Year: 1878

Our cable dispatches to-day on the sub
ject of the very critical relations of Russia
and England are of uncommon importance
and interest. The interview with General
Ignatieff giving the precise expressions
used by that remarkable diplomatist, the
interview with one of Prince Gortschakoffs
secretaries and the words quoted from Sun
days article in the Journal de 81. Peters
bo,ug-all these present very distinctly and
forcibly the tone of irritation and resent
ment that has been provoked in the Rus
sian capital by Englands attitude and her
recent endeavors through Mr. Layard to
defeat by "bad chicane" at Constantinople
the legitimate effect of the Russian victory.
In the light of the opinions thus shown to
be held in the immediate encourage of the
Russian Emperor may be seen the immi-
nent likelihood that the world is to witness
either another bloody summer or another
precipitate retreat OF the English govern
ment more remarkable for it's exhibition of
pusillanimous vacillation than that shown
when that government abandoned to his fate
the wretched Ottoman whom it had encour-
aged to fight Her Majesty's government
has assumed in recent negotiations an atti-
tude gratuitously offansive-an attitude, in
deed, natural enough, because based upon
the fundamental British idea that the only
really honest fellow in the world is your
thoroughgoing Briton. Other nations can
not be supposed to accept this idea with
complaceDcy and when a negotiation Of
very great Importance turns simply and
exactly upon the admission of this point by
another nation that negotiation is not only
apt to fail, but to fail in circumstances that
must render war or ignominious retreat in
evitable. Such failure is now in prepara-
tion for the attempt to reconcile the posi-
tions of Russia and England.


Prince Gorstchakoffs final opinion, ap-
parently his very words before us in
the quotation from the st. Petersburg Jour
nal, which is the recognized organ of his
views. Further than this MS the article
quoted from is known to have been written
by Baron Jomini, we get much more de-
finite assurance of its practically official
character than we should get from any arti-
Gle by an ordinary hand simply known to
be inspired by the Chancellor From the
man, therefore, whose words are the formu-
latlon of the will that moves or restrains
the Russian armies in this important crisis
comes the declaration that it is time to have
done with the child's play of pretended
negotiations on foot with England-time
to end and to enact the condi-
tions of the treaty, "with the con-
sent OF Europe, if possible, without it
if necessary" In the Princes words, ''Le
moment est cenu den .tinir, arec le concours de
Europe contiaentale 81 celle CT cent lie tare sans
ce conco,rs sill le tallai." Russia will settle
the case in consultation with Europe if
Europe wishes She will not insist against
the judgment Of Europe on any point or
part of the treaty with Turkey that can
fairly be held to be of European rather than
of national concern. She will discuss the
whole case in q conference of nations fairly
and honorably and as becomes the dignity
Of great Powers; but she will not continue
to dance attendance on the whims or
humors of any capricious Power that puts
up hair-drawn distinctions to interfere with
the determination Of great issues. She will





make hole through which England may
creep in order to save the pride Of the Min
istry


In order to say this at Vienna, with all
proper consideration for Austria, but also
with all necessary emphasis, General Igna-
tieff left st. Petersburg on Sunday night
and is already at his destination. His mis-
,;c q
Austrias good will in view Of the resolu-
tions taken. But it is not to be thought
that the decision for peace or war rests alto
gether with Austria, since the declarations
made by the Russian Chancellor and the
words dropped by the plenipotentiary
equally imply that, though Austria decide
to adhere to whoever will oppose the full
filment of the terms of the treaty, Rus
sin will, even in. that contingency,
hesitate no longer, but will act for
herself Yet the Russians do not
disguise to themselves that Austria must
be separated from the opposition, if that is
possible. Every satisfaction is to be given
her that she may fairly claim, short, of
course OF the actual defeat Of the treaty in
that sense in which it executes the purposes
for which the war was made. AS Austria
stood aside when the war was made as the
Austrian Premier drew up the original note
on which the Berlin memorandum was
frlmed, and rs Austria was party to the
making of that memorandum, it is prepos-
ferrous to suppose that she can ut this hour
object to the treaty as a whole, and that she





Yet that is the view that seems to be held in
England. Austras sensibiity is OF course
mainly as to Danubian points and as to the