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Show Tho Thunderer ou the War I'rospecis. Loudon, 12. The Times' leader aayB : Now has the prospect suddenly been overshadowed by Ihe fear of speedy war. The change has come through the action of Russia, and by means ol the very document which was signed for the purpose of maintaining main-taining peace Hardly had the document docu-ment been signed when Russia showed a disposition to take from it the materials of an ultimatum, and the porto was informed that it would be expected to ducide by to morrow whether it would or not accept the protocol and send an envoy lo St. Petersburg. II, as our Austrian correspondent cor-respondent staled, the Italian and French charges do afUirea also intimated inti-mated a definite reply should be given by lho 13th, Russia may be able to make an unexpected defence t of tier haste, but our own government at least does not intend the protocol to have lho character ol an ultimatum. ultima-tum. Russia cannot be surprised indeed in-deed if the recent negotiations Bhould expose her to severe charges. She must expect it to ba said that she wished to pats lho time until the roads towards the Danube should bo lit for tho passage of her artillery and that she drew up the protocol not to sreure peace but to obtain from ihe united powers such con demuationof Turkey us would make a declaration of war seem inevitable. We bring no such charges against Russia, but the powers will have reason rea-son lo complain if now that they have put their seals to tho protocol, Russia should refuse to smooth the way to wards peace. She will bo expected at least to postpone any decisiTe action ac-tion until the powers shall again ap peal to tho portc, and she may be invited to consider whether a demobilization demob-ilization might not he bruight about in some manner los hurtlul to the Ottoman priile than tho str ngmt terms specified by Count Scbouvtl 11. In the house of common Sir Staf ford North cole presented ihe budget. The actual surplus of last year was -HG,000. Tue estimates for the current cur-rent year were, txpenditures 73, 791.500; revenue, 79,020,0bO. |