Show EUROPEAN MOVEMENTS proposition of germany to isolate france by forming a commercial union with other leading powers to la progressing toward consummation A leading purpose on the part of germany is to conciliate russia we stated slated on monday that the latter would not accept of the talt bait tendered without the imposition of a condition which would in some way relate to the advance of the czar upon constantinople it appears that this view is dor correct later dispatches asserting that russia acussia will have nothing to do with the corn com mercial scheme unless the power of the turkish porte over the Dardan nelles shall cease in other words the czar asks that the portion of the treaty of 1841 confirmed in london in 1871 and again at berlin in 1878 which forbids the passage of foreign ships of war through the Dardan Dantan nelles without the consent of the Sul sultan tati shall be abrogated this means that russia demands a southern seaboard for naval purposes sidd and ultima ultimately toly that the turks shall be driven oyt of eastern europe and the occupy constantinople one of the strongest strategic points in the world it is stated that italy switzerland and belgium are invited to I 1 become associated with the pro posed international commercial union the ostensible purpose of which is to opera operate teto to the tage of heavily protected coan countries tries surprise is expressed that such a plea should be advanced as a reason tor for the form formation aaion of such an organization seeing that some of the nations invited to participate are more strongly pro than any others of course it is not the real reason the genuine object being purely political rather than financial germany wishes to break up combinations that threaten her pew peace not to say her existence the british government must be watching the present movements upon the european international chessboard with special interest and perhaps some degree of anxiety the condition im imposed posed by the czar as the basis upon which he will consent to become a party in the proposed commercial union to treading on the tail of the british lion should the powers who were par parties ties to the treaty of 1841 or a majority of them consent to the free passage of russian 12 warships through the dardan nelles independent of the turkish porte how could england help herself unless the latter should yield she would probably have to fight as russia seems bent on gaining this the point made in connection with her entrance or otherwise into the commercial union the sending of the two ships of the russian volunteer navy to the were merely feelers put out to ascertain the situation and prospect should england conclude under certain conditions not to resist the attainment of the object of the czar in relation to the Dardan nelles and consequently Bequet itly regarding constantinople which commanday commanda com manda that narrow neck k of water what would britain require as an offset it appears as if it would necessarily be the full occupation by her of egypt through which canal connecting the runs the suez sues mediterranean with the red bed sea iea this being the short route to india it wems ae if lord must have foreseen such a contingency as the th e one now BOW probable when his govern government moAt purchased the island of cyprus cyprow the most available point for a naval WA i tion 1011 contiguous to the mediterranean entrance on trance to the I 1 sues sue canal with thic aztec advani t hold boltl out a ase ge great britain baigh ml li laug time against russian broach ments ten one of the ultimate ok of which is the possession of british india to the westward in the mediterranean england has the island of malta as a naval station stion at and at the point joining with the atlantic it has gibraltar which is believed to be impregnable it comma commands nde the gibraltar strait fedra the spanish side while the french possess tangier a point of almost equal importance on the morocco side russia would therefore not have a brilliant prospect of egress for her ships of war in that direction into the atlantic the revival of the eastern question which has been a prolific cause of wily diplomacy and bloody war for several generations presents a question of intense interest to those who study the signs of the times which indicate the approach of events of great moment |