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Turkey And Russia

Turkey And Russia image
Parent Issue
Day
20
Month
April
Year
1877
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

The Turkish uote iu reply to the protocol of the European powers, tho text of wliicli is trausmitteil by cabio, uses very strong language. Tho iivo pointe of Count SchonvnlofFs declarations are answorcd seriatim, as follows : In roply to the declaratiou of His Exccllonoy tlie Bnuslan Ajmbuaador, thc Sublimo Porto, on Hh sidc, notities to tlie signatory powors the following declaration : 1. Adopting toward Montenegro tho Ramo line of eonduct vrhich brought about tho pacitication of Servia, tho Sublime Porte spontanoously Informad the Prinoe, two months ago, that it'would upare no effort to arrive at an nnctexstóndloft with him, even at tho prico of oertain sacriiiots. Consiaerlcg Montenegro as an lotogral part of tho Ottoniau territoiy, the Porto pm-poKod the rectilieation of tho line of demareation wbich secnred advimtages to Montenegro, and it hunceforward dopends ontiioly Ukh moderato couuselH. whicb the Porto hopen will prevalí at (Jetlinjo, whether thi affair may bo connidcred as terminated. 2. The'lmpcrial Govenunent is prepared to apply all promised reforms, hut these reformH, in co'nformity with tho fundamental provisions of oor coniiti'tuüon, cannot have a special or exclusive chaiacter, and it is in tuis spirit that tho Imperial (overnmont in its f uil aud enturo liberty ivil] continuo to apply its instmcüonn. 3". The Imperial Government is ready to replace its armies on a poaco footing as Boon as it sluill sec tliiltussinu Govermnonttakomcasures tu Uu; same oud. Tbo armamonts of Turkey havo nu ixclusively defonsivo character, and tlie rclationsof mendafaip and ssteem wbich unite tho two emplreB inspire the hope that tbo Bt. Petersburg Cabinet will not, alone in Europe, persist in tho idoa that tho Christian populatfon in Turkey are exposed to such dangers from their own Guvermuent fluit it is iiecesary to accumulato against a neighboring and friendly state all meaus of invasión and dentruction. 4. With regard to disturbances which nugnt break out in Xurkey and stop tbo demobilization of the Hussian army, thu Imperial Govemjiii-iit, which repela the ïnjurious terms in whlch this idea han been expressed, believen Europe is convüiced that the disturbauces which luivc troubled tho peace of the provinces were due to foreign instigation ; that the Imperial Government could uot be held responnible for them, and that, consequently, the Russian Govcrnment would not be justilied in making the demobilization of its armie dependent upon such contingencies. 5. Concerning the dispatch of the special envoy to St. Petersburg to treat on tho question of disannament, tho Imperia! Govenmient, which would have no reason to ref use an act of eourtesy reciprocally roquired by diplomatic images, perceives 110 connection betweeu this act of international eourtesy aud disarmament, which there was no plausible motive for delaying, and which might be carried iuto effect by a single telegraphic order. The following is the concluding aud most erapbntic section : Maüitaining, with other friendly state, relations rogulatedby international law audtroaties, Xurkey cannot allow foreign agent or represi ntutives, charged to protect the interests of their oompatriots, to havo. anyniision of oflieial supervisión. llie Imjierial" Government, in fact, is not aware how ït can have deserved no UI of justice and civiliüation as to see itself placud ia a humiliating position without examplc in the world. The Treaty of l'nris gave explicit sanction to tiie principie of non-intervoutiiüi. ïhis treaty, wliich binds togetber the powers which participatcd in it, au woll as Tnikcy, cunuot be abolislied by a protocol in which l'urkey has had no aliare : and if ïnrkey appeala t" the Ktipulation of thu irruty pf Paris, it is not that' that treaty has created in her favor any rights wliicli nh(i would not possess without it, but ratlicr for the pm'ptse of calling attention to grave reasons which, in the interests of the general peace of Europe, induced the ixwcr, twenty yeais ago. to place the recoenitiou of tho inviolability of this ptre's right to sovereigniy under the guarantee of a collcctive promise. With regard to the clause whieh, in the caso of the noii-cxecution of the promised reforms, would seek to confer upon the powers the right of recurring to ulterior measures, the Imperial Govermnent perceivea therein a fresh attack upou its dignity aud its rights; ft measure of mtiiniduüim calculated U deprive its acts of any ment of spontaneity, aud a souree of grave complications, both in the present and future. No consideration, therefore, can arrest the Government in its determination to protest agaiust tlie views enumeratod in the protocol of the 31nt of March, aud to treat it, as far as Turkey is concerned, as destitute of all equity, and, c'onsequently, also, of all obligatory cluracter. Exposcd to hostüe suggestions, to umncrited Ruspicion, and to violations of international law, Turkoy feels that sho is now contonding for her existence. Strong in the justice of her ciuise, and Uiisting in God, she detenninea Ui ignore what has beou decidcd without her and against her, resolved to retain in the world the placo which Providence has destined for her. In this regard shc will not cease to enconnter attacki) directed agaiust her with general principies of public right and the authority of the great Europoan act which plcdges the lionor of tho powers that signed the protocol of the 31st of Maren - a document which in her eyes has no legal claim to exact compltence. She appeals to the conscioii-o of Cabinets which she has a right to cohsider animated toward her by the same senUmcuts of equity aud frieiulsliip as in the past Immediate and simultaneous disarmamont wonld bfi tho only efticacious means of avoiding the dangors by which the general peace is threatenc-d. The reply wliich the Imperial Governmeut bas mado to the declaration of the Ambassador of liussia furnishcd the powers with suitable elements for bringing about tlüs reult, w hielt tliey most assiiredly will not scek to obtain by percisting in impösing Opon the Ottoman empire saciiticcs of rights and honor to which it will not consent.

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Old News
Michigan Argus