RUSSIA AND TURKEY, WAR OR PEACE?

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 792, 16 November 1853, Page 3

RUSSIA AND TURKEY, WAR OR PEACE?

Russia and Turret-House of Commons. August 9, 1833.

Sir. J, Walmsley : The queslion which, according to notice, I am about to pul to the noble lord the member for the city of London, is one deeply interesting to the public generally, but especially to the mercantile interest. I believe it to be also one that intimately concerns the dignity and responsibility of every member of this house. ) wish to ask the noble lord whether her Majesty’s Government will, previous to the i prorogation of Parliament, submit to the House of Commons a statement of the existing relations between this country, Turkey, and Russia, and whether a day will be named for the purpose of giving to members of this house an opportunity of expressing their opinions on this question.— (Hear, hear.) Lord John Russell: In answer to the honourable member, in respect to his first question, I have to state (hat before the prorogation of Parliament, I will give such information with regard to the relations between this country, Russia, and Turkey, as may be consistent with my public duty. With respect to the second question, 1 cannot say that 1 think it would be consistent with the public interest, in the present stale of the negotiations, that any day should be fixed for a public discussion of (his question. (Hear, hear.) Lord D, Stuart; The noble lord has staled that before the prorogation of Parliament, he will give the House of Commons all the information in his power on this most important subject. Is the noble lord Qble now to inform the house whether there Ssany truth in the rumour which has been circulated in the newspapers to-day, of a most important character, namely, that the Czar has agreed to certain proposals which have b ien submitted to him by the different Powers of Europe, for the adjustment of the differences between Russia and Turkey, and whether we are any nearer a solution of this question ? Lord John Russell: In answer to the question of my noble friend, I have to stale that there is foundation for the rumour (o which he has alluded; and that her Majesty's Minister at Vienna has received a despatch which is of a satisfactory character. (Hear, hear.) The answer received is in reply to the first proposal, which was agreed to at Vienna; and the messenger j who was to go to Constantinople, and who was I to leave Vienna on the 31st ult., did not leave I it until the 2nd of August, so that a reply can- i not be received from Constantinople so soon as j was at first expected.

Sir de Lacy Evans inquired at what time the noble lord would make ins communication to the house, and whether it would he made in such a way tiiat no opportunity would be afforded to members of expressing their opinions on the subject ? Lord John Russell begged lo explain that w hat he had said was, that he would give such information as should be consistent with his public duly, and he thought it would be most satisfactory lo give such information at the latest period before the proiogation of Parliament. Hear. Mr. Lay.ird. Do 1 understand the noble lord to say that there is lo be no discussion? Lord J. Russell; So far as the Government are concerned, it is not our opinion that there should he a discussion. (Hear, hear.) House ok Lords. In reply lo questions of the Marquis of Clanricarde, the Earl of Clarendon spoke as follows The Earl of Clarendon : My Lords, 1 am afraid it will not be in my power lo give my noble friend any answ’er which materially differs from that winch I gave him five days ago lo the same question. 1 agree entirely now, as I did last week, in everything which has fallen from my noble friend with respect to the consequences which will arise, both lo Turkey and lo Europe, from every permanent occupation or anything resembling a permanent occupation of the principalities by Russia. But 1 must again inform my noble friend that we have no official information of the character which he has now brought before this house. I am not certainly prepared to deny that many of the acts to which he lias alluded may have been committed by the Russian Government. I have derived my information merely from the same sources as my noble friend, and in that way it is atated that there has been a sort of a committee of government formed for carrying on the business of the principalities together with Hospodars. But we have no info rnalion whatever of that kind, and I am sure my noble friend will agree with me, and i am sure your lordships will also he of opinion, that for her Majesty’s Government toad upon reports as they arise would he the height of rashness ; yet in no other way could we have proceeded in carrying out the measures to which my noble friend has adverted. My noble friend has said he believes the Danube has been crossed and Bulgaria invaded. I have no reason to believe such is the fact, hut the contrary, because I have this afternoon received letters from Galatz, dated the 28lh July, in which no allusion whatever is made lo such an occurrence. But certainly some allusions, are made, which I shall not advert to, respecting a few gunboats brought down there, and the bellicose character of the general arrangements at that point. We have likewise received letters from Jassy of the 271h July, and from Bucharest of the 261h July, and no mention is made in them of this new form of government being established. It is perfectly true that the presence of the Russian troops there is alluded to as a hardship, and dial the peasants are withdrawn from their agricultural operations, and made lo do a certain amount of work ; hut there is no mention of recruits being drawn from amongst them. Mention is made of a large amount of provisions being sent from Bessarabia, which is Russian territory; for the use of the Russian troops in the principalities. I therefore say, and I am sure your lordships will agree with me, that lo have acted upon any such information as we have seen in the newspapers would have been premature, especially as some of the reports referred to last week have already proved lo be incorrect. I can only say further, that my noble friend cannot exceed me in his abhorrence of war and in his anxiety and desire for peace, provided that peace is an honourable peace (hear, hear, hear). 1 am sure no other peace would ever he for (he interests of this country, or receive the support of this great nation (hear, hear}. Bui, my lords, I must say that, at the point at which we are arrived in these negotiations, when I do see reason lo hope they are tending to a satisfactory and peaceful solution, exciting debates in either house of Parliament are not likely to produce that peace, and that peculiar character of peace which would alone be beneficial lo this country (hear, hear). I must inform my noble friend that the negotiations appear lo have assumed exactly that character which we all have most desired (hear, hear). This question has not been left as one simply between Russia and the Porte. It has not been left as one between England and France united closely for supporting Turkey against Russia. It has assumed an European character (hear, hear). It is not only the Porte, it is Austria, il is Prussia, it Is France, it is England, acting together in order to check designs which they consider inconsistent with the balance of power, or those territorial limits established by previous agreement. This 1 say, is a stale of things which must he satisfactory to your lordships and to the country, because it is likely lo lead to a more satisfactory and more permanent conclusion. (Hear, hear). 1 think my noble friend will not press me lo enter more into details as to the slate of the negotiations now pending between Vienna and St. Petersburg!), „ when I assure him that nothing has been dona

at Vienna without the consent of the French and English Governments, and that the French and ■ English Governments will consent to nothing i which docs uol protect and secure the indepen- | dence of Turkey. (Hear, hear), j In a subsequent stage of the debate, the noble : Earl further expressed himself as follows: j The Earl of Clarendon : I should be very ' sorry if there existed the slightest misapprehension, even for a single day, with respect to my meaning with regard to the Russian occupation of the Uanubian provinces. 1 have no hesitaI tion now in informing my noble friend, without l wailing for any further discussion, that we look j to the immediate and complete evacuation of I (he Danubian, Provinces as a sine qua non of ( any agreement whatever. (Hear.) With respect . to any discussion, or any statement which it is desirable to make, I hope your lordships will bear iamind that the Government have not wished to shrink from this discussion, or to lay (he fullest information before Parliament of what has been done. I did not even ask my noble friend lo postpone (he motion of which he had given nolice for a previous evening. I fell that if your lordships and the country w r erc pleased to ask for it, you were perfectly right and justified in so doing and tiie noble marquis, yielding lo the request of the noble lord, did so in dependent of (he Government, and without giving notice of his intention. I hope therefore, it will be remembered that the Government do not shrink from any discussion; and any disposition 1 ever had in favour of that discussion is greatly increased by the prospect—l fear not quite so immediate a prospect—of the close of the session. Ido think it desirable the country should have every information we can give it, and I can assure my noble friend, nothing will prevent her Majesty’s Government from doing so, except those reasons which have hitherto influenced them—regard for the public service—and which have been recognised and approved by Ibis house. (Hear, hear.) RUSSIA. The fortifications of the Russian troops are being carried out on the most complete principle throughout the provinces of Moldavia and Wallachia. Works of defence are established in all the strong points of the country, and daily arrivals of artillery reinforce these positions. The troops are besides forming three intrenched camps, which are intended to protect the lines, and will be rendered impregnable. Rut beyond this information is (lie startling news that the Russians have actually thrown several bridges of boats across (he Danube to connect Ismail with the Isle of Tehclal. The Russian troops in the Principalities sutler much on their march, from the heal, which is very great. The number of the sick is enormous, and private houses have been engaged at Bucharest and Jassy, for military hospitals. Russia also appears to be seeking a pretext for hostilities with Persia, Prince Dolgoruki, Russian Envoy at Taheran, demands the cession of the Province of Azerbaijan, one of the richest in the monarchy, as compensation for the nonpayment of an immense sum of money which he pretends is owing from (he Schah lo the Czar. TURKEY. We copy the following from the Liverpool Standard of August 9th. Riots have occurred in various parts of Turkey, being caused by the fanalacism of certain portions of the population. The Hospodars of Moldavia and Wallachia, acting under superior orders—Prince Gorischakoffs, of course —had suspended provisionally all relations with the Sultan. The accounts more recently received slate that the Hospodars, in consequence of their compelled refusal lo pay tribute to the Porte, have been summoned lo Constantinople, and the Consuls of England and France in the principalities have had orders to lower their flags. The Porlofoglio Maltese of (he 16th ultimo, announces the arrival at Malta of the French steamer Ajaccio, with 52 French superior officers on board who are to enter the Ottoman service. It also slates that the French steamer Leonidas left Malta on the 15th for Constantinople, with 120 chests of muskets on board.

A squadron of five Tunisian ships are on (heir way to Constantinople. The English steamers Retribution and Fury are at anchor in the Golden Horn. The Indexible, in crossing the Dardanelles, ran ashore, and is now under re, air in the port of Constantinople. Intelligence, dated Jassy, 20th ult., slates that information has just been received from St. Petersburg!), that the Russian Government, while leaving to the reigning Princes of Moldavia and Wallachia their lilies and their nominal power, has decided that there shall be joined to them a council of Government, composed of three members appointed by the Czar. All affairs are to be submitted to this Council, whose decisions will be sovereign. Independently of this fact, the country has just been subjected to a contribution in kind. Several young Royards having manifested their discontent at the exactions committed by the troops who occupy the country, were immediately incorporated with li e Russian army, where they will be compelled to serve for three years. Engineers have been for several days past taking a plan of the towns of Jassy and Bucharest, which are, it is said, to be fortified in such a manner as to be able to support the operations of the Russian Army. The bulk of (he Russian army of occupation is spread through Wallachia, GOOD troops on y remaining in Moldavia. The Grand Duke Constantine, lately named Grand Admiral of Russia, I.as arrived at Odessa. He was to proceed to Sebastopol, to inspect two naval divisions in the Black Sea.

The enthusiasm of the Capital is emulated in most of the provinces. The Egyptian sqradron, consisting of two ships of the line, four frigates, two sloops, one brig, and two war steamers, left for Constantinople on the 18th July, with 0500 soldiers on hoard; (he remaining 10,500 men will be sent in detachments on hoard two other war steamers. Two other liners, now in dock at Alexandria, will soon join the Heel oil Constantinople. The Egyptian contingent consists entirely of men who served under Ibrahim Pasha, in Syria, Anatolia, and Arabia.

Affairs of the East

Paris, Tuesday Evening

A cabinet courier arrived here Ibis morning from St. Petersburg!! with despatches for M. de KisselelT. These despatches, which arc of the 3rd, are said to have confirmed the telegraphic message published in the Monileur with reference to the Emperor of Russia’s acceptance of the Vienna note. His assent was given on the 2nd. As is always the case on such occasions, a good many reports are current of the details communicated to M, dc KisselelT, but beyond the fact of the general confirmation of (be important inteligcnce, little is known with anything like certainly. The moment it was ascertained at Vienna that the Czar had consented to accept the proposition of the Powers, a message was des patched to Constantinople, urging the Divan to lose no time in sending an ambassador to St. Petersburg!! ; and there can be no doubt that HiC strongest recommendations were added fo repress insubordination among the army, and to prevent anything like disturbance among the population. The note of (lie Powers docs not make any direct reference to the evacucalion of the principalities. It is merely staled that, on that point, the circular of M. de Nesselrode, had already given sufficient assurance, for if the Emperor of Russia is satisfied wiih the arrangement pioposed to him, there is no necessity for a continued occupation. It is not consid-

ered probable that the Russians will receive the order to retire until the Turkish Ambassador shall have arrived. It is doubted, however, whether (hat order will be given simultaneously with the arrival of the ambassador, or whether some days will be allowed to elapse; but the opinion here is, supposing no newand unpleasant incidents to occur, that the Russian troops will retire before (he fleets quit Besika Bay. Indeed, it would be difficult lo see how the fleets could, without hishonour, do otherwise. It would be odraitled even more than the party sought to be established by M. dc Nesselrode between the violatiou of the Ottoman territory and the occupation of a bay which is open lo all the world. The confidence 1 have already noticed as existing among (he public generally as to the complete termination of (he question gains {ground, and it is even staled, on good authority, that the Emperor himself declared such lo be the case no later than last night. Letters from Vienna, of the sth announce that Count Buol had a long interview with the Turkish Ambassador in that Capital. They add that, although the note of the four Powers was not yet known at Constantinople, it was thought, from the lone of the last communications from (he Porte, and also from the spirit of moderation which animated the Turkish Government, that he note would be accepted by the Divan.