EUROPEAN AFFAIRS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 628, 8 May 1878, Page 2

EUROPEAN AFFAIRS.

(l',Y THE MAir, STKiMER.) The Queen's message calling out the reserves is as follows :—The present state of public affairs in the Kast, and the necessity of takin_- steps for the maintenance of peace and for the protection of the interests of the i-'mpire having constituted, in the opinion of Her Majesty, a cave of great emergency within the ne aning of the Acts of Parliament in that behalf. Her Majesty deems it proper to provide additional means for the public services, and, therefore, in pursuance of the Acts, Her Majesty has thought it ritrht to communicate to the House of Commons that -he is about to direct that the Res. rve force, or vuch part thereof as Her Majesty may think necessary, be forthwith c.iiled out for permanent service. The British Government storehouses are so crowded with war material under recent contracts that storage has been secured in warehouses at the Victoria Docks and the other wharves, In the House of Common* Pir Northeote stated that the February dividend in the Turkish guaranteed loan was paid by England. The amount was I 77,448. A portion of ikat dividend should come from Egyptian tribute, but this wag not paid.

The Khedive promised to forward a part immediately England had taken steps to obtain half of the'L77,44S from France, who was joint guarantor. Terrible distress exists at Slramla, where some 250,000 fugitives are now collected. A formal note has been sent to the Porte by the English Embassy, representing that unless something is immediately done immense loss of life is certain in consequence of the appaling destitution that prevail-;. The utter exhaustion of the means hitherto at the disposal of the.Ottoman Government quite, preclude?, it is stated, the possibility of i-ii'criiig transport to the suuerers.. The h'ussian and Bulgarian atrocities prevent- the wretched Mussulmans from returning home. If transports were ready the Porte declares itsdf unable tu decide on the '•hioe to semi these peoph'to. .is being used to the climate of Bulgaria, they would soon die, it" sent into Syria.

The war correspondent of the London Times was murdered by the Turks near Macriritza. Drought and famine prevail to a disastrous extent in Morocco. A telegram received from Paris says that England, has asked permission to establish a coal depot at the Island of Tenedos. 'The organiser of the hierarchy, the Rev. Father Frantaud, Rector of the S. C. College, is dead. Pie bequeathed his private fortune to the Catholic Church 01 Scotland, in consequence of the establishment of his hierarchy.- The Pope nominated the .Scotch Episcopate as follows : —Bight Kev. John Strained, J).D., Metropolitan Archbishop of St. Andrew at Kdmburgh ; Charles Eyre, Archbishop of Glasgow ; M'Donald, Bishop of \herd.en ; M 'L'ichlan, Bishou of Galloway; ami M'Donald, Bishop of Argyll. Mi'. I.avard has received a report from Mr. l.'eade, the British Consul at Kustchuk, claiming satisfaction from the Russian Government for an outrage committed by l.'ussian troops in entering the Kustchuk Consulate, and taking possesson of its archives, although the Briti.-h flag was floating over the building. The Roumanian Government, after repeatedly anil' vainly asking Russia to explain the daily influx of troops, who take possession of the public buildings and private dwellings, and treat Poumania as an enemy's country, have decided to protest to the. G I't-at Powers.

The conviction in Vienna is that the Czar is bent on having Bessarabia back,'that he will take it, and that the best possible thing tiie Roumanians can do is to make the best possible terms about the compensation they are to receive.

Osman I'a.-ha has been released, and received an enthusiastic reception at Constantinople. He was specially thanked by the Sultan, and lias since been engaged on defensive works between San Stefano and ( onstantinojile, with which the Grand Duke is said to be greatly displeased. A Vienna despatch states that Austria has written a statement of her views, which was sent to St. Petersburgh. She not only insisted upon the European character of the questions at issue, but distinctly rejected the idea of separate s- ttlement. Tin- London Central News publishes a telegram whi h purports to be a summarv of the circular accompanying Prince CnrtsehakofTs reply to Lord 'Salisbury's, but which latter seems to bo a reply to Austria's, objections. The telegram rays Prince Gortschakoft' endeavors to refute Austria's objections point by point, and declares that I'ussia has fully redeemed her promises to Austria, even at the risk of the alienation of the Servians. He expresses surprise that Austria has not seized the opportunity to rlieck the disorders in Bosnia and Herzegovina, by annexation or by imposing reforms. Prince Cortschakoff, in conclusion, suggests a settlement on the basis df Cono.re.ss, by separate agreement between the various Courts, as modi!ie:itions c>;i!d be introduced in the Treaty of Paris:

ami d>sc'aims nil rosp>nsibiiity for further complications if the. Powers refuse to a /tve to this Theulliinate. effect of Prince GorfschakclFs reply is not The s'uli'.i-iiiiesK wi-h whLli the circular was t'lrej-.plied to LenUon. diving the debate on th.o Address to the Q-.iecn, excites remark. The special edition of the Times cen'aimng it was issued about S o'clock, and tl'ie papers were distributed in the Mouse of Commons. The tex" of the circular was pub!i-hel anil f-amed, with a view of inl'uencin<_' public opinion here, and hurried. i"to he 1 ands of members of Parliament in the hope, of affecting the vote on the Address. The London Post, publishes the following

despatch from Berlin : —Germany has not only refused Russia's request to guarantee the neutrality of Austria, hut is further reported to have declared that she is prepared to interfere if any attempt i= made to hinder Austria from protecting her inte>'ests. A Vienna despatch says that Russia's answer to Austria consisted of a verbal confidential assurance. The correspondent's

informant said that Austria's position was not such as to involve the question of peace or war. The correspondent believes that this collapse of all serious op:>o>ition on the part of Austria is due to an autograph letter from the Czar to the Emperor Kraueis Joseph, and partlv also to a remark made by the United States Minister to Russia while at Vienna, that the Czar was disposed to make important concessions.

Another Vienna, despatch says that General T-jiuitiofT's mission is to complete the negotiations for a, scheme for parallel annexation, which has already found favor at head-quarters. Austria demands Bosnia, Herzegovina. Northern Albania, and a portion of Macedonia, including Saloniea. Russia objects to Austria's annexation of a portion of Macedonia, but this difficulty is by no means insurmountable. Tttnatiefryoes to Berlin on ie iving here. Russia, by tho advice »f Germany, is conciliating Austria., and disrocrarding England, ft is believed

I'ussia is preparing for a war with England. '200.000 of the Russian Landwehr are eal'ed out. The Journal do St. I'etersburgh declares that Kussia will not endure ;i position her to maintain an annaincut indeiinitcly. Tlii'. ita'ian Count Carti, Minister for For; ign A flairs, in answering ouerie.s on the Eastern Question in the Chamber of Deputies, said Italy was free from ail engage-nieut.-.exceptingthose devolving from treaties which constitute.! the public law of Europe. The progress of the negociations between the European Cabinets afforded grounds for the belief that there would be a peaceful settlement. In any event Italy would, preserve a vigorous neutrality. A telegram from Calcutta points out that from the Bengal cavalry alone it is possible to draw 10.000 men, without the slightest detriment to the Indian service They are infinitely superior to Cossacks in training, equipment, and organisation.