THE EASTERN QUESTION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5345, 15 May 1878, Page 3

THE EASTERN QUESTION.

TO THE EDITOB OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sib, —I trust you will allow mo space for this letter, in order that I may have the satisfaction at no very distant date of referring hack to it when the events about which it treats shall have becume historical. My object in writing my first letter to you was to point out, in contradistinction to “ Pax" and •* Helium,” that England’s policy in the present crisis was a policy of strict but armed neutrality. I wish to point out now that England’s future policy will be something more than neutrality—St will be one of complete 'isolation —that is, that she will draw away altogether for a time from interfering in any way with the other European Powers. The Contemporary News of Moscow, of January 4, 1878, thus writes :—“The English nation does not want to.go to war, and wilt not allow the Government to proclaim war. Great Britain has reached the highest summit of power, beyond which it is impossible to climb. It is now her turn to descend. She is a declining nation, as a German newspaper remarked some time ago. Her decadence is inevitable, and the solution of the Eastern Question is the first step in that direction, the turning point in her downward career. England* will make frantic efforts, hut these efforts will be those of impotency. She will not willingly. surrender her power, but her opposition, if she decide on making any, will only prove prejudicial to herself.” This is an enemy’s.view of onr position. I will now give you an extract from a speech of England’s Prime Minister, delivered in January of this year. ,Ho said :—” There is an isolation that comes from decay, that comes from infirmity, that is the sign of impending ruin ; hut there is also an isolation which arises from qualities very different and very contrary,, from self-confidence—(cheers) —from extreme energy—(cheers)—from abounding resources, and, above all, from the inspiration of a great cause.” (Lond cheers.) ' These are bold words, but that they found response in .the hearts of those he addressed fa shown by the cheers that greeted their delivery. Now this complete isolation will not take place until Constantinople has fallen into onr hands. If prophecy is rightly interpreted that city will be ours before the end of next month (June); and we shall occupy it in peace, £«.; tske'poaaession of it without fighting. We shall then assume the protectorate of Egypt, and occupy Palestine, when the Jews will return there almost en; masse. After that for three years and a half we shall take no part in European affairs, and onr enemies will make merry over our apparent decease—our political _ death;—but at the end of that time, abort -#lBBl-82, we shall stand upon onr feet an exgreat army, and great fear shall fall upon all those who live to behold it.—T am, ... Neutral. , Since writing the above I notice in Jour leader of this morning the'following. It is taken from Sir 1 uliua Vogel's address to the Colonial Institute: —" By .and by the conviction will come that the territories of Great E itain are. suffi-ueutly large to make nationalism a noble aspiration, and . that other nations may be left to look after their own interests.” 'lhis is clearly the 'policy of isolation that I say will very shortly be adopted by England, * 1