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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5300, 21 March 1878, Page 2

Events have taken an unexpected turn in Europe within the past day or two, as will be seen by a perusal of the news which arrived yesterday. Recent telegrams led most people to believe that the great Eastern war was in a fair way of adjustment, at least for a time ; but the intelligence of yesterday points to the conclusion that affairs are more critical than at any period since the war commenced. Lord Derby some months ago said that the chief danger of England being involved in a war would be at the close of. the struggle between Russia and,' Turkey. His words have turned out true. As long’ ns Mahomraedau and Muscovite slaughtered each other without any decisive advantage on either side, there was not the slightest chance of Great Britain interfering. But now, the Porte’s power of resistance is at an end, and Turkey lies at the mercy of Russia. The Mahommedan has bowed to the will of Allah and concluded a treaty of peace with the enemy. In that treaty neither the conqueror nor the conquered appear to have paid; any attention to the interests or wishes of non-combatants. The Turk had looked in vain for assistance from England. Up to the last the Porte was led to believe ,by that party in the mother country headed by Lord Beaconsfield that England ! would uphold the integrity of the Ottoman Empire. When Lord Carnarvon stated to a deputation that: England would not go to war to bolster up Turkish interests as such, his words were inforentially repudiated by the Prime Minister, and the consequence was that the Secretary of State resigned. Lord Derby has also, resigned through the bellicose attitude taken up by Lord Beaconsfield. Throughout, the whole struggle the latter held out to Turkey hopes of the active interference of England. Kara and Plevna had fallen, and the .Russians were .on the victorious march to the shores of the Bosphorus, and : the voice of ..the British nation still supported the wise and moderate policy of Lord Derby. The eyes of the Turks wore opened as to the real state of British opinion, and : the result was the Porte became even more embittered against Great Britain than against ’ Russia. It .is a common saying that, a false friend is worse than'an open enemy, and that feeling inclined the Porte to rely upon the generosity of Russia. ; Tn after 'years Englishmen will blush to think that any numerous body should, at the latter end of the nineteenth.century, have professed sympathy with one of the most odious and brutal tyrannies which has ever afflicted mankind. As has been frequently said ,by the ablest men in England, a great mistake was made by the mother country not joining with Russia in forcing the Porte to conform to civilized ideas in governing a European and Christian people—not good specimens of Christianity certainly, but as good as raightbeexpected after four ; centuries of oppression by a semi-civilized and inferior race. It is lamentable to think that sympathy for the Turks should even in the most remote degree affect the policy of England. Mr. Disraeli’s Turkish sympathies are well known, and this accounts for that shuffling policy of England during the past eighteen months which has done so much to lower her prestige. Fortunately, Britain’s power has not been diminished, a fact which foreign nations will soon be in a position to recognise should the mother conntrybe forced to go to war. We sincerely trust that war will yet be averted, but the outlook at this moment is ominbus. Russians and Turks have put their heads. togther, and they are both fully skilled in the arts of intrigue. The last phase, of the Eastern Question is that they intend to keep the terms of the treaty secret till the meeting of the Conference. This certainly is very suspicious. It might some time hack have been urged that Russia would have been fully justified in holding back from other Powers the conditions on which she would conclude peace, as it might fairly be plgc-idod that it would simply bo showing her hand. Yesterday’s telegrams, however, state that the treaty between Russia and Turkey has been ratified, and we can see no fair reason why the nations of Europe should not be made fully acquainted with the terms of an arrangement which may seriously affect their interests. It is well that the question is now lifted beyond any concern for Turkish interests. After the events of the past few weeks even Lord Beaconsfield must deem that the interests of the Porte are not worth the slightest consideration. England will now be free to act untrammelled. She has taken a bold and wise course by refusing to attend the Conference unless the terms of the treaty of peace are made known. There was a secret understanding between the three Emperors at Salsbury. The arrangements made then have not yet transpired, and it is more than probable. that the treaty may bo already known and agreed to by a majority of the Powers to bo represented at the Conference. , Taking surrounding circa instances into consideration, it is not a matter for surprise that-Eugland demands, before joining the Conference, n knowledge of arrangements which may at present bo only unknown to herself and one or two other Powers not directly interested in the question. Whatever attitude- Germany! assumes, will have ,an immense influence; upon Russia. Of late, years the German Press'hits' shown" a marked hostility to England, and there is an uneasy feeling at Home that wo have more to dread in the future’from that Power than any other. Bismarck ’is ‘ reported to have stated that if Turkey is the sick old man England is the sick old woman. A mightjier man than Bismarck called us a nation of ; shopkeepers; He died a prisoner,!on a barren island, and the sentinel outside the chamber of death was a '.British soldier.- !