THE EASTERN QUESTION.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1282, 24 September 1886, Page 3

THE EASTERN QUESTION.

- A GRAVE OUTLOOK. The Constantinople correspondent of The Times ’ says that private intelligence from Belgrade says that the condition of the country is unsettled and that a serious political crisis is threatened. “ The influence of the Queen, who is idolised by the people generally, has hitherto maintained a certain peaceful balance between the two parties whose tendencies are respectively pro-Russian and pro-Austrian ; for as to King Milan, never very popular, he may be said to have been tolerated principally through the Queen’s hold on the affections , of the Servians. The recent instances of ■ oppression, injustice, and favoritism during the elections have, however, brought the ] dissatisfaction to a climax. The opposition , to the Gurashanin Administration is only an outward sign ■of the popular ferment against unconstitutional abuses, which, j unless promptly remedied, may, it is appre- j lieu le i, cause unpleasant disturbances. ( The Minister is already seeking to retire f from bis irksome position on the plea of , failing health. The Karageorgevitcht dyn- , asty is not more popular than the present ruling family, both being equally detested ; j but, if only for a temporary, re’icf by a . change of rulers, there might arise a dispo- j sitiou to try the experiment; and there is, moreover, a third candidate ready to profit by dissension, with a strong backing from a Slav Power antagonistic to the present order of things. Bulgaria is evidently un- | easy at the couditi in of things on her Ser- j vian horde'-, as is shown by the preoau j tionary measures for which a large credit j has been provided. In Macedonia the state of affairs is not hopeful, and numerous ( hands of brigands infest the country. Besides this, political emissaries stir up disorder and terrorise the population Mean* j while the financial resources of Turkey are . at a low ebb ; and should the necessity ' arise for serious repressive, defensive, or . offensive efforts, it is hard to conceive what difficulties might nob ensue. On the Asi- ( alic border signs are discernible of foreign , influence stirring up disorder, while the j military preparations on the frontier are ; scarcely to be justified, unless on the expectation that they will be required in the near future, A vague uneasiness as to comiug events pervades all classes here, without any clear perception whence the danger will come.” j A FRANCO-RUSSIAN ALLIANCE. Within the last few days we have witnessed abundant evidence of the intention of Servia to throw over, if possible, her Austrian alliance in order to place herself under the agis of Russia. Such a step might be regarded by the latter Power as a justification for reopening the Balkan question, and all the world knows that Prince Bismarck is determined this shall not be dene.' The German Chancellor also, is not likely to be pleased by the extraordinary effusiveness which is row being developed in Prance towards Russia and everything Russian. The presence of the Russian representative at the unveiling of the statue to General Chanzy, and his remarkable language to the General’s family, would of itself be almost sufficient to produce a quarrel between Germany and Russia. The expressions used by General Fits Irichs have called forth immense enthusiasm in France, and the extreme pro-Russian sympathies which are now being developed in that country have led to what one may call a diplomatic correction for the Russian Embassy of the langvage of their representative. The Archduke Karl Ludwig,the Austrian Emperor’s eldest brother, is going to St. Petersburg about the Ist of August on a special mission from the Emperor to the Czar. As to the particular nature 'of the Archduke’s errand, there are (the ‘Standard's’ Vienna correspondent says) symptoms indicating that Austria is anxious to mediate between Russia and Germany, in order mo-e especially to remove the bad impression made on Prince Bismarck by Russia’s recent and unconcealed coquetry with France. There is every reason to believe that the Archduke’s task will not be a difficult one, and its success will possibly be marked by an autumn interview between the Czar and the German Emperor. ENGLAND AND RUSSIA. The ‘ National Zeitung’ has some remarks on the Batoum affair which appear of peculiar interest to Euglisn readers. It says: - “The Berlin Treaty in practice proved powerful enough to deprive the Eastern Question of a large portion of its terrors. If, however, Constantinople should some clay become vacant, the most solemn agreements may be consigned to the wastepaper basket. For the contingency in question the Berlin Treaty has, however, provided sufficient time for preparation oil the part of those immediately concerned. Before Russia can get together a Black Sea fleet competent to meet so readily formidable an emergency years must elapse. Austria already holds in the Balkan Peninsula so dominant a position that she has only to assort her strength in or.b r to be prepared for any eventuality. England, on the other hand, holds Gibraltar, Malta, Egypt, and Cyprus. If she does not understand how to take advantage of these positions and to turn them to such strategic account that Russia, in any action she may take against the Dardanelles and the Mediterranean, shall find the way almost perfectly blocked, then England alone, and not the Treaty of Berlin nor the abolition of Batoum as a free port, will bo to blame.”