Russia has announced the immediate evacuation of both the Danubian
Principalities, Moldavia as well as Wallachia. Many motives might actuate Russia to such a course; but if she ex- pected to disarm the resolution of the Western Powers, she will find by the proceedings of our forces, ashore and afloat, not less than by the explicit declaration of Lord Clarendon, that although Russia has abandoned her material guarantee' for the subjugation of Turkey, France and England will not be satisfied, nor recall their arms, without seeking to procure from Russia some material guarantee against a renewal of her aggression.
The Czar might think to lead Austria into some new trap of negotiations, by fulfilling the main requirement of the Austro- Prussian treaty concluded at Vienna on the 20th of April, and in fact by terminating the state of affairs on which that treaty was based ; but if so, Austria has baffled his hopes by a new compact with the Western Powers, formed after the evacuation of the Principalities was known in Vienna. On the 8th instant, the Foreign Minister of Austria exchanged notes with the representa- tives of France and England', declaring that Austria continues to expect guarantees for preventing a recurrence of the difficulties which have troubled the peace of Europe, and that she pledges herself not to treat separately with the Cabinet of St. Petersburg until such guarantees be obtained. A more immediate motive in terminating the occupation of the Principalities was probably the desire to release Prussia from the Austro-Prussian treaty; and we conceive that the evacuation of the Principalities does so effectually, even if the occupation should be renewed. Prussia therefore will probably consider herself, ipso facto, freed to pursue her own separate course of equivocal ne &silty or open alliance with Russia. Certainly the stroke of state was not made without a motive ; it is not simply what it appears to be ; it will not be without effects.
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