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New Zealand Mail, Issue 764, 22 October 1886, Page 16

lx is really quite too good of the Russian Government to abstain from occupying Bulgaria “unless something unforeseen should compel them to do so.” No doubt their moderation and self-restraint will be keenly appreciated in Europe.

Jt would perhaps be ungracious to hint that this self-denying resolution was at all influenced by the emphatic warning given to Russia that any attempt to occupy Bulgaria would bring upon the intruders the most tremendous onslaught that the Russian Empire has ever yet had to sustain. Still we cannot help suspecting that had not Austria taken up so resolute an attitude, and had not England and Germany so unmistakably indicated their intention of supporting Austria, we should very soon have received the news of a Russian descent upon Varna, and the seizure of the other positions of the celebrated Bulgarian Quadrilateral, Silistria, Rustchuk and Shumla. The last-named place was, at the time of the last Russo-Turkish war, admittedly one of the strongest fortresses in the world. It was dismantled under the Berlin Treaty, but could soon be restored, and with the power now possessed by Russia (through her audacious repudiation of the Paris Treaty) of pouring troops into Varna from various Black Sea ports, it is easy to see that her dislodgement would have .been a very formidable under-, taking. It is fortunate that the little scheme was nipped in the bud. It is not hard to discern that the “ something unforeseen ” which might occur and permit Russia to seize Bulgaria, would be the return of Mr Gladstone to power. That, however, does not seem imminent just yet.