind about
him. No one now believes, as some
did at the outset Of his reign, that he is
a ruler of great ability, or that he pos.
sesses any very marked characteristics
OF any kind. But no one can deny that,
owing to the skill of his advisers and the
mistakes Of their opponents, his empire
has made immense progress in power
and influence during his brief period o.
rule. It is well known in Russia thai
the real power behind the throne is the
Dowager Empress, who, for instance, ir
the case Of Prince Georges candidaturt
for Crete, has carried her son with her
AT the present time Russia has quite
regained her old influence in the Balkan
Peninsula, which the mistakes ofthe las
reign had lost to her. She has Monte
negro. as ever, as her outpost on tn,
Adriatic; Bulgaria. or rather the Bulgar
ian Government, is satellite Of tn,
Tsar. and ROumania, for the first tim,
for the last twenty years has shown sign
OF being friendly with the Power whicI
ar rrrtal1,,