THE SUEZ MAIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5498, 1 July 1879, Page 3

THE SUEZ MAIL.

The Auckland portion of the Suez mail was delivered yesterday, within "a few hours of the time when the San Francisco mail will be delivered, bringing London news up to 22, while the yesterday's mail only brings dates up to the 9 th May. By telegrams and otherwise, the principal items ef the Suez mail news has already been published. The following are a few items of interest, taken from the European Mail, not hitherto published in Auckland :— THE RESULTS OF THE BERLIN TREATY. The doubte and fears which have been expressed as to the fulfilment of the conditions of the Berlin Treaty are being dissipated as people come to know what has been done under very trying circumstances by the Powers and those appointed to carry that instrument into effect. There are those even among our own politicians who would have been glad to have seen the whole thing fall to pieces like a pasteboard palace, but fortunately for the peace of the world and for commerce a bright speck now crops up which is beginning to have an inspiriting effect upon financial and trade circles. As a proof, then, of what has been done, we may point to the election of a Prince of Bnlgaria and the voting of a Constitution by the Chamber; the delimitation of Eastern Roamelia, the appointment of a Governor, and the preparation of a statute of organisation; the commencement of the evacuation of Roumelia by the Russians, which is to be conducted with all reasonable dispatch ; the revision of the Cretan Constitution ; the i acceptance of proposals from France in I respect to the rectification of the frontiers of Greece ; and the settlement of most of the questions affecting Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Montenegro. It will be remembered that the Berlin Conference determined that religious liberty should be imposed on all the Principalities as a condition of independence, and, having regard to that point, the Western Powere have been able to recognise the independence of Servia, though not Roumania. A commissioner has been sent to Asia Minor to ascertain the local reasons for reforms there, but these cannot be carried out until the Turkish finances are upon a better footing. Well, here we have a fair instalment of work accomplished, and, as what has been done has had considerable influence upon an awakening confidence, and a more wholesome state of things—financially and commercially—we may hope that a speedy settlement of the whole question will soon be arrived at, in order that the world may have the full benefit of a confidence which sue a settlement i'l sure to induce. THE DEFENCES OF CONSTANTINOPLE. The earthworks of Tchataldja, designed by Baker Pasha and executed under his personal supervision, are completed, and the lines may now be regarded as capable of defence. As they are connected by railway with Constantinople, the amount of artillery and ammunition could be increased at very short notice. Several battalions of the reserves which were employed on the works have been disbanded and sent home, but a sufficient number of men will be retained to keep the linea in good repair. The Mussulman emigration from Eastern Roumelia and Bulgaria continues. Several hundred families arrive daily at Adrianople, and the Gover-nor-General has great difficulty in finding shelter for them. In the hope of procuring occupation for these fugitives, the Sultan has ordered the project for the construction of railways in Asia Minor to be again considered, and some of those interested in the project have had interviews with the Grand Vizier. THE CONDITION OF RUSSIA. The Emperor has not sufferod in the least from this last (the third) attempt at his assassination. The murderers of Prince Krapotkin, as well as the would-be assassin of General Drenteln, are still at large, defying the law and the officers of justice. General Drenteln, the Chief of the Secret Police, has, since the attempt on his life, been warned not to rely on his security, as he is doomed to die in expiation of the prosecution of the friends of liberty, as the Nihilists delight in terming themselves. Horrid accounts are daily published in the papers relative to the misdeeds and atrocities of this nefarious gang, whose sanguinity and pernicious crimes have spread terror and dismay to the very foot of the Imperial throne. Extraordinary repressive measures have been decided upon j to secure the safety of the Empire. An ukase has been issued requiring every householder in St. Petersburg, under the penalty of a heavy fine, to have a porter stationed at his house-door day and night, the object being to prevent the posting up of any revolutionary placards. This proceeding has depressed Russian stock considerably. Count Schouvaloff's retirement from the ambassadorial post in London will cause quite a rush of officeseekers for this important and much-coveted position. Prince Woronzoff, for some time spoken of as Count Schouvaloff's probable successor, is now said to have but small chance of appointment. The candidate who at present has the prospect of nomination is , M. Sabouroff, the acting Minister at Athens. He is undoubtedly a diplomat of eminent capacities, and can lay claim to be nearly at the head of his profession. The death of Innocent, the Metropolitan of Moscow, is announced. He had been archbishop eleven - years, having succeeded the well-known Metropolitan Philarete in ISGS. He was respected as a man of culture, and celebrated as a missionary bishop for many years in Alaska. AFFAIRS IN BURMAH. There is no fresh news of any importance from Burmab, but hardly a day passes without bringing sensational rumours. The last of them is that another prince has been murdered. The victim is described as a boy 12 years old, and it is alleged he was executed ia revenge for the rebellions attitude of his maternal grandfather, a Theinnee. chief. This story is contradicted. There ia also an equally groundless report that the King had addressed his council, stating his intention to defy the British. It is also stated, with more appearanc of probability, that a strong feeling against Tneebaw is growing up among all claases, and that the Theinnee Shan tribes are in open rebellion. In point of fact the position is exactly as it has been for two months back. Every day makes it clearer that the Indian Government is most anxious to avoid war, and although we cannot blind ourselves to the fact that the caprice and folly of Theebaw may at any moment precipitate hostilities, there is still good ground to hope that recourse to arms m»y be unnecessary. Meanwhile all rumours from British Burmah should be received with the greatest caution. The war feeling there ia very strong, which is, perhaps, not unnatural, seeing that the crisis has seriously affected the trade »f the province, and any stories which seem to point to the necessity of active interference on our part are, whatever their inherent improbability, seized with avidity. YAKOOB KHAN IN THE BRITISH CAMP. On May S, Yakoob Khan presented himself at our camp at Gandamak. He was mot by Major Cavagnari with a guard of honour Eiix miles from the camp ; the troops were drawn up in line to receive him, and he was welcomed with the other military honours befitting his rank. It ie satisfactory to te assured that this military demonstration was successful, and. that the Ameer was favourably impressed by his reception. He has himself telegraphed a friendly message to theJViceroy, announcing Mβ arrival.

His appearance in our camp is the most important event. In any contest, no event conld be of greater consequence than that the ruler oi the hostile people ahcnld voluntarily come forward to place himself in oar power, and in an Eastern country, it most: possess anenbanced significance. It involves the most complete abandonment that conld be conceived of the attitude which was assumed by SHere All, and which led to the war. AU that we. had asked of Yakoob Khan's father was, that an embassy from ns might be received with due honours at Kabul We were willing to pay him the respect of approaching him with fall cere* mony in his own capital, and he refused this as though it' were inconsistent with his dignity and independence. We now see hie son waiting in person upon our representatives, after they have invaded his country, and inflicted upon him the"humiliation which, necessarily accompanies defeat. That he should have come himself,, and thus trusted himself in person to our honour and our consideration, is at ones a very remarkable and a very critical incident in Affghan affairs. ATTACK OK THE VATICAN" FEARED. The Violence of the Republican party has so far alarmed the Vatican as to future possibilities, that the Pope has made confidential inqniry of the foreign Governments, asking whether he conld rely on their protection if the Vatican were attacked. Some of them have replied in the affirmative. This statement comes from the Vatican; but it is difficult to believe that his Holiness can imagine he is in any danger of attack. Cardinal Nina has sent a circular to all Nuncios, instructing them to urge on their Governments the expediency of leaving liberty to the Church, as the best means of combating the subversive doctrines of the day. Symptoms seem to shew that the Holy Father is- gradually strengthening his hands against the opposition in the Vatican. Several of the most violent opponents of Leo XIII. and adherents of the policy of Pius IX., have been sent from Rome to provincial bishoprics.