[War. Russia and Turkey.]

The imperial Amnesty promised to the Servians for the part they took in the War with Russia was fully granted after the Peace; and as a consequence of the natural clemency of His Serene Highness, particular concessions assured to them their welfare and their repose. The same nation afterwards disregarded the authority of the Sublime Porte, and dared to revolt separately and by itself. As the Servians are the subjects of the Sublime Porte, and as the Ottoman Government is entitled to treat them according to their conduct, either by punishing or pardoning, the merited chastisement was inflicted, and happiness restored to the country, without the slightest injury to Russia, or infringement of the Treaty of Bucharest. This affair of Servia, as well as other like points, distinct from Treaties, and even some events of smaller importance, which ought to be classed under natural accidents, always served as motives of complaints on the part of Russia, and she never renounced her embarrassing proceedings. However, the Sublime Porte continued to regard her as a pacific friend, to pay attention to all affairs which could have possibly any analogy with the Treaties concluded between the two States, and to observe scrupulously the rules of good understanding.

Some time before the Greek Insurrection, the Russian Envoy, Baron Strogonoff, pretending that the Sublime Porte had not executed certain stipulations, insisted in a demand for Conferences relative to the Treaty of Bucharest. Positive answers and conclusive, conversations made known to him at different times, that as the Articles had already been executed, or being effectively and entirely carried into execution by the Sublime Porte, while, on the contrary, Russia had yet to prove her amicable fidelity by fulfilling stipulations the accomplishment of which had been deferred on her part, there was of course no occasion for the required Conferences. However, as he persisted in exceeding the orders of his Court, the opening of the conferences was at last conceded, but on the express condition of not introducing such objects as might tend to extend the meaning of Treaties, or change the tenor of Conventions. In the course of the Conferences the Russian Minister did not fail to raise more than one unreasonable discussion. However, the Articles of the above-mentioned Treaty were in the course of being examined, one by one, when the Greek Insurrection broke out, and it is notorious that the obstacles occasioned by that event were calculated to retard the labour in question.

[War. Russia and Turkey.]

The fugitive Ypsilanti then issued from Russia to invade publicly and unexpectedly Moldavia, at the head of a troop of rebels. He spread trouble and disorder through the two Principalities. Animated by the chimerical desire of establishing a pretended Government for Greece, he excited to revolt the whole of the Greek people, who are tributary subjects to the Ottoman Empire from father to son, misled them by his accursed Proclamations circulated everywhere, and instigated them to disown the authority of the Sublime Porte.

Every Power being authorised to arrest and punish malefactors within its own territories, and to manage all internal affairs tending to the maintenance of good order, as soon as the flame of rebellion was lit up on every side, the Sublime Porte resorted to suitable measures, sent troops against the rebels to restore tranquillity, crush rebellion, and purge the country, and labour to restore the privileges of the provinces, being far from wishing to annihilate them by the destruction of the malefactors. It is evident that no person whatever had any right to object to these and other measures which the Sublime Porte was bound to adopt, and which in such a conjecture could not be delayed. Nevertheless, the Russian Envoy invented divers objections, and originated several unreasonable differences, by discourses and proceedings little becoming the agent of a powerful friend, in the midst of affairs so important which then occupied the attention of the Sublime Porte.

Some time after, Ypsilanti, being routed, returned to Russia, and the Hospodar of Moldavia, Michael Sutzo, having also taken refuge there with all his partisans, the Sublime Porte demanded, in the terms of Treaties, that these persons shall be delivered up, or punished where they were. Though between allied Powers there can be no greater humanity than fidelity to Treaties, Russia merely gave a vague answer inconsistent with all diplomatic rules, saying that humanity opposed their delivery. She thus violated and annihilated existing Treaties and rights to protect, and perhaps pay particular attention to, these individuals.

The remains of the rebels were still in the two Principalities, and the refugees were protected by Russia. The flame of the insurrection was increasing daily, when Russia demanded the evacuation of the two Principalities by the Ottoman, troops, the nomination of the Hospodars, and the modification of indispensable measures, in which circumstances permitted no change to be

[War. Russia and Turkey.]

made. At the period when the principal persons among the Greeks and the insane leaders of the insurrection received the chastisement due to their proved crimes, very improper pretensions were put forward in their favour by Russia. Not the slightest wish was shown to yield an equitable ear to the just answers and amicable declarations which the Sublime Porte opposed to these pretensions, both verbally and by writing. Finally the Russian Envoy left Constantinople in a manner contrary to the duties of an Ambassador. The Grand Vizier immediately wrote to the Russian Prime Minister, and explained the whole truth to him. He represented in detail, that the system adopted and adhered to at all times by the Sublime Porte consisted in the pure intention of literally executing the Treaties concluded with friendly Powers, more particularly with Russia, her friend and neighbour, and in constantly attending to the means of maintaining good understanding and securing tranquillity. Contrary to our hope, the answer which we received was remote from the path of justice and truth.

As soon as the two Principalities were purged of the rebels which had defiled them, the Hospodars were appointed, the ancient privileges completely restored, and these two Provinces re-established on their former footing. Lord Strangford, the English Ambassador, on his return from the Congress of Verona, having in the course of his conversations on the existing circumstances, first observed the moderate conduct of the Porte to be free from all objection, declared officially and publicly at different times, and in full conference, that if the Sublime Porte would also consent to reduce the number of the beshlineferat who were under the command of the bash-beshli-aga of the Principalities, there would then remain no subject of dispute or difference between the Sublime Porte and Russia, and the good harmony of the two Courts would rest on solid bases. Putting faith in this notification, and wishing to remove every cause of discord, the Sublime Porte acquiesced in this proposition also; the number of the beshlineferat was reduced. M. Minziacki, then the Russian Chargé d'Affaires, expressed the great satisfaction of his Court at this reduction.

Shortly after the question of the rank of the bash-beshli-aga began to be discussed. Russia intimated officially that she wished them to be changed, and superseded by individuals without rank. This favour was also granted solely to please Russia. Immediately after

[War. Russia and Turkey.]

M. Minziacki presented an official note in the name of his Court, demanding that Plenipotentiaries should be sent to the Frontiers, to explain the Treaty of Bucharest. The Plenipotentiaries whom the Sublime Porte sent to the frontier, with the view of terminating the Conferences, began for the same object with Baron Strogonoff, and in the hope that this time at least, all discussion being terminated between the two Empires, the desired Peace would be obtained. Having been afterwards artfully drawn by Russia as far as Ackermann, they began by laying down the principle of not departing from the circle of the Treaties, and not altering or changing the sense of the stipulations, in the same manner as had been previously agreed upon with the same Envoy. The two parties agreed to this basis, and the Conferences were opened. After some meetings the Russian Plenipotentiaries presented, contrary to the agreement, a detached document, under the title of "Ultimatum," demanding that the same should be accepted and approved, such as it was. In vain the Turkish negotiators endeavoured to obtain the abandonment of this proposition, by representing how contrary it was to diplomatic forms, and to the basis of the Conferences. "Our mission," replied the Russians, "has for its sole object to procure the acceptance of this document." And here the Conferences closed.

Finally, as the Russian Plenipotentiaries had in the course of the Conferences admitted the Greek question to be an internal affair belonging to the Sublime Porte, and as they had officially declared, in the name of their Court, that Russia would not mix herself in any way therewith, and that they would completely tranquillize the Sublime Porte on this point,--seeing that this Declaration was entered in the Protocols kept according to custom by both parties,—seeing, moreover, that according to the reasons, legislative, political and national, which prevent the Sublime Porte from admitting any foreign interference on the Greek question, the promise of Russia not to meddle with it was a sincere mark of regard towards the Sublime Porte; this Declaration therefore, appearing to be a pledge of peace and friendship between the two Empires for the present and the future, the closing of the Conferences was implicitly based on the said Declaration, and the Treaty was readily concluded without much attention to each particular Article.

M. de Ribeaupierre, Envoy from Russia, on arriving at Constantinople, received all the accustomed honours-all the marks

[War. Russia and Turkey.]

of respect due to his person. The greater part of the Articles of the above Treaty had already been carried into execution, and the means of equally executing the others were under consideration, when the Greek affair, the discussion concerning which had continued so long, and resounded in all ears, came back again into question-an affair on which the Sublime Porte had already a thousand times given categorical and official replies; an affair, moreover, in which Russia had formally promised not to interfere. A Treaty then appeared unjustly concluded against the Sublime Porte, and without its knowledge. Notwithstanding the presence of M. de Ribeaupierre, who, when at Ackermann, as Second Plenipotentiary of his Court, was one of those who officially announced that Russia would not interfere with the Greek question,-notwithstanding the presence of the other Plenipotentiaries, and notwithstanding the existence of the Protocols, the Declaration was openly denied. This new proposition, so violent that it was impossible for the Sublime Porte to accept it, either consistently with law or policy, was put forward, and a hearty refusal given to the request to lend a favourable ear to the legal excuses and real obstacles which the Sublime Porte had, with good faith, at different times alleged on this subject.

Finally, the fatal event of Navarino,*—an event unheard of and unexampled in the history of nations,-still made no change in the amicable relations of the Sublime Porte; but, not content with the concessions which the Sublime Porte might, from regard solely to the three Powers, and without any further addition, grant to the country still in rebellion, the Russian Envoy departed from Constantinople without motive or reason.

Were the Sublime Porte to detail her numerous complaints, and insist upon her just rights, each of the points above stated would become in itself a special Declaration. But the circumstances which preceded and followed the Greek Insurrection having clearly demonstrated what was its origin, and the natural progress of events having only tended to confirm the opinion previously formed, the Sublime Porte, without wishing to impute the origin of the revolution to any quarter, continued to testify toward Russia all the respect and all the friendship which Treaties and vicinage required; she endeavoured to maintain the most favourable relations, but of this no account was taken. Besides, inasmuch

*The battle of Navarino was fought on the 20th October, 1827.