The Czar and the Berlin Treaty.

Evening Star, Issue 7409, 3 January 1888, Page 3

The Czar and the Berlin Treaty.

If some news which reaches me from a well-informed source (says the Vienna correspondent of ' The Times') be correct, the Bulgarian elections have provoked the Czar into contemplating a formal renunciation of the Berlin Treaty :—"The Pauslavist circle at Court has become very hopeful that the Czar may be induced shortly to go to Moscow and'denounce the Treaty from the Kremlin. It is not said that this act would be followed by any attempt to occupy Bulgaria; it would amount simply to a declaration akin to that which was made when the Treaty of Paris was denounced—namely, that Russia will no more hold herself bound by the settlement of 1878. The firmness of the Czar has so often withstood Panslavist schemes tint it may be His Majesty will consider once more bofore taking a step which must cause intense irritation. Nor are tho most irritating elements in the latest triumph of Prince Ferdinand and M. Stambouloff likely to be assuaged by the language now used in Russian newspapers and in the highest Court circles, even by members of the Czar's own family. Therejare many reasons why Russia should hold back from war at present; but some imperial act of self-assertion on the Czar's part seems to be called for by the excited state of public opinion in Russia. A sort of ultimatum has already been addressed to the Porte by M. de Nelidoff, calling upon it to declare categorically whether the Sultan intends to give Prince Ferdinand tho order to leavo Bulgaria. The dilatory ways of Turkish diplomacy may delay the reply for some time; but as the Russian Government is conscious that its Ambassador has been playing a rather humiliating part in his bootless negotiations, it is probable that the Porte will not be allowed to evade a direct answer. A strong inducement to new and startling action from the Czar is, of course, held out by the determination which the Bulgarian Government showed during the elections to put down all disorder without mercy. In face of M, StamboulofPs resolute attitude, the idea of fomenting a new revolution in Bulgaria must almost be abandoned. Russian agitators do not work heartily when they have before them the probability of being shot; and the difficulty that must henceforth be found in providing instruments for a game in which only losses have been scored will obviously suggest the necessity of playing against Bulgaria in some now manner."