ADDITIONAL MAIL ITEMS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5339, 8 May 1878, Page 3

ADDITIONAL MAIL ITEMS.

. (iraOM OTO OWN COEBESJONDENT.) In the House of Lords the Earl of Beaconafield, in a retrospect of the Government’s present policy, criticised the treaty of San Stefano, drawing conclusions similar to those contained in the Marquis of Salisbury’s despatch. He said although every article of the treaty was a deviation from the treaties from 1830 and 1871, he would not call them violations, because had they been considered at a congress, as England desired, they might have been regarded OS suggestions. He showed . that the possession of Bessarabia was not a matter of trifling local-interest. Lord Palmerston had strongly-; insisted upon its cession to Boumania, as it involved independent navigation of the Danube. The Congress could not take place after Bussia’s refusal to conform to her previous engagements and to the Treaty of He pointed out various ways in which the_ existing situation in the East imperilled the British Empire. There was practically no reason why the Bosnians. 1 might not march to the Suez canal. He could not conceive why England should he unarmed when all other Powers wcie i arming. The British Knuiiro must bo maintained. Lord Granville criticised the details oi the Government’s past policy, but declared he would not commit himself or his friends on ’ tho present question, hut would leave Government to their responsibility. Upon a general review of the situation-ho drew conclusions favorable to peace, - Lord Derby "denied that calling out the reserves was the sole or -principal cause of Jus difference with his late colleagues. Matter*

at present were at a deadlock where neither side would give way for the fear of loss of dignity; He would not press matters arid increase groundless irritation. He denied the existence of any emergency justifying the calling out of the reserves, the only conceivable motive (for the haste of which, however, he would not accuse the Government) was to take advantage of the war feeling in the country. Even the Austrian alliance was very doubftul, and all the other powers were certain to stand aloof. Why under these circumstances should England not only be drifting but tuahia& into a purposeless war. He admitted that circumstances might force England into war, but at present he could see no ground for it. Lord Cairns said the smallness of the increase of the army did not justify Lord Derby’s iuterference.

The Times issued a special edition containing the full text of Prince Gortchakoff’s reply to Lord Salisbury’s circular despatch. Russia declares that the arrangements relative to Bulgaria are only the development of the principles established by the Constantinople Conference. Russia is quite ready to abridge the term of occupation of Bulgaria os much as possible. The limits of Bulgaria have only been indicated in general terms, in accordance with the nationality of the population. Details will be left to a mixed commission. The only-object in assigning parts to Bulgaria is to assist her commercial development, by which England and Mediterranean Powers, whose oommercehas always been a powerful lever for their political influence, are likely to profit far more than Russia. Prince Gortohakoff expresses surprise at the objections to the stipulations of the treaty relative to Thessaly and Epirus. The modest reforms stipulated are intended to avoid the appearance of either establishing Russian supremacy on the one hand, or utterly neglecting the Greeks on the other. Russia did not forbid the Porte to consult the European Powers, as well as Russia, on the reforms for Greek provinces, and there is no longer any pretext for debarring Russia from the possession of Bessarabia, as the freedom of the Danube is secured by international commission. Prince Gortchakofi's tone in regard to Armenia is much more energetic, He says Batoum is far from being equivalent to the pecuniary indemnity which it represents. Russian acquisitions in Armenia have only a defensive value. Russia wishes to hold them so as not to have to besiege them at the beginning of each war. These territorial cessions are the natural consequence of war. If England wished to avert them she had only to join Russia in exercising pressure upon the Porte, which would probably have compelled it to grant reforms without war. England having refused to do so, she has now no ground to question the right for which Russia has shed her blood, namely, the right to establish a state of things which will henceforth, render such sacrifices unnecessary, or at least less onerous. ■- The assertion that Russia’s annexation in Armenia will interfere with European with Persia, conflicts with statements previously made by British Ministers. Such assertions push distrust to the extreme. Complaints concerning the indemnity are equally ill-founded. The sum is out of all proportion to Russia’s sacrifices. In the matter of the payment of the indemnity, it is easier to see a design to keep the Porte up to its_ engagements in the interests of all than a design to paralyse Turkey ; but there is no remedy against suspicion. Prince Gortchakoff says in conclusion The situation■ may be summed up thus '■ Existing treaties have been successively infringed by the Porte in violating its obligations towards Christians, and by the Powers in interfering on behalf of Christians. Lord Salisbury himself recognises that great changes are necessary in treaties hitherto regulating the East. • It remains for Lord Salisbury to say how he would reconcile these treaties, and recognise the rights of Great Britain and other Powers with benevolent ends, to which the united action of Europe has always been directed, and the attainment ol which one learns With pleasure the English Government desires, namely, good government, peace, and liberty for oppressed populations. It is for the Marquis of Salisbury to say how he could obtain the desired end outside the preliminaries of San Stefano, and yet at the same time take due account of the rights of Russia, which she has acquired by sacrifices she has borne alone. Lord Salisbury’s despatch contains no reply to these questions. It seems that the entire liberty of appreciation and action would have been more naturally found by the formulation side by side with the objections contained in that despatch of some practical propositions of a nature to assure an understandingjfor the solution of present difficulties. A Pera special says the movements of Russian forces on the Danube and in Roumania indicate the A determination to prepare thorougly against the contingency of an Austrian attack in their rear. All passes over the Carpathians are practicable for artillery, and trains are covered by positions which the Russians have just-occupied. The Russian troops are constantly moving from Bulgaria into Roumania. Large shipments of powder from Dortmund in Prussia into Russia are reported. For the protection of ships in the Mediterranean from torpedoes, a number of steam launches hasbeen sent to fsmidandother stations, and a number of torpedo-boats were sent from Chatham Dock yard to the Mediterranean. A chartered steamer is now loading large numbers at the Victoria Docks, the intention being to supply each vessel with at least two torpedo-boats. Thirty-eight ton guns also are being shipped for the Mediterranean in the London docks.

The warlike preparations of the Russians and .Turks about Constantinople continue. Apprehension is expressed in Bucharest that the Russians intend strict martial law. .

Gortchakoff has requested the Roumanian Government to repress the bitter .tone of the Press regarding Bessarabia and the two years’ occupation of Bulgaria, A Vienna special from Cattaro states that the inhabitants of Antivari and the whole neighborhood were unanimous in the desire for the. annexation of Austria instead of Montenegro. . . A rising of the inhabitants of Spizza ,is hourly expected. The Montenegrins have occupied forts as a precaution. London, April 3.

Thera has been less excitement in Portsmouth Dockyard this week, and work is assuming its ordinary routine character. Overtime has generally been stopped. Very little remains to be done in the way of warlike preparations. On Monday it became known that a letter had been forwarded from' the Admiralty to Portsmouth, asking how long it would take to get ready for sea a flotilla of iron gunboats, built for service in the Baltic during the last Russian war, and, for the most part, since lying on the slips at Haslar. These are formidable little .vessels of 254 tons, provided with displacement twin screws, and carrying each an 18-ton gun in bow. Preparations had actually begun to fit them with magazines when countermanding orders were received. A special from San Stefano says the Grand Duke Nicholas and Generals Gourko, Scobeloff, Eepokeitohizky, Schovaloff, and Levitzy, with a large staff, and an escort of 50 cavalry, visited the principal defensive, works lately commenced by the Turks between Stefano and Constantinople. They therfhmbarked in the Imperial yacht for the city. The erection of these defences has caused great indignation, and the Grand Duke Nicholas has obtained an order to stop it. It is rumored that Osman Pasha has ordered the construction of these works without the knowledge of Reoff,

Mr. Bayard, the British Ambassador, is accused Of trying to bring on war between Eussia and England. A special from Constantinople states that Mr. Layard has succeeded in paralysing for the present Eussia’s endeavors to obtain the friendship of the Porte, in view of the hourly increasing tension of Anglo-Bussian relations. The greatest importance is attached to the long interview Mr. Layard had on Monday with Eeoff Pasha and Osman Pasha, who are paramount in military affairs. Bucharest, April 12. It is stated that 20,000 men of the Eleventh Bussian Array Corps will hold Bucharest, and the remainder of the corps will hold stations on the line to Giurgevo. Other Bussian troops are expected in the territory east of Alitta. Nearly all the Eouraanian troops are in positions to the westward of Aluta. A Bussian delegate sent to make arrangements relative to the passage of the troops will arrive to-day. The Germans are much less bellicose,' and it is by no means improbable that Bussia will attain her object after the first burst of resentment The Senate has passed resolutions permitting persons serving voluntarily in tho army to return to tliojr homes. ■

General Dentrolm, the Bussian , commandant in Boumania, has returned from San Stefano, whither it is said he had gone to receive instructions in regard to the present situation. .

- England and Bussia are competing in Gcr. man ports for tho engagement of transports. -

An official journal states that Hobart Pasha threatened to bombard Sarbi unless the insurgents evacuated Maktlmsa.

- A*special from Berlin says that the Russians are constructing a railway from Bourgas to Yambole. As Yambole is connected with Adrianople by rail, a new line will enable the Russians to send troops from Odessa direct to Central and Southern Bulgaria and the ißgean Sea. _ ‘ Utterances from Berlin on the Eastern ' Question are entirely different from assertions hitherto made by special correspondents at Berlin. One of Bismarck s organs says that the ■ failure of the Congress would probably result in Russia and England remaining at peace, but arming for war. Those prolonged armaments .England can infinitely better afford than Russia, who would be reduced to exhaustion were she obliged to maintain her armies on a war footing for some years. As Russia cannot attack England, while England is perfectly in a position to bide her time, the Czar will probably be driven to extend his conquests in the interval, the better to be prepared for a when it does occur ; but in such a case Austria- and Greece would join England to protect their own interests. As to Germany, she will never fight for Russia or any other foreign interest ; Russia therefore had better restrain her ambition. Vienna papers consider that the project for a congress has failed, and Austria must now look to protect her own interests. The Nicue Free Press (Liberal and Russian, and Bismarckian) says General ■ Ignatieff’s purpose ■ is ; to isolate England. The Deutsche Zeitung (strongly German and anti-Hungarian), thinks Austria will gain by the Anglo-Russian war, because Russia must pay a high price for Austria's neutrality.