THE EUROPEAN SITUATION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1249, 6 February 1896, Page 36

THE EUROPEAN SITUATION.

London, January 28. The correspondents of the Daily News at Vienna and Paris both state that remarkable stories are afloat about impending events in Turkey. The Russian Volunteer Fleet is shipping armaments at Sebastopol, and military movements are going forward in the Caucasus. London, January 29. The report of the Commission appointed by the Powers to enquire into the Armenian atrocities, states that the accounts of the massacres have been enormously exaggerated in most cases, but that 900 were slaughtered at Sassoun, while many of the survivors were outraged and hunted like wild boast.?. Mr Gladstone, in another letter on the Armenian atrocities, laments the murderous wickedness of the Sultan, which, he says, cannot be equalled, and which is a disgrace to the Powers.

London, January 30

The Times says that though there is no actual treaty between Russia and Turkey, there is an understanding whicli gives the Sultan confidence in Russian friendship so long as he conforms to Russian counsel and foreig-n policy. At the inaugural meeting of the British Empire League Sir Walter Wilkin, Lord Mayor of London, presided. Sir Robert Herbert, formerly UnderSecretary for the Colonies, said the League had no intention of dictating to the colonies as to what they should contribute to the national defence, but it was anxious to confer with them.

The Times thinks the League will be of use in focussing' the vague Imperial efforts on salient points, and bring about closer relations between the colonies and the Mother Country.

London, January 31

Mr John Morley, speaking at Arbroath, advocated arbitration in respect to the Venezuela dispute, and the Russian occupation of Armenia.

The Pall Mall Gazette correspondent telegraphs that M. Nelidoff, the Russian Ambassador at Constantinople, pays frequent visits in disguise to the Paiaco, and that numerous telegrams are passing between the Ambassador and the Russian Government.

The co-respondent also states that M. Nelidoff has quarrelled with Sir Philip Currie, the British Ambassador. The Sultan ha° sent a reply to the Queen's letter, recognising Her Majesty's friendship, and stating that he has done his best to prevent cruel treatment of the Armenians. London, February 1.

The Prime Minister, addressing the Nonconformist Union, strongly supported the original Monroe doctrine, but denied that England was bound to fight over it. As regards the Ai-menian difficulty, he asserted that, although the horrors were equal to those perpetrated by Tamerlane, he doubted whether the Sultan had ordered them,. None of the Powers wished to occupy Ai-menia, and he preferred to rely on the prestige and goodwill of the Sultan. Individual action, he declared, might produce terrible calamities. The sympathies and support shown by the colonies in the recent troubles showed that something greater than formulas and statutes was binding the Empire together. London, February 3. The Observer gives currency to a report that Russia has refused a suggestion by Germany to force England to evacuate Egypt. The Consuls at Zeitoun report that seven attacks have been made on the town, and all of them repulsed with immense loss. Turkey has arranged a loan of 30,000,000 francs. St. Petersburg, January 31. The Novosti says that Germany underrates the formidable power of England. Paris. January 28. The Government has decided to expend 1,00),000 francs in the representation of France at the coronation of the Czar in Moscow. Berlin, February 3. The Germans are exulting over their success in thwarting the efforts of England to bring the Sultan to book for the outrages in Armenia. Washington, January 30. The President, fearing that he may receive a snub, hesitates to convey the resolution upon Armenian affairs to the Powers. Sydney, January 31. The conference of Commandants has arrived at a decision that a uniform rifle be obtained for the forces of the Australian colonies, but the name of the weapon chosen has not been divulged. The conference is now discussing a scheme for Federal defence,

Washington, February 3

The United States Government has demanded 100,000 dollars indemnity for the wreckage of the American missions at Marash and Kharput. President Cleveland is willing to make honourable concessions to Lord Salisbury over the Venezuelan question, but the omission of any reference in his speech to ai-bitra-tion is deplored. A motion has been tabled in the Senate to raise a loan of l'»0,000,000 dollars for the construction of national defences.