Russia and the Dardanelles.

Evening Post, Volume XLII, Issue 92, 15 October 1891, Page 4

Russia and the Dardanelles.

In the light of recont developments regarding the navigation of the Dardanelles, the following, from the Vienna correspondent of the Times, dated 12th August, is interesting:— "The semi-official Political Correspondence saya that on the 4th instant a Russian ship, the Moskawa, with troops on board, and coming from Eastern Asia, tried to pass up the Dardanelles. It was stopped by the Turkish authorities on tho ground that, contrary to the convention signed last month with Russia, the Porte had not been informed that there wero soldiers on board the vessel. The Russian Ambassador nevertheless protested against the detention, and claimed an indemnity, affirming that the troops on tho Moakawa were not soldiors, but reservists. The Porto yielded to this speoions argument, and allowod the ship to pasß. It had been detained 14 hours. St. James' Gazette of 13th August, says : — The passage of the Dardanelles by a Knsßian vessel with troops on board is making some noise in Vienna. The Political Correspondence reours to the subject, and tlw Neve Freie Presso devotes a leading article to the matter. It remarks that the passage of the Moskawa follows closely upon a similar incident which ocourred hist month, and that Russia is evidently passing troop ships systematically through the Dardanelles in order that it may be able to raise a diplomatic qnestion with regard to the olosure of these straits. It is also evident, adds the writer, that Russia relies on the support of France. The French are burning to give tokens of friendship to tho Russians, and will probably make no scruple about assisting them to got aside existing treaties. But the Neve Freic Fresse and the Political Correspondence" both point out that in this qnestion Russia will be opposed by all the Great Powers oxcepting Prance. The right of Turkey to olose tho Dardanelles to the warships and the troopships, of all nations was laid down in tho Convention of London in 1841 and the Treaty of Paris of 1856 ; nor did the London Conferonoo of 1871, or the Berlin Congress of 1878 alter the previous settlements in any way. The Great Powers aro consequently bound to see that Russia does not by any ovort act, or by any subterfuge such as was praotisod in the case of the Moskawa, set the Sultan's right at defiance."