The Washington herald., 1908-03-01
By Ex-ATTACHE.

foreign ministers. are entitled TO speak
for their government and for their coun-
try in international matters. there is no
ono more discreet in his utterances, who
weighs his words with greater care. and
who enjoys a more well-deserved reputa-
tion for caution than Sir Edward Grey
No one has ever known him to speak on
the impulse of f~the moment and without
due reflection as to the possible effect OF
his remarks.
In fact. II is to his reserve of manner.
TO his reticence. and 10 his exceptional
level-headedness that he is indebted for
the respect which. he enjoys among his
countrymen of every shade of political
opinion. One and all they look upon him
as man who is essentially "safe," and
that. in these days of hysteria and emo
tionality in politics. as in all other phases
of life. constitutes the greatest of all
claims upon the regard, and. above all,
the confidence Of the English-speaking
race.
May Be Eastern War
When, therefore. Sir Edward Grey in
timates. as he did on Tuesday last TO
Parliament at Westminster, that the dip
lomatic entente known as the Concert
of Europe is in a very critical condition.
and in danger of disappearance, It is evil
dent that the peril Of another war in the
East IS imminent. In fact. Sir Edward
Grey. in the House OF Commons. and
Lord Fitzmaurice. who is his under sec
cretary of state and representative in the
House of Lords. gave this TO be under
stood in so many words
It is a strange coincidence that this
weighty prOnOuncement OF the English
foreign Office in Parliament should have
been made Just at this juncture. For
Tuesday is the thirtieth anniversary Of
the treaty Of San StefanO. by which the
victorious Russian army brought her war
with Turkey to a conclusion, If not under
the walls, at any rate within sight of the
menarets Of Constantinople. In fact. the
terms Of peace would have been negoti-
ated in ConstantinOple itself had it not
been for the threat of the English gov
ernment to intervene If the Russians ad-
vanced one step beyond san Stefano.
Feared British Ships.
1t was in fact. the knowledge that the
entire British Mediterranean fleet had
been assembled at the entrance Of the
Dardanelles. with steam ap and ready TO
move on 70 the Bosphorus-in one word.
that England would embark then and
there upon a war with Russia rather
than permit her TO seize Stamboul-that
stayed the hand of the Car when the
prize for which the AIuscovite empire had
been straining. fighting. and intriguing
ever since the days of Peter the Great
namely the possession OF Constantinople
and the mastery of the outlet from the
Black Sea into the Mediterranean, seemed
within his grasp.
Nor were the English content with
keeping Russia out OF Constantinople
They took vigorous exception 10 the
terms Of the treaty Of San Stefano on
the ground that its provisions weighed
too heavily upon the Sultan. and were
calculated 10 disturb the balance Of power
in Europe Russia. although victorious
was economically and militarily exhaust
ed by her long. difficult. and terribly
costly campaign against the Turks, and
in no position 90 offer any serious re
sistance to the pretensiOnS Of Great Brit
ain; and finally II was resolved to submit
the treaty Of San Stefano and the de-
mands OF England in the matter 20 a
congress OF the great powers at Berlin.
under the presidency Of the then chancel-
lor. Prince Bismarck.
Thirty Years Ago.
The congress OF Berlin assembled in
the summer of 1S7S-that is TO say. Just
thirty years agO-and before it dispersed.
after scaling down the treaty Of San
Stefano in a manner calculated 20 rob
Russia OF many OF the fruits of her vic
tories Il organized what has since be
come known as the Concert OF Europe,
the charter and foundation Of which may
be said 10 have been constituted by the
so-called treaty OF Berlin.
The primary object of this Concert of
Europe and OF the treaty OF Berlin was
10 prevent the Eastern question from be-
coming again disturbing factor in inter
national politics. For throughout the
greater part Of the nineteenth century
that is to say until the congress Of Ber-
1in-ths Eastern question had been the
bugbear Of every statesman and govern /
ment OF the Old World.
1t was justly likened 10 n volcano that
was always smoldering and every ready
TO belCh forth. without any warning.
flames involving a European confiagra-
tion. The so-caIled Eastern question con-
sisted. in the first place. OF the deter
mination of Russia to establish herself at |
Constantinople and to secure the mastery |
of that waterway between the Black Sea
and the Mediterranean, which is now
closed 10 her.
Austria Also Determined.
Austria. and especially England. have
ever been equally determined to keep
Russia out of Stamboul and away from
the Bosphorus Great Britain taking the |
ground that her route to India would be |
endangered were the Cars authority es-
tablished on the Golden Horn. A further |
disturbing element was furnished by the |
oppression Of the Christian population of |
certain Ottoman provinces in Europe and |
Asia Minor by the local Turkish authori- |
ties Often this oppression has been rich
" deserved. For Russia. in her efforts to
get to Constantinaple, has for the last |
hundred years made q point of encourag-
ing the many millions Of Christian sub |
jects Of the Sultan to resist his authority |
and 20 look 10 ST. Petersburg for the |
eventual emancipation Of all Christians |
from Moslem rule. In fact. the Dominally |
benevolent Pan-Slavist Society at Mos /
COW, which has branches all over Russia /
and enormous resources at its disposal, |
exists for no other purpose than to pro-
mote the union of all the Christian or |
Slav races of Southeastern Europe under |
the scepter OF the Car.
Oppose Russian Power.
Austria. on political and svnilitary |
grounds. has always strongly opposed any |
increase OF Russia's power ana influence |
in that part of Europe, realizing that It |
would be at the expense Of the commerce |
and safety OF her empire. Italy, too. has
a finger in the pie. being bent on secur-
ing. first of all. predominant influence. |
and ultimately sole possession OF the /
Turkish province OF Albania. from which |
so many of her leading statesmen and |
s~ifizerS have sr1rTrnn- There ara A