Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings about Afghanistan [‎46v] (94/312)

ATUBB AY EVENING
SEPTEMBER 28.
THE PROJECTED BUSSO-TURKISH TREATY.
The project for a Russo-Turkish Treaty which
comes to hand to-day from Uonstantinople contains
matter of the utmost importance to the future peace
of Europe. If the Berlin Treaty is not to become a
nullity, this insidious scheme for giving Russia a
hold on Turkey should be rejected by the Powers,
whether the Porte is willing to sign it or not. The
fundamental principle of the Berlin Treaty was that
Russia should be deprived of any further pretext
for harassing Turkey, and with this end in view
the plenipotentiaries created a new State north of
the Balkans, thus widening the distance between the
J&issuaa . and. Tmkisk .froatieis. .. JEvcn tiiose who.
pvere most opposed to this wrenching away or a
j most important province from the Ottoman Empire
| could not but acknowledge that the policy on which j
[ it was based had a good' deal to recommend it from
a European point of view. But for this considera-
| tion there would have been a much louder outcry in
England, and, perhaps, even in Austria, against this
' part of the Treaty. The transfer of Bessarabia to
| Russia aroused, it, will be remembered, a vehement
| opposition in this country, although. Great Britain
i had little sympathy to spare for the despoiled State ;
in that instance. The underlying reason for the
excitement was the fact that the annexation brought
| the Russian frontier somewhat further to the south,
i and therefore nearer to Turkey. But the Treaty, on
! the whole, appeared to erect a very substantial
I barrier between the two Powers, and Europe recog-
1 nised its wisdom, px-ovided always that its
! governing conditions were faithfully carried
out by all the signatory Powers. There
j were some sceptics, certainly, who believed
that no treaty which was ever framed could bind
Russia one moment longer than she found conve-
i nient. But even these looked forward with some
q confidence to a prolonged period of rest, imagining
that Russia would at all events adhere to ber solemn
engagements for some years to come. The expecta
tion was justified by collateral circumstances, and
| by none more than the exhausted state of the Mus
covite Empire, with its bankrupt exchequer, its
decimated army, its untilled fields, and the perilous
discontent which is seetbing among the masses. Yet,
although the Berlin Treaty is just two months oL3, j
this restless Power is seen to be again desperately
intriguing to win back the prestige and profit of
which she was deprived by the Congress.
The projected Russo-Turkish Treaty should be
viewed in connection* with recent events m Af
ghanistan in order to appreciate its full importance.
Since the outrageous insult offered to the Indian
Government by Shere Ali became known the
Russian Press has openly declared that the object of
General Abramoff's mission was to so embarrass
the hands of England in the East as to hinder her
from helping to give effect to those clauses of the
Berlin Treaty which are inimical to Buasia. Pro
bably something of this sort was the real design of
that mischievous Embassy, but the St. Petersburg
Cabinet will be very much out of its reckoning if it
imagines that Great Britain has not sufficient
strength to deal witb the Afghan despot simul
taneously with conserving her vital interests in
Eastern Europe. However, Muscovite diplomacy
is wont to accept great risks in carrying out
its objepts, and we were prepared to believe
that Generdl Abramoff was sent to cultivate the
, friendship of Shere Ali for the purpose of drawing
off our force in that direction. Whatever doubt
may have been entertained on that point will be
removed by this project for a Treaty between
Russia and Turkey. Were Europe to permit such
a covenant to come into existence, the clauses of the
| Berlin Treaty which Russia chooses to consider
inimical to her interests might as well have been
i omitted. The proposed arrangement would allow
j the St. Petersburg Government innumerable
j opportunities for bringing pressure to bear upon
the Porte. One clause specifies that the Russian
troops shall retire from Ottoman, territory at the
expiration of the term fixed by the Congress, but
" in an order which will be determined by special
convention to be hereafter concluded." Wiiat need
for "a special convention/' except to give an occa
sion for wrangling? Turkey need not concern
herself about the order of the Russians' going, so
Ions as they go at the date fixed for their de-
j parture. And it clearly rests with the Czar to
determine the order of march, provided the
j evacuation be completed within the specified term.
The next clause declares that 44 the Turkish authori
ties shall not,'after the retirement of the Russians,
treat with severity {sevir contre) the inhabitants who
may be supposed to have compromised themselves.'
| It is easy to see what a fine handle this condition
would supply to the St. Petersburg Government to
make mischief with. If the Mahomedan inhabitants
| were to avenge themselves here and there for the
recent atrocities committed by the Bulgarians, Rus
sia would probably declare that the Turkish
authorities were concerned in the business,
and we should see the Porte threatened with
exemplary punishment Unless it at once set its
house in order. The succeeding clause follows in
the same groove by enacting that " a general
amnesty will be granted to all Bulgarians and others
who are, justly or unjustly, supposed to have shown i
sympathy with and given assistance to the Russians." j
Let us imagine that after the Muscovite exodus {
some Bulgarian is brought to trial and condemned
to death for direct complicity in the murders and
other foul doings south of the Balkans. What
would be easier than for the Czar to declare
that this was a direct breach of the Treaty,
inasmuch as the man nad at one time shown
sympathy with the Russians ? If ""one tithe
of the terrible revelations recently published be
true, there must have been very strong ties of sym
pathy between the Bulgarian assassins and violators
i and the Cossacks. This amnesty would, therefore,
j compel the Porte to condone these abominable out
rages, and allow the villanous perpetrators to escape
scot free, under penalty of incurring the wrath of
Russia.
Another point deserving close attention is that no
date is specified for the payment of the indemnity
of 300,000,000 roubles (not francs, as stated in
the Times). For many years to come the Otto- i
man exchequer will scarcely be in a posi
tion to make any payments on this account, for
every farthing must be required to restore order and
develop the resources of the Empire. But it will
always remain open to Russia to demand her pound
of flesh to the very last ounce, and if it be not forth
coming, who shall guarantee that she would not seek
to carve it for herself from as near as might be to
theiieart of her unfQrtuaata4ebtor.P
projected Treaty the same design may be ~ seen
running, namely, to again give Russia that hold upon
Turkey which it was the object of the Congress to
remove for ever. So transparent is this purpose,
and so little likely does its realisation seem in defiance
of the wish of Europe, that we are inclined to think
the audacious project must have been cast on
the waters as a test of public feeling.
It is a common practice of Russian diplo
macy to ask a great deal more than it is
prepared to accept, and perhaps this may be
another instance of such haggling. Unfortunately,
the Court of St. Petersburg generally keeps its first
; demands in mind long after they have been rejected»
and brings them forward again at a fitting oppor
tunity. Thus, in the projected Treaty we see a
good deal of the essence of the San Stefano arrange
ment, and even if it be ever so much modified before
ratification, Russia will not readily give up her pui>
pose of keeping a more or less firm clutch upon
I Turkey. J
ENGLAND AND AFGHANISTAN.
Simla , September 26.
Three thousand five hundred troops are to be sent
to reinforce the Quettah garrison, and a force of 4,000
men will be assembled at Thall, at the entrance of
the Khoorum Valley. A reserve force of 6,000 men
will be concentrated at Sukkur.
Bombay , September 27.
Several papers designateLieutenant-General Craw
ford Chamberlain as the commander-in-chief of the
army for Afghanistan.
RETURN OF THE VICEROY'S ENVOY.
• • Simla , September 27.
Nawab An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. Gholara Hussein Khan, the special Envpy
sent by the Viceroy to Cabul, has returned to
Peshawur.