The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 1878.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5313, 5 April 1878, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 1878.

The last news from Europe is more reassuring than that , received on Wednesday. The attitude of Austria must have a pacific effect on Russia. It is now stated that Austria- demands certain changes in the treaty, agreed to between Russia and Turkey. The cable does not apprise us of the particular conditions insisted on by Austria ; .but it may safely be presumed that the House of Hapsbueg, for itsown safety and the integrity of

the empire, will strongly object to any bcpessioa of territory In Europe, and will also insist that the Black Sea shall not become' a" Russian lake. England has infinitely less at stake than Austria in the arrangement of the Eastern difficulty. The interests of Great Britain are not very clearly defined. Compared ' with Turkey Russia may be termed a commercial nation, and if the territory bordering on the Black Sea and the control of the sea itself were in the hands of the Russians, the trade with Great Britain would be fourfold what it is at present. But laying aside commercial considerations, there is one weighty reason why the Euxine and its approaches should not be at the command of Russia. It would certainly give that Power a preponderating influence in South-Eastern Europe. Russia is not a nation to which it would be safe to trust such a widespread influence as she would possess by the terms she has dictated to Turkey, and to which she clings tenaciously. The earth-hunger is strong upon the Romanoffs and in the event of a general war in Europe it is feared that Russia would seize the opportunity to further extend her territory and influence. The possession of the Black Sea would only be a stepping-stone to conquests in, the Mediterranean ; and in this matter Italy is vitally interested. It is true that at the present time a foreign Power holds sway over the Mediterranean; Gibraltar and Malta are in the hands of Great Britain, and a powerful English squadron is constantly kept in these waters. But the England of the present day is not aggressive, and although Italy is undoubtedly irritated and jealous of the immense influence’ of Great Britain, no fears are entertained that that influence will be used to the injury of Italy. Some time ago it was rumored that the Italian Government desired to share in the spoils of a dismembered Turkey, and was hankering after a slice of territory on the eastern shores of the Adriatic; but the extent of the Russian demands has evidently appalled the Italians, for lately there has been a marked change observable in the tone of the Italian Press, which now urges the necessity of putting a curb on Russian ambition. Italy is fast advancing to the rank of a first-class Power, .and in the event of a European war her influence would be considerable. It may naturally be supposed that the presence of tlie British fleet in the Sea of Marmora would be exceedingly distasteful to Russia; but making all allowance for this, there was room for surprise that Russia should have taken the strong course of demanding the withdrawal of her Majesty’s ships of war from any position they had taken up. That would have been tantamount to a declaration of war, for history does not furnish a record of the British fleet relinquishing apositionon the demand of a foreign Power. The French and Austrian Press strongly approve of the firm attitude taken up by England, and now, according to a cablegram, there is no prospect of England being isolated. Russia would not dare to face an Anglo-Austrian alliance, and in this combination we discern signs of a European war being averted. We think in all fairness Russia should in some way be compensated for the sacrifices she has made in putting an end to Turkish misrule—the most odious tyranny which has ever disgraced Europe; but in awarding such compensation regard must be paid to the interests of other nations.