That the Turks intend to refuse, we do not doubt.
They are tired of European tutelage, and mean to have done with it, and think war rather leas troublesome than peace. There is more doubt about the attitude of Russia. It is most industriously reported throughout Europe that she is afraid of the Turks, that immense defects have been discovered in her military organisation, and that she may decline to be the agent of Europe without Euro- pean aid. All this may be true, and it is partly justified by the very great concessions which General lgnatieff is reported to have made, but, nevertheless, we do not expect Russia to recede. Though ham- pered by the necessity of moving such masses and by the weather, Russia is not weak, and the position of the dynasty if she receded would be almost ninenable. The whole Empire is awake to what is going on, and the people, already restless under their sacrifices, would see that they had lost the position for which those sacrifices have been made. It is to us incredible that the Czar should create such a sitlation, and if he does,' we should expect a sudden expansion of the so-called "Socialist movement in Russia. The Russians of to-day will not bear universal military service and the suppression of all political liberty, in order to occupy in Europe the position of Belgians. We therefore expect soon, and probably next week, to hear that the decisive rupture has occurred.
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