THE RUSSO-TURKISH QUESTION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 153, 10 December 1853, Page 8

THE RUSSO-TURKISH QUESTION.

[From the " Sydney Morning Herald."] Although the latest advices from Europe appeared to favour the hope of a pacific solution of the quarrel between Russia and Turkey, the news which had been received in London a few days before the sailing of the " Great Britain" was not of a character to support that supposition. We find, on looking through the files of papers to hand, that during the months of June and July the Emperor of Russia had been actively engaged in warlike prepapations on a gigantic scale. Count Nesselrode's second circular dated St. Petersburgh, 20th June, which was received in London early in July, states that the Russian troops would not be re-called from the Principalities unless the French and English fleets left Besika Bay. This circular had been the subject of repeated conversations in both Houses of Parliament, and of warm comment in the columns of the London newspapers, who agreed with the ministry in considering that the presence of the fleets outside the Dardanelles could not be considered in any way equivalent to the actual occupation of Turkish territory by Russia. The proceedings of the Russian Generals in the Principalities were of a character which a few years ago would have been considered in the light of open hostilities. Immediately upon occupying Moldavia and Wallachia, the Russian General, Prince Gortsshakoff, claimed to exercise all the rights of sovereignty in the name of his imperial master, and the Hospodars were enjoined to pay over to the Russian Military Chest the tribute hitherto paid to the Sublime Porte. The Prince of Servia, another tributary of the Sultan, influenced by Russian intimidation, had declined to bear arms against the Czar. The Sultan had summoned the Hospodars of Moldavia and Wallachia to Constantinople, as a test of their continued loyalty, but up to the latest advices they had not obeyed the order of their Suzerain. Practically, therefore, Russia was in full possession of those portions of the Turkish territory, and it was the unmistakable character of the Russian occupation which gave rise to the conversation in the upper House of Parliament on the 2nd August, which we print below. It will be seen that at that period—before the announcement in the Times of the Bth (which appears to be considered of doubtful authority) that Russia had accepted, or was about to accept, the terms agreed upon at Vienna by the ministers of tlie four powers, England, France, Austria, and, Prussia —the state of aflairs was looked upon both by the Parliament at large, and by the Ministry as most imminently dangerous. The gravity of the crisis was not disguised. The Marquis of Clanricarde spoke thus in his place in the House of Lords:— c:My Lords, —Seeing my noble friend the Secretary for Foreign Affairs in his place, I rise to put a question to him respecting some reports which have lately been received from the Danubian Provinces of Moldavia and Wallachia. According to the accounts in the newspapers, the Russian military authorities appear to have taken entire possession of that country, and to have proceeded to administer the government thereof. In the reports to which I have alluded, it is stated that the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian forces had ordered the Hospodars not to transmit any tribute to Constantinople, and it has been stated in one respect that he went so far as to say that any tribute paid to the Sultan would require to be paid over again to his own master. Moreover, it is stated that those personages to whom the local administration of the country was intrusted had been required to hold no further communication with Turkey (hear, hear). Now this is virtually and really an assumption of the sovereignty of the country by the Czar, and it is impossible that such an act as that can take place without leading very directly to a terrible war. I hold that it is impossible for Europe, or France, or England to suhmit to such an extension of territory in that direction by Russia, or to such a diminution of the Turkish Empire, which must be attended with the greatest and most fearful consequences (hear, hear, hear.) The matter is of the utmost importance, not merely to the political balance of Europe, and not merely to the honour of these countries, who are parties to treaties with Turkey, but also to the material interests affecting the welfare of all classes of persons, above all in Germany, in France, and very greatly in this kingdom" (hear, hear.) I trust my noble friend will not think I am indis-

creet if I ask him whether any such accounts or reports as I have alluded to have reached him officially, and whether he can inform the House how Air it is true, that such an assumption of the sovereignty of those 'provinces by Kussia has really taken place (hear, hear)." "The Earl of Clarendon—My Lords, so far from thinking; that my noble friend has committed any indiscretion in the question which he has put to me, I can assure him that I take so entirely the same view as he does as to what will be the result, not only to Turkey, but to Europe, and especially to this country, of any ■permanent alienation of the territory to which he has alluded, from the Turkish empire, that I am glad he has put the question, in order that I may satisfy the public mind, as far as I am able, by giving my noble friend all the information I possess (hear, hear). By a despatch dated the 17th of last month, I learnt from Lord Stratford de Redcliffe that a communication had been made by the Consul-Geueral of Russia to the Hospodar of Moldavia, informing1 him that his relations with the Ottoman Government were to cease ; and the tribute upually transmitted to Constantinople was to be placed at the disposal of the Russian Government, upon the ground, as was stated, that although there existed no intention of modifying the internal institutions of Moldavia, or altering the existing order Jof things, yet that during the military occupation of the province, the action of the sovereign power must necessarily, though temporarily, be suspended. I have to state, also, that the Turkish Government expected to receive similar information from the Hospodar of Wallachia, and it was the intention of the Porte, so soon as it received that information, to order the Hospodars to withdraw and cease their functions (hear, hear). He further adds, that in that event he should consider it highly improper that the British Consuls in the Principalities should continue to exercise their functions ; and I lost no time in communicating to Lord Stratford de Redcliffe the entire approval by Her Majesty's Government of that course (hear, hear). I can only further inform your lordships that I shall instruct Sir Hamilton Seymour to demand from the Russian Government the explanation to which we are entitled of a matter which, as I have stated, I view in precisely the same light with my noble friend, (hear, hear)." A week later, another conversation took place, by which it would appear that the Ministry " entertained a hope" that the new negociations arising out of the proposals of the Four Powers, " were tending to a satisfactory and peaceful solution ;" but Lord Cla.rf.xdon emphatically stated that he was sure that none but an hon"ourable peace " would ever be for the honour of the country, or receive the support of this great nation." So far, therefore, as the negotiations had proceeded, there existed only " hope" that peace would be maintained. In the meantime, the Russians were, as we have stated, in full military possession of the Principalities, with the apparent consent and connivance of the Hospodars; and every preparation was being made for wintering the army in its new position. Extraordinary levies had been ordered throughout the Empire ; and every act of the Russian Government indicates a positive determination not to give way an inch. On the other hand, the Turkish Government continued, up to the latest dates, the most extensive preparations for war. The fanaticism of the Mahomedans was excited to the highest pitch, and the troops were loudly clamouring to be led into action. The armies of the two countries were almost in presence of each other, and the slightest accident might precipitate a collision. A force of 20,000 Turks was occupying Varna, in the- neighbourhood of which the Black Sea fleet was hovering. Omer Pasha was in great force on the southern bank of the Danube, whilst the Russians were in great force before the fortress of Giurgevo, on the northern bank of the Danube, directly opposite to Rustchuck, an important Turkish stronghold. The British and French fleets remained at Besika Bay, but the advancing season would force them to quit their anchorage ; whether to return to_ their respective stations, or to enter the Turkish waters, would depend entirely upon the result of the negociations entered upon by Count Gyulai, the Austrian Ambassador, charged with the ultimatum of the Four Powers. The terms of that ultimatum we have no means of knowing, the English Ministry having

refused to afford any information onth7^i7~"~ but one of the conditions was the Iff^ withdrawal of the Russian forces fVon Et It isli territory. • v x Ul *- We are not sanguine enough to believe tl,,* this condition will have ..been complied wttf and- with .every disposition to hope that S i peace of the world would be maintained « cannot disguise from ourselves, or from our'm ders, the iact that appearances were most flu couraging-. The declai ation of Lord Clarendon" that an immediate evacuation of the Princin-i lilies by Russia would be made a 'sine mt& nan shows at least that the English GovemnS was fully determined to resort to arms in casp of a refusal by llussia to take a step which would be diametrically opposed to her evident policy. The question, therefore, assumed character of the utmost gravity ; and until further advices reach us, we shall scarcely feel justified in entertaining- any but the most anyious considerations.