THE GLOBE. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1880.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2087, 1 November 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1880.

Tho settlement of affairs in South Eastern Europe appears to be anything but un fait accompli. The cession of Dulcigno has yet to bo effected, and the consent of Greece to the arrangement suggested by the Great Powers has yet to be gained. With regard to the former question, the delay that has occurred appears almost ludicrous to anyone who looks superficially at the current of events. As loDg ago as the 21st ult. everything teemed to have been arranged. Delegates of the Powers and of Turkey were then sitting at Cettinge. The Porte had made definite proposals, and it was reported that the doubts which existed as to the sincerity of the Ottoman Government were thus removed. Moreover, one of the chiefs of the Albanian League, who was supposed to be at the head of the refractory party had died, so that although the Montenegrins had made an objection to a minor detail in the cession —namely, that their troops should enter Dulcigno three hours after the Albanians had evacuated—it was trusted that all would shortly be settled. But since the above date, but little, of any, moment has come to hand. Two days afterwards the Convention of Delegates at Cettinge was declared to be a dead failure, and, on the 27th ult. Dervish Pasha, with three battalions of Turkish troops, was ordered to proceed to Dulcigno to enforce the surrender. The pressure to be put on the Albanians by the Great Powers had apparently been abandoned, and the Porte was left to his own devices to terminate the situation, That in all probability it will find some difficulty in doing so, is evident from its outlook in other quarters. Greece is more bellicosely inclined than ever, and on her Asiatic frontier Turkey is likely to be embroiled with Persia, by reason of the raids of the Turkish Khurds on the territory of the latter. With his attention thus distracted, a bending by the Sultan of his entire energies to the Dulcigno question is hardly to be expected. To-day's cablegram, indeed, informs us that he has given vigorous instructions to Dervish Pasha, but Turkish vigour is unfortunately often confined to instructions alone.

Greece, as suggested, has developed more warlike instincts than ever. As will he seen in the " late cable news" of to-day the Chamher of Deputies, after the delivery of the King's speech, proceeded to review the conduct of the Government in relation to the negociations carried on with the Powers in reference to the rectification of the Graoco-Turkish frontier, and a general expression of condemnation was evoked in consequence of their failure to secure recognition of the claims of Greece. An adverse vote followed and the Ministry resigned. It will he remembered that the Great Powers, in recognition of the efforts made by Turkey for the cession of Dulcigno, had determined not to be hard upon her in the matter of the Turko-Greek frontier. It had been arranged that the towns of Janina and Larissa were not he given up, but merely the territory- up to those places. This is the arrangement that probably raised the bile'of the late opposition in the Greek Parliament, and brought about the Ministerial crisis. Notwithstanding the general advice of Europe to Greece to remain calm, it is very possible that the change in its administration may hurry on a most inconvenient outbreak in that quarter. Our great safeguard, however, in the present situation, is the determination of Germany and Austria to preserve peace and to stand by each other. On the 27th ult. the Austrian Minister for Foreign Affairs said that a complete understanding existed between his Government and that of Germany in regard to the policy to be pursued in South-Eastern Europe, and it was affirmed that the Emperor of Austria was making strenuous efforts to maintain peace, and was causing reductions to he made in that portion of his army now occupying Bosnia. But it may be asked has the concert of Great Powers been brought to a close without effecting anything ? It would indeed appear as if nothing were to come out of it. The mutual jealousies entertained by some of them towards others are, no doubt, mainly answerable for the unsatisfactory termination of what at first appeared to be a excellent method of terminating the difficulty. The withdrawal of France from the general understanding was the first symptom of disruption, and so manyvarying interests have of late come into play, that the Powers at present seem to cut up into " sets," Germany and Austria hanging together, England and Russia (most curious combination) doing the same, while France and Italy are playing their own individual games, and keeping a sharp look-out on each other. This latter process appears by all accounts to be a rather absorbing one. That Italy, that owes so much to France, should be irritated against it beyond measure seems somewhat curious, and Italy certainly runs the risk of being accused of ingratitude. An Italian, however, would tell one that the favors at first conferred have been wiped out by a series of subsequent humiliations which his country has been forced to undergo at the hands of France. And besides, at present there is a special subject which is driving the statesmen and the press of eithor country into a rabid condition. The last mail from Europe contains full particulars of this, the Tunis question. The State or Tunis lies next to Algeria, and occupies the immediate territory of the ancient Carthage. It is close to Sicily, and if it were to pass out of the hands of the

Native owners, it would inevitably fall into thoae of either Italy or Franco—into those of the former because of its geographical position; into those of the latter by roason of the French holding the contiguous State, Algeria. Tunisia at present governed by a Bey, an old man in ■ a by no means enviable position. In. point of fact, he is "mortgaged up to the eyes." He is ia his second financial childhood, and his affairs are managed by a mixed Commission, who do very much as they like with him. This poor old gentleman lives the life of most old g ntlemen with no cash. Ho is knocked about from pillar to post. With a view of getting into his territory, the French, first of all, gained his permission to run a railway from Algeria into the heart of his dominions. In the meantime a company had made a lino from Tunis to the sea port, Goletta. This was put up for salo and bought by a Genoese firm. Then France raised a cry and demanded that the Bey should allow them to run another line to that or another sea port in order that all the trade might not be absorbed by Italty, and, although the purchase of the Tunis-Goletta line was at first a purely commercial transaction, the Paris press put a political signification on the affair, and declared that the Italians wished to obtain the regency of Tunis and finally that of Algeria. To go into the ramifications of this squabble would take up too much time, but enough has been said to show one of reasons of tho irritated state of feeling botween France and Italy, and to account for the fact that France is not anxious for further work with regard to tho South European question, when its hands are already so full.