The Times of yesterday made an important diplomatic announce- ment
respecting the position of affairs in Montenegro. That small Christian province is now invested by a large Turkish army, of- fertng attractive terms as the price of an honourable submission; a still larger Austrian army, under the Ban dellachich, is advan- cing to the frontier to " observe," and to defend the Austrian ter- ritory; and Russia, who lately offered to aid Turkey against the rebels, is understood to be present within the boundaries of Monte- negro by her confidential agents. Other Christian provinces of Turkey are also on the move, without yet having deelared the side they take ; but several of the chiefs, like Stratomirovioh, who have formerly served Austria and have been rewarded with slight, are suspected of only waiting the day to indulge revenge. Mean- while, the Montenegrins, although losing, and even beginning to feel that fatal canker of a patriot cause internal dissension, hold out fiercely against their powerful enemy. Montenegro is thus the cardinal point of a struggle whose importance becomes every day more evident.
It appears by the statement of the Times, corroborating previous reports, that Count Leiuingen has been sent from Vienna to Con- stantinople, to insist on the maintenance of the status quo in Montenegro, and therefore on the withdrawal of the Turkish troops. The same journal says that these propositions " probably coincide with the advice tendered to the Porte by Colonel Rose, in obedi- ence to Lord john Russell's instructions " ; but the " remon- strance " of the British Charge d'Affitires against the military ex- pedition had been disregarded by the Turkish Government. While concurring in the general purport of Count Leinengen's advice, the writer implies strong censure of its " time and tone," as in- tended " to humble and affront " the Turkish Government Thus we find Montenegro the subject of eager communications from the most powerful states, =England advising Turkey to be quiet ; Austria insisting on immunity for the Montenegrins ; and Russia offering to help the Turks against the mountaineers. The Times anticipates the day when Christianity and civilization shall possess Turkey : but which of the competing powers shall possess her in those high names ? The " good offices " of England will again be employed to defer the solution of that question, and " to lessen the perils of a situation which is becoming critical,"—that is, if Eng- land can succeed once more in making herself diplomatically at- tended to. Lord Stratford de Reddiffe is going back to Constan- tinople to try what he can do.
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