THE BULGARIAN CRISIS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2240, 16 November 1886, Page 2

THE BULGARIAN CRISIS.

London, September 23. According to some authorities Prince Bismarck is trying to play the part of "honest broker" between Russia and Austria, endeavouring to reconcile the in terests of the latter Empire with the smallest amount of aggrandisement that will satisfy that power for the time. The Bulgarian question has been ui.ide the subject of an "interpretation" in the Lowei Hou&e of the Hungarian Diet, and, in the present state of the public temper, it will be almost impossible for the Ministry to avoid making a statement. In the meantime the situation is very critical. Order? haw, it is said, been given to Russian ttoops stationed in Poland to be piepared for an immediate march on Bulgaria, (ieneial Kaulbars, the official who has been chosen as the Ru^i.ui envoy to Bulgaria, will probably airue in Sofia to-day, and it may be safely announced that his mission is no mcc formality. Tui key is making extensive war preparations, both in Ear )pe and Asia. Fifty thousand Tmkish .soldiers are now massed on the frontier of Eastern Koumelia. In Armenia, warlike dispositions are also being made, and the fottifications of Erzeronm are being rapidly strengthened. At present, Russian influence seems to have entirely gained the upper hand in Turkey. The I)uke of Edinburgh has been paying a visit to Constantinople, but the Turks have studiously refrained from giving political significance to his >iait. There Mas no truth at all in the rumour that the Sultan had refused to receive Sir W. White as British Ambassador, in the place of Sir E. Thornton, but the report undoubtedly leflected a prevalent tendency. There is no cause for wonder in the circumstance that Turkey should mistrust England. At a critical stage of Eastern affairs Mr Gladstone cho.se ostentatiously to repudiate the traditional friendship between England and Turkey. The time has now passed away for England to engage in the task of defending single-handed the integrity of the Turkish Empire in Europe. If Austiia, Germany and Russia can so far arrange their interests aa to permit Russia to seize Constantinople, England can do nothing to prevent the consummation. She would, in this case, have to look elsewhere for the safe-guarding of her interests. The contingency suggested is not likely to occur.