The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) MONDAY, APRIL 15, 1878.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5320, 15 April 1878, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) MONDAY, APRIL 15, 1878.

Late telegrams lead to the conclusion that there .will yet bo a peaceful solution of the troubles in Eastern Europe. The announcement that Lord Beaconsfielii’s latest oration has been received at St. Petersburg,with disfavor, is not of much importance. Since the collapse of Turkey the Prime Minister, has not opehed ; his mouth without indulging in a bellicose tirade against Russian aggression and the danger to British interests. Lord Bbaconsfield’s hostility to Russia would, not matter much if ho had not the bulk of the people at his back. That he is supported by the majority in the country as well as in Parliament there can be no doubt. The enormous majority on the vole of credit, though violently opposed by the Liberal ’party in the House of Commons, and the voice* of the public meetings held over the country, clusively that had war been declared it would have been with the consent of the English people. The bulk of the nation may not have' implicit faith in Lord Beaconsfield, but on the Eastern Question they are with that party which will present the boldest front to Russia. It has been i in vain that those great leaders of the people .Gladstone and Bright have endeavored to convince the masses that England has only a remote interest in the Eastern Question, that it is only a'personal matter between the Czar and the Sultan, and that even if it were a European question, other Powers are more directly interested than England. The, warlike spirit has survived in the British people, and it really seems’that a war declared on any pretext would be popular. The nation of shopkeepers are ever ready to turn into warriors. In all internal matters Mr. Bright is the hero of the working classes,' but once the trumpet of wards sounded, his voice prevails Tittle with his admirers in peaceful times. It was so during the ’Crimean war, and it is the same to-day. Those humanitarians ’ who prognosticate a time of universal peace, when nations will be so bound together by the interests of commerce that war will be regarded as a misfortune to all, will find food for reflection in the fact that the wealthiest and greatest trading community in the world is just as ready to submit questions to the arbitrament of the sword as poor and half-civilised peoples. In calculating the chances of peace there is yet one cloud in the* Eastern sky. In the telegrams published on Saturday it is stated that there is great- uneasiness in Ronmania in consequence of the : massing of Russian troops at strategic positions between Guirgevo and Bucharest, and that these movements foreshadow the threat to disarm theßoumanian army. It will be remembered that some time ago the telegrams announced That Russia had expressed her determination to permanently hold that portion of Bessarabia which had been ceded to Boumania at the conclusion of the Crimean war. Prince Charles and the Roumanian people are bitterly opposed to the cession.of Bessarabia to Russia, and in answer to the threat of disarmament the Prince stated that; the Roumanian army might be destroyed but would not submit to be. disarmed. Of course, as far as the opposition of Roumania is concerned, Russia would have little difficulty in carrying out her threat, bnt the effect which such an extreme step might produce on Europe would be, very prejudicial to Russia. ’ When war was first declared the Czar was very explicit in stating that Holy Jlussia did not desire any* fresh accessions of territory in Europe. The action with regard to Bessarabia is a violation of. the pledge givbn by the Czar. The ignoring of the feelings of . the Roumanian people will meeit with the strongest disapprobation in England.. : The Liberal party in, the mother country have, urged upon the Gor veriiraent . the rights and ,i claims of the nationalities of European Turkey. It is those unfortunate people who have most at stake in the outcome of the war, and if they are to get their rights they must be as well guarded from the rapacity of -the Russians as from the tyranny of the Turks. England will no doubt, as far as lies in her power, see to the welfare of the Christian subjects of the Porte. It Is quite true that Lord Beaconsfield has no love for either Bulgarian or Roumanian.; bnt then he has an intense antipathy to Holy Russia, and it may be expected that he will take that course which will be most distasteful to Prince Goktchakoff and the advisers of the Czar. ‘ It'is well known that the present' Romanoff is a man of peace, and that it was his earnest desire that his reign should .’be free from war;, but although ho is an absolute monarch, and head of the Greek Church in Russia, he could not withstand the, influence of the war party, especially when that party numbered amongst its adherents, nearly 1 all the members of his own family. Gortchakoff’s last note to England may be regarded as satisfactory. He leaves the Congress question open, and states that each Power will have full liberty of action; and he.claims the same for Russia. We take this to mean that : the decision of the Congress will -not necessarily be regarded as binding on the Powers represented. * Those’ were the terms insisted upon by England some week’s ago before entering the Congress, and at which conditions Russia apparently took great umbrage. The mother . country has acted wisely in not i pledging i herself 1 to *b© bound by the decision of the Conference. We have hoard a : groat deal about tho cordial | feeling .of friendship, which, ( exists between tho three Emperors who met at Salzburg, and there came to some under--stahding, tlui.na ture of ,which,baa notyet been divulged to Europe.' That there was an midcrstahdihg bf‘Some sort-is the opinion, of,those wjio closely watched'the course ‘of eve’nts which followed. ' Tho Emperors., of .Germany, fßussja,; tria might again put their heads together, and !come, to • some* arrangement .which

might be highly inimical to British interests. Continental diplomacy is a thing not to be trusted. If one secret understanding has been arrived at, it would hot be wise for the ■statesmen of England* to leave out the probability of another in .their t’calculationsro, - England -has' met the 'difficulty ,in I the ’best way—namely, reserving to herself full liberty ,of action. A few months ago, it- was the general, impression bn’: the Continent that England would not go to war under any circumstances. Recent events have entirely removed that impression; and* the knowledge that Great Britain is ready for : the fray will do much to smooth the way to an amicable arrangement of the Eastern Question.