THE WAIPAWA MAIL. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21.

Waipawa Mail, Volume I, Issue 3, 21 September 1878, Page 2

THE WAIPAWA MAIL. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21.

The news which we publish iu our telegraphic columns, that the envdvs of two of the great Powers have intinatod to the Porte that a second Congress will probably be proposed on the ground of Turkey’s unsatisfactory fulfilment of the Treaty obligations, is a clear indication that the Eastern Question is not even temporarily settled. The confirmation of England’s refusal to join the other Powers in enforcing the Berlin Treaty on Turkey, will be somewhat of a stirprise to people in this part of the world. Englishmen of all shades of opinion felt that the nation had every reason to be satisfied with the results of the Congress. Erom all portions of Her Majesty’s dominions addresses were forwarded to Earl Beaconsfield for the manner in which he had upheld the honor and power of England amongst the representatives of the Great Powers of Europe at Berlin. In the preparation of the treaty the influence of England was omnipotent. Prince Bismarck for once in his life played a secondary part. Early Beaconsfiald was the hero of the hour, and his highhanded way of treating an exceeedingly difficult questions was the theme of much unfavorable comment in the Continental Press. In fact, the firm attitude taken up by the British Premier led people to believe that he, at least, did not desire peaco. Russia is regarded as our great enemy in the East, with whom sooner or later England must measure swords. In the opinion of the war party in the mother jountry, the sooner the war took place the greater would be the chance of England’s success. The war with Turkey had seriously crippled Russia, and had shown her weakness. If Great Britain and Russia had commenced hostilities immediately on the close of the late war, patriotic Englishmen felt perfectly certain that the result would be that India would for generations to come be safe from the ambition of the House of Romanoff. However, immediately the provisions of the Berlin Treaty became known the admirers of Earl Boaconfield were exultant. Everything desired had been secured by peaceful means. The treaty was regarded as a master stroke of British diplomacy. Whatever reasons other nations had for being dissatisfied with it, England had none. In the face of all this, we now learn that Great Britain refuses the treaty obligatory on the Porte. It is of little avail making treaties when they are not regarded as binding on the signatory Powers. In the light of recent telegrams, the question may be asked, is the British Government after all dissatisfied with the Berlin Treaty ? After the first blush, has it been found that the proverbial craftiness of the Russian was more than a match for British astuteness. Prince Gortschakoff is no mere tyro in diplomacy. For close on two' generations he has played a prominent part in the affairs of Europe, and Beaoonfield and Salisbury may have been checkmated by him- It is only bare justice to give the present Prime Minister of England credit for many brilliant parts, but in the diplomatic art most ]>eople would be inclined, to use a sporting phrase, to stake their money on the chief adviser of the Czar. It would be idle to hazard an opinion as to the real cause of England's backwardness in enforcing the treaty. Surely the nations did not assemble at Berlin for the purpose of drawing up mere paper stipulations. The Treaty has sole reference to the territory and affairs of Turkey, and if the Porte is to disregard its provisions, the European Congress was a mere sham. Nothing can be trusted to the good faith of Turkey. All reforms must be forced at the point of the bayonet. We are aware that England reserved to herself the right of action in certain contingencies which might arise out of the vexed Eastern question. Still one would hardly expect that at this early stage of peace she should find it necessary to take up an isolated position. The understanding between Turkey and England has not only given offence to outside Powers, but has been condemned by a considerable section of the intelligent classes in the old country. Perhaps the Anglo-Turkish alliance, which has been so vigorously denounced by Mr. Gladstone and other leading has been the cause of the virtual abandonment of the Berlin Treaty by the English Government. Great Britain is powerful enough to protect her own interests, but to attempt to bolster up the rule of the Mahommedan over a Christian population would be a piece of sheer insanity. Earl Beaconsfield’s Asiatic sympathies are well known, but he will find it a hard matter to induce the majority of Englishmen to sanction the expenditure of blood and treasure in maintaining an effete civilisation and an odious tyranny in one of the fairest portions of Europe.