THE DESIGNS OF RUSSIA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2801, 28 January 1871, Page 3

THE DESIGNS OF RUSSIA.

(New York .Herald.) Since the days of Peter the Great Russian ambition has been directed towards Constantinople. It has been—it still is —her belief that she haß,been commissioned bjr Providence to restore the Greek empire, and to make an end of the work ; which the temporising policy of the Western Powers has left unfinished, by driving the turbaned Turk out of Europe. In the pursuance' ©f : this policy: the late Emperor Nicholas moved alittle toe fast. He badly chose Jbis time. A new man with a great name had acquired the control of. the treasury and the armies of France. The Crimean war was singularly '- icorivenient for Napoleon. It cost France much, but it made Napoleon. 111, secure ;on the French throne. Great Britain, which 'had destroyed the First French Empire," through Napoleonic cunning strangely lent ' !a.helping hand to build lip-the Second. i iThe Treaty of Paris, 1856,saved/Turkey I i and humbled Russia, by driving her war 'ships out of the Black Sea. Russia felt [then what she remembers now—that she ; was beaten ;down by a foolish, if not iniquitous,.alliance of the two.greatest ! | military Powers of the West. Great ' 'Britain alone, France alone, cbuld not have taken Sebastopol; but Great Britain land France Combined were too' many for ißussia single-handed. Russia bowed to \ jfate—the fate of the hour—but she '} \ bowed most unwillingly." ''Not yet, hut | another time," was the sentiment of the! \ Russian Government and the Russian i people when Sevastopol was dismantled land when the Treaty of Paris was signed. 5 Since 1866, Russia has been waiting and I watching. So long as Napoleon seemed ,[a Power the time was not yet. : Even iNapoleonic overtures to undo the ;Treaty of Paris could not drive Rußsia jfrom her waiting and watchful attitude, i After her Crimean experience she was not Swilling to trust the Turk even when ibringing gifts. But the time has come at r last; No Napoleonic eunbing, no French land English alliance, . can hinder her ; marching across the Pruth or hurrying ■ , ;her war ships to the Golden Horn. It , may be that the Czar Alexander's |known love of peace and universally-re-i jcognlsed honesty of -purpose. will prevent Russia from availing herself of her oppor- '< tunity; but no one can deny that Russia's 1 opportunity has come. It is said, indeed, ; ;tha't Russian agents have been to Tours, ' sounding the French Government as to [ 'the -feasibility ~pt~aT sale of Tthei national -. fleet to the Czar j but that they have had 'no success in this direction to the present moment. We are told that the Russians l joffered France certain "political induce- . ments," as well as a money payment for i the vessels. There may be something in this statement. If the Czar be really 1 intent 0n.." going to the East," it is good > policy to have as powerful a navy as possible. It would also be a very astute \ diplomacy to disarm France at sea by a purchase of her ironclads. r If Russia were to order her armies [ across the Pruth to-morrow, what Power j in Europe could hinder their triumphal ' march to Constantinople? We know of » 'none. Great Britain would protest— 3 might fight ; but Great Britain alone i could not arrest the conqueror's march. J Russia in the Black Sea, Russia in Cdnstantinople, means Russia in the Mediter- » ranean ; but Russia in the Mediter,- anean } s would destroy the policy of centuries. v Great Britain, as we have said, alone 3 could not arrest the march of Rußsia t southward ; but Great Britain, trembling . for her naval supremacy, might seek s strength from the other European Powers, i Where could she find allies ? If this Wiesbaden treaty be not a mere ru- » mour, it is evident that she could not • count on Prussia. France is out * of the question. Spain is power- £ less. Italy, growing into possible greatB ncsa, has already too much on hand. a Allies for Great Britain in such a contest 1 there would be none : for although Denlf mark and Sweden and Holland might be induced to do something', their co-opera-tion would not be more than a straw in the balance. Russia could easily buy up Austria by giving her the Danubian principalities. It is possible that, after all, r Great Britain, yielding to the necessity of the situation, may consent to the enthronement of the Czar in Constantinople ._ on condition that she is allowed to take p possession of the land of the Pharaohs. ( g This treaty does indeed give a very peculiar complexion to the European situation. ( f Russia may not march to Constantinople, but she can if she chooses. It is our firm belief that if Bhe does show any signs of carrying ont her established and well known purpose, Great Britain will immeI diatelytake possession of Egypt. n (iv ew York Tribune.) g Russia, it is said, wants to buy the ?- French fleet. The first reflection which »r the statement will suggest i&, from whom y* is she to buy it? since, in the present A condition of affairs, Germany may conl. sistently object to the transfer of what y may become hera by conquest. In the

next place, the neutral Powers will ask what Russia can possibly want with such a fleet ?—-certainly not to be ice-bound in the Baltic, or prohibited from entering the Black Sea. The enquiry will create doubts ; and so there will be little chance for completing the purchase.