AUSTRIA AND TURKEY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 135, 6 August 1853, Page 9

AUSTRIA AND TURKEY.

(From the " Examiuer.") Thirteen years ago the preservation of the Turkish Empire in its independence and integrity was thought by the Government of this country worth the risk of an embroilment with France, and a general war. We were told then that Russia, Austria, and England could not suffer France to protect a rebellious vassal against the chastisement of the Sultan, and that no matter at what umbrage to the French Government and people, Mehemet AU must be expelled from Syria, and reduced to submission to the Porte. To effect that object our fleet and troops were set to work burning and destroying, and France, unable to protect her protege, thwarted and humiliated, was in a flood of exasperation, which auy untoward circumstance might have pushed to the extremity of war. Looking back with the knowledge we now have of that period, and the elements of mischief which were prepared for explosion, and waiting only a rash hand to fire them, it seems wonderful that hostilities were escaped. But Louis Philippe waited his time, laying up the grudge in his mind like oue of Homer's kings, and he took his revenge in the Spanish marriages, aggrandizing his house and satisfying his vengeance by the same unworthy transaction. It was then England's turn to be angry and alienated, and the loss of the friendship which had been a tower of strength to the King of the Barricades greatly encouraged his domestic foes, and emboldened them to proceedings which, combined with other causes, ended in the overthrow of the monarchy. The coolness between the Governments of the two countries is thus clearly traceable to the difference on the Syrian question, to which also must be ascribed whatever share that estrangement had in the downfall of Louis Philippe. But how are matters changed now? What respect is now claimed for the independence and integrity of the Turkish Empire? Austria is ■ r «pw repeating the part which France would Tiave played, but was not suffered to play, in 1840, with this difference for the worse, that the wrong is more naked, and for an incomparably more unworthy object. Consider what Mehemet Ali was, and what the Montenegrins are. Mehemet Aii, with all his faults, was a promoter of civilization; he established order; he gave safety to the desert, and travellers traversed the country under his sway with more safety and exemption from annoyance than is now felt by the Englishman who has to make his way through the Austrian dominions. But he was a rebellious vassal, the protection of whom by France against the chastisement of the Sultan could not be endured by three of the four coalesced Powers, Austria among the number. Well, what are these Montenegrins, the protection of whom against the chastisement of the Sultan is ensured by the Powers pledged to maintain the independance and integrity of the Turkish Empire ? A tribe of robbers and assassins, the match for whom in barbarism and iniquity is not to be found even among the Malays whose carcasses clogged the wheels of the Nemesis upon that admired occasion when Sir James Brooke so signally vindicated the rights of humanity, and gave a bloody lesson of civilization. Aggressed by these miscreants, the Sultan despatches an army against them to punish and coerce their detestable practices, but Austria covers the brigands with her shield, and insists on the Forte's leaving the horde of cutthroats as it found them j and the Powers

pledged to maintain the independence of Turkey look on and acquiesce. We say nothing of the other insolent and wrongful conditions, for we would direct sole attention to the comparison between what we did with such mighty risk in 1840, to support the Sultan's authority against Mehemet Ali, with what we are now suffering Austria to do, in prevention of the provoked punishment of a race of murderous brigands, and in contravention of the Sultan's rightful exercise of his power as an independent Prince. In answer to a question put by Mr. Disraeli, Lord J.Russell said," HerMajesty'sGovermnent has received official information that a final arrangement had been come to between Austria and the Sublime Porte, and that the demands made by Prince Leiningen on the part of Austria had been agreed to by the Porte. It was demanded on the part of Austria that the territory of Montenegro should be abandoned by the Turkish army, and that, as previous to these events, no encroachments should be made by Turkey on the coast for the purposes of trade or commerce. That dexnand had been complied with. Another of the demands of Austria was, that the status quo before the war, as regarded Montenegro, should not be disturbed ; and that, likewise, had been agreed to. On the subject of this last condition a communication had been made by Colonel Rose, Her Majesty's Charge d'Affaires at Constantinople, the effect of which was that nothing should be done with reference to those important territories of Kle.ck and Sutorina without the knowledge of Her Majesty's Government (hear, hear). With respect to another condition, that which related to Hungarian refugees serving in the Turkish army, he might observe that the first demand had been modified, and that Austria now remained satisfied with their removal from the frontier (hear)." And to this complexion has come all the big talk, and all the risks, and substantial sacrifices for the independence of Turkey !