ffstrlav—It is decided that the Lebanon shall be governed by
a single and Christian liaimakan, the only question being whether he shall be a Maronite or not. England advocates the selection of a foreigner, and France that of a native. The French troops are ordered embark by the 5th June, under the following protest from the Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs :
" To HIS EXCELLENCY COUNT KISSELEF.
" St. Petersburg, May 14.
" Count,—In proportion as the term fixed for the evacuation increasing
apprehension. Syria ap- proaches its expiration, we cannot but view that eventuality with apprehension. Your Excellency was requested at the last conference at Paris to express the conviction of His Majesty the Emperor that the premature cessation of the occupation, before a definitive organization and the instalment of a regular power had replaced the guarantees acquired for the Christians by the presence of the European troops, would entail calamities which the great Powers ought seriously to take into consideration in the interest of humanity and in that of their own dignity. We state with regret that none of the events which have since happened, or the accounts which have reached us, are of a nature to dissipate those fears. We see them even shared by foreigners of all countries resident in Syria, whose interest and whose very existence are at stake, and who have at- tested the unanimity of their wishes by a petition addressed, in the most pressing terms. to the great Powers of Europe. Be so good, Count, as to discuss this
subject with the representatives of t i he Cabinets who shared in the last delibera- tions. We believe we should be wanting in duty if we did not call their attention to the dangers which would follow a recal of the troops .if i it were to take place precisely on the day fixed without any regard to the critical situation in which Syria would be left, and leaving unfulfilled all the preliminary conditions, which, " Receive, Count, &c., " GORTSCHAKOFF."
As a massacre in Syria is generally imminent and always possible, this apparent connexion between French and Russian policy becomes of importance. Said Bey Djemblatt, a Druse chief, saved from exe- cution by Lord Dufferin, has died in prison, according to the Turks, of consumption. He was innocent of any share in the massacres, and was considered the representative of the British party in Syria. The Turks, therefore, refused him medical attendance in prison, and only allowed him to be removed to a private house on the urgent repre- sentations of the British Commissioner. in our opinion, should have supplied the place of the guarantees of which the Christianpopulations will see themselves suddenly deprived by the departure of the troops which received from Europe the mission of providing for their safety. In such a case it only remains to us formally to decline, as we have already done, all responsibility as to the results of a determination the consequences of which we have foreseen and indicated. Your Excellency is invited by order of our august master to allow no doubt to exist on this head in the minds of your colleagues.
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