EUROPEAN POLITICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 851, 21 March 1868, Page 1

EUROPEAN POLITICS.

(From the Daily Times, March. 14.) Iw a French Journal, La Presse, in an article dated the 15fch December, it is stated that : — " Among the black spots li which are lowering on the horizon, " there is one which deserves serious " consideration. We refer to the tl ever increasing agitation which Rus- " sia keeps up in. the countries situated " between the Danube and the Bal- " kan." Very remote from New Zealand are those countries. Their geographical features are little known ; the races who inhabit them are semi- barbarous, and it is really too bad that the whole world should be threatened with trouble and turmoil, because of the probability of a dispute "between Russia and Turkey as to which shall govern them. But so it is. The elements of strife are sown broadcast in Europe, and when the seed fails to bring forth troable in one quarter, it appears in another, and keeps the nations in a state of perpetual agitation. How long this is to last, and what is to be the end of it, it is impossible to foresee. At present, perhaps, there is little cause for alarm, and very probably the danger, if danger there be, is very much exaggerated. Still it must not be forgotten that just from such a series of small beginnings arose the war in the Crimea a few years ago ; and it would savour of wilful unbelief to suppose Russia, by the check then received, has changed in purpose, and forsaken that traditional policy that has led to an extension o e the Empire on every side, whenever opportunity offered. But if the article in La Presse be true, the affair has progressed more towards a breach between Russia and Turkey than was expected. The writer assumes that Russia has heen the fosterer of the insurrection in Candia, the resiilt of which has not satisfied the Autocrat. Foiled in that quarter, and unable to find a favorable pretext for a breach with Turkey, on account of the troubles there, a f tention has been turned to Servia, and the Servians are to be made the instruments by which the Czar is to work out his purposes. It is hardly necessary to remark that the element of weakness in Turkey, is the fact that by far the greater proportion of the population is of a different religion from the dominant race. The Mahomedans, though the ruling sect, are only about one-fifth of the population of Turkey, and the remainder being Greek Christians, and acknowledging the Czar to be the Head of their Church, there is necessarily a strong feeling in favor of Russian influence and Russian dominion. From this circumstance, morally and materially, the tranquillity of Turkey is continually troubled ly the intrigues of Russia. A late writer, commenting upon this position of affairs in the East, says,

" It cannot be too fully recognised that " Russia is a Power virtually extra " European and semi Oriental, having a " wholly different orbit^and belonging to a " distinctly lowergrade of civilization than " that of the States of Western Europe. v Her influence over them is injurious'; "her further encroachment on them " would be oi>pressive. Only fanatics or " pedants can see any good to accrue to :c Europe, or to the subject races, by the " substitution of the Tartar for the Turk "in Constantinople. The Southern ex- " tension of Russia, once begun, would v not end xmtil it had absor' ed the " Danubian, Albanian, and Greek races, " and enveloping Hungary in one vast " fold, had stretched from the base of the l " Baltic to the head of the Adriatic." Servia is to be made an instrument to this end, in the opinion of La Presse, and as a first step sought to pick a quarrel with Turkey. Opportunity was not wanting. Two Servians — Svetko Pablovitch and Nicolai Vavban Volvodoff — having been asked by some Turkish gendarmes fortheir passports, fired upon them, and were, in return, killed. Most probably there were faults on both sides; but confident of the support of Russia, the Prince Michael complained in threatening language to the Porte, and the Turkish Government, whose interest is peace, at once offered an indemnity to the families of the men who were killed. Thus far, then, the'taoderation of the Sultan has foiled the expectations of the Emperor of Russia. But things are not yet very satisfactory. The Servians have been increasing their army, and explanations a3 to the reason why, have been asked by the Turks. La Presse thinks that the moment has not yet arrived, when it will suit the purpose of Russia for the Servians to declare war, but it is said that the Cabinet of St. Petersburg have offered to arm the Servian Militia with 100,000. rifles. This, then, is one of the dark clouds gathering over Europe. Should the surmises of the French writer prove correct, it is hardly possible that France and England could stand aloof from the contest. The experience of the Crimean war shows that Great Britan cannot expect to gain by such a war ; but British influence in Turkey has been so potent for a number of years, that is is hardly likely it will willingly be allowed to lapse, although from recent changes in Central Asia, the same reason does not exist as formerly for defending Turkey, on account of its being the Russian high road to British India.