RUSSIA'S OBLIGATIONS.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 88, 7 June 1879, Page 3

RUSSIA'S OBLIGATIONS.

The Standard, in a recent number, says:—" Though the statement that Her Majesty's Government have applied to •the other signatories of the Treaty of Berlin to recall Russia to the observance ■ of its obligations is as inaccurate as other random assertions which have recently obtained currency, it is, of.course the fact ithat England by no means stands aleno .in.viewing-with repugnance Russia's bad .I'ajth in seeking to amalgamate Eastern ilioutnelia with Bulgaria, or in its determination to compel the -liar's agents .to :nct in conformity with itlie engagements solemnly undertaken by .their Imperial .master. Indeed, this country is far from ■being.the most.decply .interested of the ■Powers that-signed the Treaty of Berlin in keeping Roumelia anil Bulgaria disitinct. 1 lie flagrant .violation of the Treaty >of Berlin .by the Czar in .keeping .more .than 50,000 itroqpe .in Bulgaria land Eastern Roumelia jointly, and the .prolonged «c----•cupation of Turkish .-territory to the South ■of both .those provinces, and within a A»w.days' match of the Turkish capital cannot fail to.cause «t Vienna trepidation ias welLas aunoyanrc. England, no doubt is irritated at Russia!* bad faith ; but ■then is mo need for England, to he alarmed. Austria, however, stands in a ■diUewnt position. la her com vexation is overridden bv anxiety. England and Europe are insulted by Russia's disregard ■of the Treaty of Rerun; but Austria may be mortally wounded by it It may, ■therefore, be taken ae certain that the object at which Russian diplomacy, supported by the Russian armies, is' at present ■ejuung south of the Danube neither Austria nor England will permit it to attain. It is ipiitn conceivable that thu arrangement devised by the Treaty of Ber-

tin may, iu the face of Russiai. plots, not prove a stable settle menu But Russia may test as>ured that iu that ease it will be modilied iu favom of an' ther which will be far more injurious to her schemes. If Eastern Roumelia has ever to be amalgited with Bulgaria, then the military barrier a I up ut the Balkans by the Treaty of I'. ■- liu will have to be moved to tie' ' I iul e It may not necessarily follow I military barrier will then c ■:•*. t,

of Turkish garrisons. Bat it will consist, if tint 01 Turkish garrisons, then of Austrian garrisons; and miditary conventions between Austria on the one hand and Rouinania and Bervia on the other will have to be concluded :n order to constitute a stubborn and enduring rampart against the insatiable ambition of a restless and a faithless Power. Russia may work as much mischief as she will between this and May 3 next; she may sow all the seeds of dissension she can, and she may undermine the ground with conspiracies. But six months hence she will have to depart from It iiimelia and Bulgaria alike; and then the work must lie taken in hand of providing for the possibility of her return."