The Evening Star FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1875.

Evening Star, Issue 3909, 3 September 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1875.

Our European telegrams fox 1 some time past have referred to an insurrection in some of tlie Turkish Province's which seemed of little moment, as discontent and insubordination are chronic in the Ottoman Empire, and ai’e continual!/ cropping out in one Province or another. Whether it is that the remoteness of those Eastern States from Great Britain and the semi-civilised condition of their inhabitants, rendering interest in their proceedings languid, induces indifference as to their political doings, or that the telegraphists are themselves in the dark concerning them, the messages to hand are somewhat hazy and confusing. Who can really understand the state of affairs on being told that Turkey accedes to the proposal of the Great Powers that the insurgents of Bosnia and Herzegovina, two Turkish Provinces, “ shall lay down their

arms and submit their case to oorvia, ap IC I j u eourse 0 f 'P ara S ra P lls we are informed that the referee, Sorvia, has assumed so threatening an attitude that the Porte has thought it necessary to assemble a large army in anticipation of hostilities with that principality ? No very serious European complications need be anticipated from these warlike demonstrations,. although it seems quite possible that treaty obligations might compel Great Britain to take a course opposed to the three Great Powers who have acted as advisers to the Turkish Government. It is fortunate that these Turkish troubles have not occurred earlier. The memory of the Crimean war has almost died out, and in spite of nonsense written about Russian designs upon our Indian Empire, more common-sense views regarding Russia’s extension in Asia are beginning to prevail- Twenty years ago Russia might have renewed proposals to give the coup de grace to the sick man; but times have changed. Other routes have been formed to her Asiatic possessions, and the Suez Canal and steam have changed Gieat Britain’s views concerning Constantinople. Russia does not want it; and if the Emperor’s word is to be be lieved the policy of aggression followed since Catherine’s reign is changed for one of peace. We gather this from the manifesto of Alexander explaining to his subjects the intention of the new law of military service in Russia. One clause is as follows ;

We do not intend to deviate from the path of peace which has beeu uursnod during the whole period of our goverurut «t. We do not aim at military renown, but consider that the best lot God could ordain fo. ns is to lead Russia to glory m the paths ol ooace.

Having in memory the little affair with the Khan, of Khiva, which we believe, however, to have been forced on the Russian (government, it is plain that the wish for peace is not so overwhelming as to prevent going to war. In the instance of this apparently insignificant Turkish affair, however, more may grow out of it than at present appears probable. Tne quarrel between Turkey and Servia is of old standing. A war of fourteen years, las ting from 1815 to 1829, when cborvia was a province of Turkey, resulted in the principality becoming virtually independent, although nominally subject to the Porte. It is now ruled by native princes, who have not had the pleasantest times of it, as they have more than once been driven from the throne by their own soldiers. Sometimes one was set up, sometimes another, and the game was varied bv the assassination of Michael Obhenovic in ISCB. This turbulent

little spot, with a mixed population of little more than a million, was made the subject of a special clause in the treaty of Paris in 1856—the precious outcome of the Crimean war. By that clause, to which Russia, Turkey, England, France, and Sardinia were parties, it was agreed that Servia should continue to be part ol the Turkish Empire, but “ shall preserve its independent and national administration, as well as full liberty of worship, of legislation, of commerce, and of navigation.” It docs not appear that one ol the contracting parties, excepting Russia, has offered advice to Turkey, as only Russia, Germany, and Austria are named. For Sardinia wo may now substitute Italy. Most probably Turkey has been guided by the advice ol Great Britain, acting in concert with the previously named Governments, and having agreed to the pacific proposals ;of the three Great Powers, even should there be a renewal of war between Servian and Turk, no European complications may be expected to result.