Evening Post. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1886.

Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 185, 21 December 1886, Page 2

Evening Post. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1886.

TURKEY, RUSSIA, AND ENGLAND. * One of the most inexplicable features in the present very mixed condition of European politics, is the extraordinary influence which Russia seems now to exercise over Turkey. As snakes are said" first to fascinate the small animals on which they intend to feed, so does Russia seem to have fascinated Turkey. The old fable of the "Wind and the Sun is receiving a fresh illustration. The C^ar Nicholas blustered and threatened the Sick Man, but the latter drew the cloak of England's protection around him, and, under the walls of Sebastopol, defied tho attempt to strip him. Now the Sun o Alexander has shone upon the Turk, and the latter throws aside the English cloak to bask in the Russian sunshine. Flattery or gold have accomplished what force and violence were unable to do. Russian diplomacy has accomplished what Russian arms failed in, and Turkey now reclines trustfully on the breast of her hereditary foe, who is pledged to her political and geographical extinction. That Russia has ever for a moment ceased to look greedily on Constantinople cannot bebelioved. Alexander is as eameßt in his desire to rule on the shores of the Bosphorus as ever was Nicholas or Petee. Yet knowing this, the Sultan, with almost incredible fatuity, seems content to place implicit relinnce on Russian professions of friendliness, and to fall in with Russia's very natural desire to alienate the friendship of England, and by estranging her old and natural ally, render Turkey absolutely helpless when the time comes for showing tho real aims of Russian policy. On purely sentimental grounds England might not object to let Turkey go calmly on to its fate. The Turk has never been grateful, and there is no special reason why England should lovo the Crescent, but most oertainly England cannot afford to let the Russian Eagle displace it at Constantinople. Russia established there, and practically ruling the Ottoman Empire, would bo a terribly dangerous power to England in regard to Indian interests. The ruler of the Tnrk must have an enormous influence in the whole of the Mahommedan world, and this influence would certainly be hostile to England amongst the Mahommedan population of In r l ; a. Russian advances upon Afghanistan would be aided and expedited by intrigueo stirring up disaffection amongst the Indian Mnssulmon, while England's roatl to India would be threatened by Russian influence in Egypt. It is impossible to conceive a more significant indication of the nature of Russia's designs than is afforded by the rumour which is contained in the Age cable news to-day, that the Rnssian Government have entered into an engagement with Turkey whereby they will acquire tho shares held by the latter in the Suez 1 Canal, in lieu of payment by Turkey of the indemnity duo by her in respect of the Russo-Turkish war. Russia can have no legitimate political or commercial reasons for desiring to exercise any influence over the management of the Suez Canal. There can be no fiscal reason why these shares should be accepted as a substitute for cash. The only possible reason why Russia can desire to have any connection with the canal is that its influence may be used adversely to England's interests, and in promotion of its own designs upon India. The proposal is, in fact, a direct threat to England, and it is no doubt this which has elicited a semiofficial warning from England to Turkey. Tho Turks must, for our own interests, bo saved from themselves. They must not be allowed to stick a carvingknife and fork in their backs, and, like the obliging little pigs, run to Russia and ask to be eaten up. Not for love of Turkey, but for purely selfish national considerations of the utmost importance, it is essential that England should maintain the integrity of the Porte, and interfere sternly to prevent the political suicide which it appears to court. It will be an extraordinary spectacle if, when England has next to meet Russia in the field, France should be allied with the latter Power, and Turkey should more or less openly rosont our interference to preserve its autonomy. Yet this is what appears likely to be the position of affairs very shortly.