A QUESTION ABOUT TURKISH TREATY RIGHTS. IF we may gather
the sentiments of the Government from the columns of the Okbe, we may infer that Ministers regard any interference of the Powers between the Government of the Sultan and his subjects as inopportune and impolitic. "-It is admitted, however, that "there can be no question as to the unfortunate treatment of the Christian subjects of Turkey." It is also ad- mitted that "many things take place which cannot be prevented from taking place, which derive no authority from the text of treaties." It may be true that the text of the Treaty of 1856 does not authorize "either the individual or the collective inter- ference of the Powers between Turkey and her Christian sub- jects " ; but, if we are not mistaken, the negotiations which accompanied the treaty involved an undertaking by Turkey with regard to her Christian subjects ; the quid pro quo being the ter- mination of the war with Russia, and the admission of Turkey to a place in Europe. In "the text of the treaty," there may be nothing authorizing individual or collective interference of the Powers ; but the whole body of the treaty, and the facts of which it was a part, constituted an interference and a precedent.
The action of the Western Powers in 1853 and '54 was not directed against representations to Turkey ; but against the se- parate interference of Russia. France herself had already made representations on behalf of Christians assimilating to the Roman faith, and we have lately been reminded that there are Christians in Turkey whom we Englishmen are asked to call "Protestants," because they have a version of the Bible in the vernacular. How far, then, is it politic to repel Russia when asking to be allowed to act along with the other Powers ? Those other Powers certainly cannot be compelled to follow Russia's lead. On the contrary, the preponderating influence, amid many antagonisms elsewhere, is undoubtedly held by the Western Powers. By getting Russia into Conference, they secure a maximum of de- liberate consideration for Turkey and for Europe, with a minimum of disturbance.
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