Year: 1878

Peace Negotiations.


On the Ottoman side the war has col
lapsed. Within few days garrison held
out against the Scrvians at Nisch, and
though Sofia was abandoned bold front
was presented at Ichtmian, where the road
it was pretended that the troops from
Shumla, which had reached the capital by
way of the Black Sea, could indefinitely
arrest the Russian advance. AS the
flank Of that line was covered by the
Balkans, which it was to be supposed the
winter had made m insuperable obstacle,
and as at the Shipka Pass, in addition to
the natural difficulties, the Turks had an
other guarantee in the presence OF some
twelve thousand men with plenty OF artil-
lery, their confidence in the possibility OF
defending themselves through the winter
at least was not by any means unreasonable
But the remarkable success of the Russians
ut Shipka has changed all that BY that
victory the way was opened for the Russians
to sweep down to Adrianople in rear of all
the defences between that city and Sofia,
and the fact that it deprived the Turks of an
important corps da,mfe was not by any
means its most important consequence. 1t
has been ordered that all civilians shall quit
Adrianople, which seems to imply an inten-
tion to make it the scene of such resistance
ms the reduced forces can oppose to the
Russian march but it is probable that this
resistance will ,be Of small account In
deed, the Russians will be there before the
Turks have fairly determined what to do
and with the Russians there the Ottoman do
minion will continue to exist in Europe
only through the moderation or generosity
of tho Muscovite.


With the war in this condition the Sui
tan's government has requested Russia to
declare on what terms she will make peace
but this communication has been retarded
by England for her own purposes and to
the great injury of Turkeys chances for a
favorable settlement Had Turkey addressed
Russia directly when this subject was first
before the Sultan's advisers she would have
anticipated these latest Russian sue
cesses, and might have treated from
the standpoint of Power not actually
PROSTATE but still possessed of an ap-
parently good chance in a desperate
defensive war. Naturally that position
would command better terms than what
she can now expect This latest of
Turkeys chances was, like many earlier
diplomacy. England, as Turkeys next
friend accepted the charge of approach
ing Russia on her behalf, and the result
was not satisfactory. Russia replied that
Turkey must address directly the COM
mander of the Russian forces. This was
simply an intimation that the Emperor
declined to accept any message from the
Sultan that came by way of England; and
this was doubtless done because other
wise ii would be impossible to know
how much of any given message came
from Turkey and how much was
added on the way. Upon Turkeys
addressing the Russian commander it was
found he was ''not instructed" on the sub
ject. This has given rise to charge of bad
faith against Prince Gortschakoff; but it is
not clear that he had promised the COM
mander should be instructed. and it is not
certain even that the commander was not
instructed. Telegrams from Anglo-Turkish
sources are poor authority for such charge
1t is only certain rs to the armistice nego-'
tiations that Englands assistance" has lost
Turkey two weeks time-weeks of imperial
importance to her destiny.


Russia will not place tho price of peace
Mt such point as she might if she consid-
cred only the war and its military results.
She will not forget the interest of other
Powers in the problems involved by the
peace she has to make, and she will moder-
ate, in consideration Of those interests, the
strictly Russian views. She will demand
in Europe the piece of Bessarabian territory
taken from her by the Treaty of Paris
in Asia all Armenia as far as Kars,
certainly, perhaps as far as Erzeroum;
the freedom Of the Dardenelles for Russian
men-of war--an indemnity in discharge of
which she will accept the Turkish fleets the
political reorganization of the provinces of
Turkey in Europe on such basis as to
give Russia practical protectorate over the
Christian population, and the independence
OF Roumania. All these points will be mti-
fed by the Powers whose ratification is
deemed important, and though England
may object that objection will not prevent
the settlement. II Russia touches the
problem of the relations of Egypt to the
Sultans Empire il will not be in q sense
favorable to English projects.


IT.