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New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6825, 2 October 1883, Page 4

In another column wo publish a European cablegram received \ia the Bluff, of rather portentous significance. It states that "relations between England and Turkey are somewhat strained, owing to a decision of the authorities of the Porte to adopt a protective tariff. The Mediterranean fleet has been clirected to proj ceed to the Dardanelles and make a I demonstration." We have been aware that diplomatic communications of considerable warmth have been proceeding with reference to this question of tariff, which is not merely a protective tariff in the ordinary sense of the term, but a tariff of differential duties aimed against the commerce of England and various other countries, and in favour of that of Austria and Germany. This difficulty has been for some time growing, the Porte showing a marked predilectioninfaveiiroftheGerman alliance, and a corresponding indifference to friendly and frank relations with England ; but this declaration of r. war of tariffs is the most overt act of unfriendliness which Turkey hail shown since England wounded her solf love in the independent settlement cf the Egyptian trouble. While all this niay be true, we are not prepared to acoept in all its significance the announcement that the British fleet had been despatched to make a demonstration afc the Dardanelles. This serious procedure would be tantamount to a declaration of war against Turkey, and though the non-intervention policy of Mr. Gladstone appears to have a strange penchant for tumbling into foreign troubles in an unespec:ed way, and naval demonstrations ara the readiest method of committing the nation to go on, still a demonstration against Turkey is too grave a business to be jauntily entered on. We do not hesitate in saying that had this resolution been taken' in all its significance, we should have had our telegraphic columns during the past week full of warlike announcements. A naval demonstration of the kind would have awakened the attention of all Europe, as having in it tha elements of a general convulsion ; and however imminent that may be, it is: repugnant to reason to suppose that ."England would have so wantonly precipitated a cataclysm in which, from the peculiarity of the circumstances, she would be standing alone. In all probability the growing unfriendly feeling of the Porte had formulated itself in the intended almost prohibitory tariffs ; and in so doing has only added anpther to the long list of violated engagements and treaty obligations, wfcich are°all that England has for the blood and treasure spilled so freely in defence of the "Sick Man" of Europe. But the surrounding circumstances ,'orbid our believing in such a precipitate proceeding as a naval demonstration at the Dardanelles.