THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1880.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2035, 1 September 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1880.

The news received of late by cable is of an exceedingly interesting nature. Both from Afghanistan and Eastern Europe events are marching with great rapidity, and fresh information is eagerly sought after. In Afghanistan our temporary reverse proves not to have been so severe as at first anticipated. True that the defeat was a severe one, and the demoralisation of our Native Indian troops engaged appears to have been complete. But the enemy were not equal to the occasion, and let their conquered adversaries off most cheaply. A pursuit of only a few miles and an ineffectual bombardment of Candahar was the only result. And now General Phayre is reported to be marching combinedly with General Roberts to the rescue. Ayoub Khan has retired from before the citadel, and doubtless unless he effects a hasty retreat, will meet with an overwhelming overthrow. The effect on the native Indian mind produced by our reverse will soon, it is to be trusted, bo dissipated, and the only question then left to be solved will be that connected with our future position in a country which it seems is much easier to bo conquered than held. From recent utterances in Parliament it is to be feared that the present Government are desirous of totally evacuating the country and leaving behind them a chaos which may easily bo turned to account by the enemies of England. Should, however, the successes of Ayoub Khan cause them to pause before they consent to a line of action which would render useless all the blood and treasure spent in the struggle, our late reverse will not have been without its uses.

In South-eastern Europe the present position is no less interesting. Both with regard to the Montenegrin and Greek bonndary questions affairs are approaching a climax. The Porte has appeared to relish neither the “ identical note ” or the “ collective note ” presented to it by the Great Powers on these subjects. The former of these notes apparently treated of both questions, the “ collective note ” of the Greco-Turk boundary alone. The difference between the two descriptions of notes is adverted to in a recent issue of tho London “ Times.” An “ identical note ” is an evidence of an agreement in principle, tho detail as to carrying the measures into effect having not been decided upon, but being left to tbo wishes of the several Powers. A “ collective note ” is a stronger instrument. It is an instrument signed by the Powers in a body, who are thus engaged not only to tho principle but to the method in which tho measures are to bo effected. The latter is the position taken np with regard to tho Greek boundary, but, as might be expected, a greater latitude is allowed respecting the Albanian and Montenegrin question, for in this such varied interests come into play that it would bo more difficult to bring tho Great Powers into absolute harmony. Italy looks askance at Austria, and that fact alone tends to destroy tho entente cordiale in the deliberations of the powers that be. The first collective note on tho [Greek question having had little or no effect, a second note of the same character has been forwarded, in which the Groat Powers refuse to discuss further the line of demarcation as fixed by the Berlin Conference. The Porte, therefore, has an ultimatum before it, and but little time can elapse before its resolution as to how it is to meet the crisis will become public property. In the meantime the Greek ' Government is arming, although it has been advised to calmly await the result of the situation.

Indeed, the Sultan is in no enviable position just at present. It is ail very well to look at his movements from our own standpoint, but it must bo reflected that he is surrounded by a fanatical Mahommedan population, and that the slice of territory to bo conceded to Greece contains a largo population, who aro not Christians, and that, consequently, to place them under the Greek power stirs up the religious feelings of the Porte’s subjects. Besides, it must, in all fairness, bo remembered that, since the Treaty of Berlin, the game has been rather a one-sided one. Concessions have boon demanded from the Porto, but, on the other hand, the stipulations with regard to the future position of the Turkish power have been but laxly looked to. Bosnia and Herzegovina, though only taken by Austria ostensibly for a given period, may bo considered to have gone from under the Turkish power for over; affairs in Eastern Roumolia are anything but satisfactory from a Turkish point of view, owing to the interference of Russia; Batoum is not the mere commercial port that it was supposed it should bo, and various other items of tho programme have hardly boon carried out in their entire or at all according to the oxpsctations of tho Sultan’s advisers. Turkey is not likely to look complacently on the fact that it is tho weaker power, and must take tho position as it finds it. It has been accustomed to be backed up by its more powerful neighbours, and tho idea has boon fostered in its mind that its existence is necessary to tho balance of power in Europe. The awakening out of

this dream is a rude one, and a certain amount of restiveness may well be looked for.

Still, in the long run, it may confidently he anticipated that the Sultan 1 will refrain from running counter to the wishes of the Great Powers, either with regard to the Greek or Montenegrin question. Indeed, as t» the latter, notwithstanding that the Powers have not been so peremptory as they have been respecting Greece, the Porte had made a movement in earnest. It has sent a large body of troops to see that no opposition is made to the cession of the territory granted to Montenegro. Hitherto the manoeuvres in this question have been somewhat amusing. The Sultan never had any real authority over the Albanians, a portion of whoso territory is to be given over to the Montenegrins. What little law there is among the Albanians is of the patriarchal character, and, although Turkish authorities lived in Scutari, their power was a mere farce, and, as for collecting taxes among the mountaineers, the idea was considered preposterous. When the Albanians heard of the decision of the Powers respecting the cession of a part of their territory their anger was intense. The Sultan, being bound by the Treaty, could not help them, and so they formed a national league, and virtually threw off the yoke of Turkey. This the Sultan privately encouraged. Ho knew well enough that by intrigue he could always turn one tribe against another, and bring them back into the same relations in which they had been with Turkey, and, in the meantime, the disturbed state of the country gave him an excuse for not carrying out the provisions of the treaty. And so affairs progressed until the identical note from the Powers reached Constantinople. This appears to have shaken the confidence of the Porte in the success of his plans, and apparently ho has at last determined to thoroughly throw his endeavors into the attempt of making the cession to Montenegro an accomplished fact. Further news on the whole of the Eastern Question will be expected with great interest. If the present crisis can bo tided over without a war breaking out between some of the parties engaged, it will be a matter for universal congratulation.