The Globe. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1876.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 758, 24 November 1876, Page 2

The Globe. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1876.

The English telegrams respecting the Eastern question have been full of contradiction and perplexity. At one time assuring us of the peaceable aspect of affairs; at another of the liklihood. of a European war. The farther news, coming by Suez or America, has been of a like character. The fact is that Europe is itself perplexed, and does not know what a day "may bring forth—the prediction of the one week may be falsified by the facts of the next. But amid all this perplexity, there are several facts which help us to a clearer vision of things, and enable us to gauge the chances of a European wai. It is the interest of Russia to obtain possession of the provinces entitled Turkey in Europe. It is her settled policy to obtain them and set up her standard again in Constantinople. It is held to be in the interest of England that Russia should not occupy Turkey in Europe, nor any portion of it. This opinion has governed the Eastern policy of England for the last fifty years. The Crimean War was an outcome of it. The revolt of the provinces of Turkey was all in the interests of Russian policy. Nevertheless Russia could not interfere without provoking the opposition of the Powers that were parties to the Treaty of Paris. But the Bulgarian atrocities created so profound a sensation throughout Europe that many people felt—the feeling was very widespread in England—that the Russian occupation of these provinces was to be preferred to the continuance of Turkish misrule and atrocity. Here therefore is Russia's opportunity. It is not her interest to permit a peaceful return to the status quo. If the telegrams assure us of any tendency to such a return, we must consider before we rely upon them whether it is likely that Russia will throw away the chance which the sympathy of nearly all Europe gives her to attain her long coveted end. "We think it hardly probable that she will allow the present opportunity to slip from her. And the speech of the Emperor Alexander in Wednesday's telegrams, dated 11th November, seems to justify this conclusion. " I wish the Cenference to " agree on a settlement of the Eastern " question, but if I cannot obtain " rightful guarantees, I am determined " to act independently, and I » sure " the whole of Russia will respond to " my summons."