[War. Russia and Turkey.] If the Government of His Majesty the Sultan has deemed it necessary to require assurances, even should the modifications of the Vienna note* which it proposed itself have been admitted, how could it, in conscience, be at ease if the Vienna note was maintained in its integrity and without modifications? The Sublime Porte, by accepting that which it has publicly declared it would not accept without compulsion, would compromise its dignity in the estimation of the other Powers; it would sacrifice it in the estimation even of its own subjects; it would commit a moral and material suicide. Although the refusal of Russia to acquiesce in the modifications required by the Sublime Porte was based on a question of honour, it cannot be denied that the real cause for the refusal of Russia is merely her desire not to substitute explicit terms for vague expressions, which might furnish her with a further pretext for interference. Such a conduct consequently obliges the Porte on its side to persist in its refusal. The reasons which have decided the Ottoman Government to make its modifications having been appreciated by the Representatives of the 4 Powers, it is proved that the Sublime Porte was altogether in the right in not adopting the Vienna note without alteration. By discussing the inconveniences presented by this note, it is not intended to criticise a draft which has obtained the assent of the Great Powers. Their efforts have always aimed at the maintenance of Peace, while desiring to preserve the rights and independence of the Imperial Government. Their proceedings in this respect being in the highest degree commendable, the Sublime Porte cannot sufficiently appreciate them. But as each Government, by reason of its own knowledge and local experience, evidently possesses greater facility than any other Government for estimating the matters which affect its own rights, the statement made by the Ottoman Government is wholly the result of its desire to justify the obligation under which, to its great regret, it finds itself, while it would have wished to continue not to deviate from the benevolent advice which from the commence The draft of a Note proposed by the French Government to be addressed by the Porte to Russia, as altered at Vienna and London (known as the Vienna Note), was forwarded by the Earl of Clarendon to Lord Stratford de Redcliffe, at Constantinople, in a despatch dated 2nd August, 1853, and appears in the Latin and Greek Papers laid before Parliament in 1854, Part II. [War. Russia and Turkey.] ment of the difference has been offered to it by its Allies, and which it has followed up to the present time. If it is alleged that the eagerness with which a draft has been framed in Europe results from the tardiness of the Sublime Porte to propose an arrangement; the Government of His Majesty the Sultan is compelled to justify itself by stating the following facts: Before the entrance of the Russian troops into the two Principalities.* certain of the Representatives of the Powers, influenced by the sincere desire of preventing the occupation of those Provinces, represented to the Sublime Porte the necessity of drawing up a draft in which the draft of note of the Sublime Porte and that of Prince Menchikoff should be blended together. Subsequently, the Representatives of the Powers submitted confidentially to the Porte various plans of arrangement. None of these last meeting the views of the Imperial Government, the Ottoman Cabinet was on the point of entering into negotiations with the Representatives of the Powers in regard to a draft drawn up by itself in conformity with their suggestion. At this moment news having arrived of the passage of the Pruth by the Russians,* the aspect of the question became changed. The draft of note proposed by the Sublime Porte was necessarily laid aside; and the Cabinets, after the Protest of the Sublime Porte,† were requested to express their sentiments on this violation of Treaties. On the one hand, the Ottoman Cabinet had to wait for the answers; and on the other, it drew up, at the suggestion of the Representatives of the Powers, a draft of arrangement which was sent to Vienna. As the only answer to all this, appeared the draft note drawn up at Vienna. Be that as it may, the Ottoman Government, being reasonably apprehensive of anything which might imply, in favour of Russia, a Right of Intervention in Religious Matters, could do no more than give assurances calculated to dispel the doubts which had led to the discussion; and after so many preparations and sacrifices, it certainly will not accept propositions which could not be accepted during Prince Menchikoff's stay at Constantinople. Since the Cabinet of St. Petersburgh is not satisfied with the assurances * The Russians crossed the Pruth at Souleni on the 3rd July, 1853. On the 14th July, 1853, the Porte protested against the occupation of the Principalities by Russia. [War. Russia and Turkey.] which have been offered to it; since the benevolent efforts of the High Powers have been fruitless; since, finally, the Porte can no longer tolerate or endure the existing state of things, as well as the prolonged occupation of the Moldo-Wallachian Principalities, which are integral parts of its Empire; the Ottoman Cabinet, with the fixed and laudable intention of defending the sacred Rights of Sovereignty and the Independence of its Government, will resort to just Reprisals against a violation of Treaties which it looks upon as a casus belli. It, therefore, officially makes known that the Government of His Majesty the Sultan is obliged to declare War, and that it has given the most positive instructions to his Excellency Omer Pasha to call upon Prince Gortchakoff to evacuate the Principalities, and to commence hostilities if, within 15 days after the arrival of his letter at the Russian headquarters, a negative answer should reach him. It is well understood that if Prince Gortchakoff's answer is in the negative, the Russian agents must quit the Ottoman dominions, and that the Commercial Relations of the respective subjects of the two Governments must be interrupted. The Sublime Porte, however, does not consider it just that, agreeably to ancient usage, an embargo should be laid on Russian merchant-vessels. Accordingly, they will be warned to proceed, within a period to be fixed hereafter, to the Black Sea or to the Mediterranean, as they may choose. Moreover, the Imperial Government, being unwilling to interrupt the Commercial Relations of the subjects of friendly Powers, will leave the Straits open to their mercantile marine during the War. Moharrem 1, 1270 [4th October, 1853]. [War. Russia and Turkey.] No. 235.-RUSSIAN DECLARATION of War against Turkey. Tsarskoe-Selo, 20th October 1853. (Translation as laid before Parliament.) By the Grace of God, We, Nicola's I, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias, &c. Make known: By our Manifesto of the 14th June of the present year, we acquainted our well-beloved and faithful subjects with the motives which have compelled us to demand of the Ottoman Porte inviolable guarantees in favour of the sacred rights of the Orthodox Church. We likewise announced to them that all our efforts to recall the Porte, by means of friendly persuasion, to sentiments of equity, and to the faithful observance of Treaties, had been ineffectual; and that we had consequently deemed it indispensable to advance our troops into the Danubian Principalities. But in adopting this measure we still entertained the hope that the Porte would admit its errors and would determine to conform to our just demands. Our expectation has been deceived. To no purpose even have the Principal Powers of Europe sought by their exhortations to shake the blind obstinacy of the Ottoman Government. It has replied to the pacific efforts made by Europe, as well as to our forbearance, by a Declaration of War (No. 234), and by a Proclamation replete with false accusations against Russia. Finally, embodying in the ranks of its army the Revolutionists of all countries, the Porte has commenced hostilities on the Danube.* Russia is challenged to the fight; nothing, therefore, remains for her, but, in confident reliance upon God, to have recourse to arms in order to compel the Ottoman Government to respect Treaties, and obtain from it reparation by which it has responded to our most moderate demands, and to our * The Turkish army crossed the Danube at Widdin, and occupied Kalafat on the 3rd November, 1853. [War. Russia and Turkey.] legitimate solicitude for the defence of the Orthodox faith in the East which is equally professed by the Russian people. We are firmly convinced that our faithful subjects will join in the fervent prayers which we address to the Most High, that His hand may be pleased to bless our arms in the holy and just cause which has ever found ardent defenders in our pious ancestors. "In Thee, LORD, have I trusted: let me never be confounded." Given at Tsarskoe-Selo, this 20th of October, in the year 1853, and the 28th of our Reign. NICOLAS. [Conferences were held at Vienna between the Representatives of Great Britain, Austria, France, and Prussia, and Protocols were signed on the 5th December, 1853; and on the 13th January, 2nd February, and 5th March, 1854; with the object of stopping the War between Russia and Turkey by Friendly Intervention, but they led to no result.] |