THE LONDON TIMES ON THE EUROPEAN SITUATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5314, 6 April 1878, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE LONDON TIMES ON THE EUROPEAN SITUATION.

Mingled perplexity and excitement are the feelings which have been raised iu this country by the latest movements of Russia, and still more, perhaps, by the latest announcement of her intentions. How curiously those feelings are blended may be seen from the disorder in the ranks even of the Conservative party, which is usually a model of Parliamentary discipline. It is no secret that a considerable number of its members are profoundly dissatisfied with that side of the Ministerial policy which is represented by Lord Derby, and which is supposed to have no other hearty advocate in the Cabinet. That is the section which sent a deputation to the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Russians were drawing near to Constantinople, and which was soon rewarded, not only by the first movement of the fleet, but by the resignation of Lord Carnarvon. The same energetic Conservatives have recently taken other means to testify their belief that the policy ascribed to Lord Derby is too timid at a time when the Russians threaten to occupy Constantinople if our fleet should enter the Bosphorus. Another section of the party, however, has never lost its confidence in the wisdom of his moderation, and thinks that now, if ever, he should be freed from external pressure, when the peace of Europe may depend on the delicacy as well as the firmness of our diplomatic management. . . . But the present state of uneasiness was not reached until Russia announced that the arrival of our ships would give the signal for the entry of her troops into Constantinople. She endeavored, it is true, to free this country from alarm by urging that she was only following its example. The Russian argument is put with much adroitness by the St. Petersburg journal which represents the policy of Prince Cortchakoff. If England, we are told, thinks it necessary to send her fleet to Constantinople for tlie protection of her subjects iu that capital, Russia must also guard the hundreds of thousands of Christians in the same city, who have an equal right to protection, and who need it more. That is quite true. Ml*e are also invited to believe, however, that if such a danger does exist Russian tropos have as good a claim to enter Constantinople as the navies of England and the other Powers. But the two cases are not parallel. The navies of the Western Powers will not “enter Constantinople,” they will lie in the water way, exposed to the powerful batteries which the Turks have prepared for the defence of the city. But if the Russians enter Constantinople they will be in possession of those batteries and of the capital itself. The parallel esse to a naval occupation of the Bosphorus is the possession of the very ground on which the Russians are encamped outside the city. It is in vain to say that they are bound to protect the lives of the Greek Christians, when the truth is that they can do so with perfect ease by remaining in their present position. Prince Gortohakotf is well aware that to take shelter behind the necessity of protecting the Christian population is to play with phrases. If he retorts that this country has played with phrases also, we offer no objection. To guard the lives of English subjects is only one of the reasons why our fleet was ordered to enter the Bosphorus; and why should we not frankly say, what Russia perfectly well knows, that it was not the main reason? This country has plainly announced that it would not permit Constantinople to pass permanently into her hands, and that it would view even a temporary occupation with misgiving. It has declared with equal plainness that it would take measures for the protection of its own interests even if Russia should find such an occupation among the inevitable incidents of the war. She on her part promised that her troops should not enter the city unless compelled by military necessity. But she can scarcely pretend that such a necessity exists when the war is finished. Turkey utterly crushed, and the defensive lines of the capital practically in the hands of the victorious army. . . - Russia has incurred a grave and needless responsibility, and she will have to give guarantees to Austria as well as to England that she will quit Constantinople if she should fulfil her rash intention to occupy it with her troops.