A telegram from the Turkish Minister of War, Reuf Pacha, addressed to the Grand Duke Nicholas at _Bucharest_, informed the Russian Commander that the Porte had empowered Mehemed Ali to negotiate an armistice. Although Prince Charles thought that the Russians would hardly desist from their victorious advance, he nevertheless telegraphed to the Grand Duke, requesting that Roumania should participate in the negotiations with which her interests were so closely connected. Colonel Arion was sent to the Russian headquarters to act on behalf of the Prince in the approaching negotiations for an armistice. His instructions were, briefly, to obtain-- (1) The occupation of the Danubian fortresses by Roumanian troops until the conclusion of peace. (2) The recognition of Roumania's independence. (3) The dismantling of the Turkish fortresses on the Danube from Adakaleh in the west to the mouth of the river. (4) The transfer to Roumania of all the mouths of the Danube. (5) A war indemnity of 100,000,000 francs and the occupation of Nikopoli, Rahova, Lom-Palanka, and Widin until payment in full. In the event of the Roumanian plenipotentiary not taking part in the negotiations, Colonel Arion was instructed to protest against every clause affecting Roumania which was agreed to in his absence, and to declare the same null and void. A large indemnity was demanded, because it was intended to cover the heavy expenses and losses incurred through the war. The difficulties which Roumania seemed likely to encounter at the conclusion of peace are thus alluded to by Prince Charles in a letter to the German Crown Prince, January 14, 1878: "The newspapers are full of rumours that the Russians intend to resume possession of the Bessarabian districts, incorporated in Roumania by the Treaty of Paris. I cannot believe this, seeing that we have rendered them great service at a most critical moment. Moreover, such a rectification of the frontier would most decidedly be against the interests of Germany and Austria, who must prevent the mouths of the Danube from falling into the hands of a great Power. "The Second Article of the treaty regulating the passage of the Russian army through Roumania lays it down that the Government of his Majesty the Czar pledges itself to maintain and defend the former integrity of Roumania. Though it cannot be believed that this formal engagement is to be violated, still great anxiety prevails here, especially as the Russian Press constantly refers to this topic."