Year: 1878

the E0Sts


In the initiation of the difficulties that
led TO the late war in the East England
cried out, as the champion of "the sacred
ness of treaty obligations, against Russias
proposed coercion of Turkey. lingo opin-
ion was exceedingly fond of the high
moralities of national intercourse about
that time, and to be able to say with any
approximation to truth that nation had
ever failed to fulfil all the pledges to which
it was bound by treaty was to give it over
to the just reprobation of that highly moral
party England, therefore, roared inces-
sanity before the world on this theme of the
'sacredness Of treaty obligations" until
even the Austrian government limited that
it was somewhat nonsensical TO rail so con-
stantly on that theme in regard to treaty
that not one Of the Powers that made it
was prepared to defend in arms. But Eng
land rallied on just the same, and would
be railing yet, perhaps, if this subject of
the obligation of treaties had not been
brought to her attention in way to give
her sudden pause. Very lively notes have
doubtless recently passed between Berlin
and London on the subject of the proposed
conference to consider what steps shall be
taken to compel Turkey to discharge the
obligations she is under by the Treaty of
Berlin. Germany, it will be remembered,
initiated this proposal in consequence of
Turkeys course in Bosnia and her re-
f,lsal to act on the recommendation with
IL &1 nd
Italy have responded favorably, but the
response of England has not yet been
heard Why does she not assent like the
others?


Is it because she considers ''the sacred
ness Of treaty obligations of less conse-
quence in the case of Turkey than in the
case of Russia? Apparently that is the req
son. For Russia to disregard the terms of
certain treaty was very horrible in the
eyes of England, because that treaty was
made mainly to subserve British purposes.
But for Turkey to prove Indifferent to every
part of treaty does not seem so horrible
to British statesmen, because the treaty thus
put aside with contempt was framed with q
view to its easy violation by Turkey and
every part of England's relation to that
treaty showed her intention that Turkey
should be only ostensibly, not really,
bound by the DEGREES laid down at Berlin.
Hitherto Austria has been the only victim
of the policy, the only dupe of England,
the only sufferer by the faith reposed in
British good will. At Berlin, but for Aus
tria England would have encountered only
Powers favorable to the Treaty of San Ste
fano or Powers Indifferent as between Eng
land and Russia. England, however, Sc
cured the support of Austria first by
fear and next by promise. She
frightened her by the premature" dis
closure Of the Anglo-Russian agreement.
Austria, in alarm at the likelihood OF COM
plete understanding between London and
st. Petersburg, was overready to bargain, and
agreed to support England fully in consid-
Grafton of the privilege to occupy" Bosnia
and Herzegovina. She supported England
and helped her through all the unsettled
points with Russia and Russia was not
without some uneasinoss as to the accord
between England and Austria. Then the
Clause III IcbuIu W VIC I'Vouhiu oCCuPutiOh
went through to the complete satisfaction
of Austria. Subsequently occurred per-
formancc not down on the bills-England
tipped the broadest possible winks to the
Sultan that of course Austria's Occupation"
was down in the treaty, but it was for Con-
stantinople and Vienna to arrange the con-
ditions and that, in the absence of such
arrangement, the Sultan could not help it
if the Bosnians should resist. Precisely
how definite the communications on this
point were is not known, but it was made
clear enough to the Sultan that he was quite
at liberty to help himself in this respect,
and could count upon the "moral support"
of England.


That is what Austria got for her readiness
to take part with England against her
Northern neighbor; and England was the
more ready for such piece of diplomacy
inasmuch as there was no delusion any
where in regard to Austria's motive. But
why does Germany now take the initiative
in stirring up this point of Turkeys delin-
ouency? Is it because she holds her Dig