The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, JAN. 30, 1886. Russia and Greece

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 99, 30 January 1886, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, JAN. 30, 1886. Russia and Greece

The obstinate refusal of Greece and Servia to reduce their armaments to a peace footing, is very unsatisfactory to Russia, and has completely upset, for a time, her calculations of opening a road to Constantinople. A consolidated Bulgaria, which may ultimately become a powerful state in the Balkan regions, with Servia and Greece determined to have an extension to their borders, and the absorption which threatens Montenegro, her last foothold in the Peninsula is in danger of being lost. Her policy will now be to support Turkey against the smaller states, and encourage her in an opposition to Bulgarian unity. Some diplomatists are of opinion that Russia is beginning to believe that there is a prospect of Turkey being obliterated from the map of Europe altogether without her participating in the spoil. To save herself from this disappointment, she has called on the other Powers to save Turkey from the nations which are ultimately destined to divide her European territory among them. The refusal of the minor states to disarm, may therefore compel Russia to enter into an offensive and defensive alliance with Turkey, and then — remarks the Auckland Herald—" Will be fulfilled the prediction of a far-seeing statesman, who said that the time would come when, despite all her encroachments on the Sultan's dominions and power, Russia would be Turkey's only ally against the influences which threaten her extinction in Europe." Recent telegrams from Europe show that the Great Powers have been, in a measure, compelled to follow that line of action which will best assist Russia in the furtherance of her views regarding the ultimate occupation of Constantinople. When Russian troops occupy Turkish garrisons as allies, all the Powers in Europe will be too weak to drive them out.