Year: 1876

tnelr magnanimlty Dy accepting IT,


The Crisis I'm Europe.


In circular to the representatives of the
Czar at foreign courts Prince Gortschakof
has repeated the declarations made by his
sovereign at Moscow-that he ardently de-
sires peace, but will secure proper guaran-
tees for the Slavs of the Balkan countries
by war if necessary; and this is associated
with the announcement that part OF the
Russian army is already organized in march
ing battalions and is otherwise prepared for
actual service. How little faith there is at
st. Petersburg in the success of diplomacy
may be inferred from this note of prepara-
ton. Our special despatch from London
this morning shows as great if not greater
activity on the part of the English. The air
is thick with rumors of impending war.
Soon the Mediterranean will be white with
English feets and an English army will
crowd the shores of the Bosphorus Glib
ralter, Malta and Constantinople will be the
three points of English resistance, and the
Turkish capital will be the base of the Eng
lish movements against Russia. The valley
of the Morava will become an insignificant
part of the battle ground, and the shock of
arms will be felt all the way from the Cas-
plan to the Adriatic This is what the prep
aration on both sides means, and it may
not be long until there is actual collision.


From present Appearances it is probable
that there has been some mistake as to Rus
sia's readiness to treat on the basis of the in
tegrity of the Ottoman Empire. Earl
Beaconsfeld, the Gear and the Sultan all
refer to this point in way which seems to
indicate that the great difference between
them is just there and either they have not
been at all agreed MS to this basis of negotia-
ton, OF, as seems possible, the British
authorities have at the last moment put an
Interpretation on their own words that the
Russians have refused to accept. Some mis-
understanding in this regard may be at the
bottom of the sudden change Of tone all
around. Other nations have had experience
of tactics of this sort on the part of English
oficfals. Scarcely was the armistice secured
and o conference recognized as the next ne
cessity than England declared she would
not take part in the conference except on
condition that the territorial integrity of
the Ottoman Empire was the recognized
basis of negotiation. It was reported that
Russia had accepted that condition, and, as
the British government appointed o dis
tinguished nobleman to represent it in the
conference, it seems fair to infer that it was
some days ago satisfied on this point.


1t was shown by US at the time that the
Russians in accepting this condition did
not hamper themselves as to their real object.
In order that the Christian Slavs of the
Turkish provinces should be better governed
it was not necessary that there should be
disintogration of the Empire of the Sultan.
By the disintegration of that Empire no
doubt the Christian people of the country
would profit more than by any other means;
but great deal might be done for them short
of that, and Russia was resolved only to 60
SO fur as was absolutely necessary. She was
prepared, therefore, to respect the limits of
the Spltan's Empire, but she demanded the
right to protectorate over the Christians
within those limits.


BY consultation the English and Turkish
statesmen perceived that Englands condi-
ton did not exclude this demand They
had blundered again, therefore, but
they were committed to tho blum
der, for all the Powers had taken
action and accepted England's condition.
Thereupon Turkey was put forward to deny
that she had acceded to the conference, and
Turkey and England set up together par
rot cry about the Treaty of Paris. In the
Treaty of Paris tho words are ..the inde-
pendence and integrity Of the Ottoman EN-
pire."


The Gar had not assented to respect this
Independence, for this would be incon-
sistent with the demand for guarantees that
he has made all the time. But England is
apparently sustaining Turkey in demand
that this condition shall be in the terms of
the Treaty of Paris-pushing the situation
to the verge of war to cover her own blum
der But the guarantees demanded are the
point the Gar cannot yield, and war is now,
perhaps, inevitable.


Ambitious Postmasters.