The inevitable consequences of the policy fathered by our present Government have been pointed out in these pages, a policy which would not and could not have been adopted but for circumstances over which they do not appear to have had any control-circumstances which have slowly but surely led the nation to the brink of the precipice upon which it now stands.

THE PORTE'S CIRCULAR.

The following is a translation of the Circular which the Ottoman Government has sent to its representatives accredited to the Great Powers:

"The Sublime Porte has received communication of the Protocol signed in London on the 31st March, 1877, by her Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and by the German, AustroHungarian, French, Italian, and Russian Ambassadors, and also of the declarations annexed to the Protocol by her Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the Italian and Russian Ambassadors.

"In taking cognisance of these documents the Sublime Porte felt great regret to observe that the great friendly Powers did not think it necessary to obtain the participation of the Imperial Government at their deliberations, although questions were discussed which concerned the most vital interests of the Empire.

"The complete deference to the counsels and wishes of the Great Powers which the Imperial Government has shown on every occasion, the close solidarity which so happily unites the interests of the Empire with those of the rest of Europe, the most incontestable principles of equity, and, finally, various solemn engagements, authorised the Sublime Porte to believe that it would also be invited to concur in the work destined to restore peace to the East, and establish an understanding between the Great Powers on this subject upon a just and legitimate basis.

'But, from the moment that this was not the case, the Sublime Porte considered itself imperatively bound to protest against the authority of such a precedent, and to point out the evil consequences which might result from it in the future for the tutelary principles of the security of relations between States.

Proceeding to the examination of these documents, the Sublime Porte became convinced that if the signatory Powers had taken more into account the exchange of views at the Constantinople Conference, the results obtained in the period which has since elapsed, and the fresh dangers threatening peace, it would have been easy, perhaps, by equitably weighing the great interests at stake, to arrive at a definitive agreement which would not be dependent upon grave violations of right or unrealisable conditions.

"During the Constantinople Conferences the Sublime Porte, taking its ground upon the Constitution which had been spontaneously sanctioned by his Imperial Majesty, and which effected the largest measure of reform which had ever been granted in this Empire since its establishment, was careful to demonstrate the injustice of any measure which, under the semblance of reform, should tend to develop distinctions of provinces, creeds, or classes of Ottoman subjects, as well as the impossibility for the Porte to accept anything prejudicial to the integrity or independence of the Empire. This double point of

view fully responds to the conditions of the English programme accepted by the Powers. This programme established in principle the maintenance of the integrity and independence of the Empire, and demanded for certain provinces a system of institutions offering guarantees against maladministration and arbitrary acts of authority. Now, the new system of institutions demanded was naturally carried out legally, and, in fact, by the very nature of the new political organisation given to the Empire without distinction of language, creed, or province. Since then the Ottoman Parliament has been convened, and an assembly, the issue of a system of free elections which will shortly be ordered in a manner to leave no room for just criticism, now sits at Constantinople, and discusses in complete liberty the most important affairs of the State. It has been objected against this system of reforms that it is yet too new to bear fruit immediately. It may be observed in reply that such an objection might with equal justice have been raised against the reforms recommended by the foreign plenipotentiaries, and generally against any reform which, from the very fact of its being an innovation, could not possess at the outset the efficiency which the work of time alone can give. On the other hand, internal security was solidly reestablished, tranquillity was restored to Servia, and negotiations, in which the Sublime Porte still gives proof of the greatest moderation, were opened with Montenegro.

"Unfortunately a new fact occurred in the interval, and the extraordinary armaments which have been proceeding for the last few months throughout Russia, by compelling the Porte to take defensive measures, not only did not allow it to effect a complete appeasement of the public mind, but at length brought about a state of things full of peril. The Sublime Porte must do itself the justice to state that it has neglected nothing which might dispel doubt, allay uneasiness, and allow for the most delicate susceptibilities. Having but just overcome the long and severe trials in which revolutionary intrigue had sought to involve all the provinces of the Empire, it was natural that the Porte should only wish for repose, and that it should have no other desire than to apply itself without delay to the productive work of its internal regeneration. Hence the Porte can only the more deeply regret seeing this constant object of its wishes every day become more distant; while at the same time the heavier demands which were sought to be imposed upon it left no alternative but to call for more onerous sacrifices from its populations, to exhaust its finances by heavy and unproductive expenditure, and to consider before all else how it might avert a conflict which was calculated to disturb profoundly the peace of the world.

"It is natural that the Great Powers should have felt anxiety at this state of things. The Sublime Porte, for reasons which require no explanation, has hitherto avoided officially calling the attention of the Powers to this new phase of the situation, assuredly the gravest of all. But the declarations by which their Excellencies Lord Derby and Count Schouvaloff preceded the signature of the Protocol now afford the Porte also an opportunity of representing to the friendly Cabinets the urgency of terminating so dangerous a complication, the issue of which the Porte has no power to delay much longer. In consequence of this, and in reply to the declaration of his Excellency the Russian. Ambassador, the Sublime Porte on its side notifies to the signatory Powers the following declaration :

"1. Adopting towards Montenegro the same line of conduct which

brought about the pacification of Servia, the Sublime Porte spontaneously informed the Prince two months ago that it would spare no effort to arrive at an understanding with him, even at the price of certain sacrifices. Considering Montenegro as an integral part of Ottoman territory, the Porte proposed a rectification of the line of demarcation which secured advantages to Montenegro, and it henceforward depends entirely upon the moderate counsels which the Porte hopes will prevail at Cettinje whether this affair may be considered as terminated.

"2. The Imperial Government is prepared to apply all the promised reforms, but these reforms, in conformity with the fundamental provisions of our Constitution, cannot have a special or exclusive character, and it is in this spirit that the Imperial Government, in its full and entire liberty, will continue to apply its institutions.

"3. The Imperial Government is ready to replace its armies on a peace footing as soon as it shall see the Russian Government take measures to the same end. The armaments of Turkey have an exclusively defensive character, and the relations of friendship and esteem which unite the two empires inspire the hope that the St. Petersburg Cabinet will not, alone in Europe, persist in the idea that the Christian populations in Turkey are exposed to such dangers from their own Government that it is necessary to accumulate against a neighbouring and friendly State all the means of invasion and destruction.

"4. With regard to the disturbances which might break out in Turkey and stop the demobilisation of the Russian army, the Imperial Government, which repels the injurious terms in which this idea has been expressed, believes that Europe is convinced that the disturbances which have troubled the peace of the provinces were due to foreign instigation; that the Imperial Government could not be held responsible for them; and that, consequently, the Russian Government would not be justified in making the demobilisation of its armies dependent upon such contingencies.

"5. Concerning the despatch of a special Envoy to St. Petersburg to treat on the question of disarmament, the Imperial Government, which would have no reason to refuse an act of courtesy reciprocally required by diplomatic usages, perceives no connection between this act of international courtesy and a disarmament which there was no plausible motive for delaying, and which might be carried into effect by a single telegraphic order.

"In communicating the preceding declarations to the signatory Cabinets the Sublime Porte begs the latter to take cognisance thereof, to appreciate the spirit which has dictated them, and to be good enough to attach thereto the importance to which they are entitled in the present state of things, the dangers of which cannot be too earnestly insisted upon by the Imperial Government, and for which it formally declines all responsibility.

"In view of what has been stated above respecting the efforts made by the Imperial Government to re-establish tranquillity, and the causes which have really prevented their being attended with proper effect, the signatory Powers of the Protocol of March 31 will have no difficulty in comprehending the painful feeling which this document could not fail to produce upon the Imperial Government.

"It would be useless to dwell here upon the passages of the Protocol relative to the two Principalities and the question of disarmament. But what, indeed, cannot be sufficiently regretted is the small regard in

which the Powers seem to have held both the great principles of equality and justice, the sway of which the Imperial Government has endeavoured to assure in the internal administration, and its right of independence and sovereignty.

"There is ground for astonishment, in fact, that in this Protocol the friendly Powers should have deemed it necessary to affirm afresh the common interest which they take in the improvement of the condition of the Christian populations of Turkey, and in the reforms to be introduced in Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Bulgaria, which the Porte has accepted on condition of itself carrying them into execution; to invite the Porte to put in hand with the least possible delay the reforms necessary for the tranquillity and well-being of the provinces, the condition of which was discussed at the Conference; to express the hope that the Porte will energetically take such measures as will cause that effective improvement in the condition of the Christian populations which is unanimously called for as indispensable to the tranquillity of Europe, and that, having once entered on this path, it will understand that it concerns its honour as well as its interests to persevere in it loyally and efficaciously.'

"The Sublime Porte has not accepted special reforms for Bosnia, Herzegovina, and the localities inhabited by Bulgarians. It entertains no doubt that its interest and its duty require it to satisfy the legitimate rights of its Christian subjects. It cannot admit that the ameliorations which are recommended to it should apply exclusively to the Christian element.

"After the proofs of loyalty and devotion so recently given by all the subjects of his Majesty, and in view of the reforms urgently needed to unite all the populations of the Empire in one sole political body, the Sublime Porte owes it to itself to repel the suspicion which the expressions of the Protocol appear to cast upon the sincerity of its feelings towards its Christian subjects, and further to protest against the indifference, to say the least, which these same expressions manifest with regard to its Mussulman and other subjects. It is not admissible that ameliorations tending to secure the tranquillity and welfare of Mussulmans also should possess no importance in the eyes of just, tolerant, and enlightened Europe. To take measures, or rather to establish institutions, calculated to assure to all and everywhere the free moral and material development of the rights of all-such is the end which Turkey now has in view. She will make it a point of honour to persevere in this path, and the Constitution is the best and surest guarantee of that determination.

"But if the Imperial Government finds itself compelled to repel any idea tending to sow the germs of antagonism between the various elements composing its populations, and to inspire distrust among certain of them towards their lawful rulers, neither can it subscribe on any account to the sanction which the Protocol gives to the application of the ameliorations above enumerated. Thus when the Protocol says that 'the Powers propose to watch carefully, by means of their representatives at Constantinople and their local agents, the manner in which the promises of the Ottoman Government are carried into effect;' when it` adds that 'if their hopes should once more be disappointed they reserve to themselves to consider in common as to the means which they may deem best fitted to secure the well-being of the Christian populations and the interests of the general peace,' it is evident that the Protocol must provoke the most legitimate protest on the part of the Imperial

Government and its most formal opposition. Turkey, in its quality as an independent State, could not acknowledge herself as being placed under any supervision, collective or otherwise.

"Maintaining with other friendly States relations regulated by international law and treaties, Turkey cannot allow foreign agents or representatives, charged to protect the interests of their compatriots, to have any mission of official supervision.

"The Imperial Government, in fact, is not aware how it can have deserved so ill of justice and civilisation as to see itself placed in a humiliating position without example in the world. The Treaty of Paris gave an explicit sanction to the principle of non-intervention. This treaty, which binds together the Powers who participated in it as well as Turkey, cannot be abolished by a Protocol in which Turkey has had no share. And if Turkey appeals to the stipulations of the Treaty of Paris, it is not that that treaty has created in her favour any rights which she would not possess without it, but rather for the purpose of calling attention to the grave reasons which, in the interests of the general peace of Europe, induced the Powers, 20 years ago, to place the recognition of the inviolability of this Empire's right of sovereignty under the guarantee of a collective promise. With regard to the clause which, in case of the non-execution of the promised reforms, would seek to confer upon the Powers the right of recurring to ulterior measures, the Imperial Government perceives therein a fresh attack upon its dignity and its rights, a measure of intimidation calculated to deprive its acts of any merit of spontaneity, and a source of grave complications both in the present and in the future.

"No consideration, therefore, can arrest the Government in its determination to protest against the views enunciated in the Protocol of March 31, and to treat it, as far as Turkey is concerned, as destitute of all equity, and, consequently, also of all obligatory character.

"Exposed to hostile suggestions, to unmerited suspicions, and to violations of international law, Turkey feels that she is now contending for her existence.

Strong in the justice of her cause, and trusting in God, she determines to ignore what has been decided without her and against her. Resolved to retain in the world the place which Providence has destined for her in this regard, she will not cease to encounter the attacks directed against her with the general principles of public right and the authority of a great European act, which pledges the honour of the Powers that signed the Protocol of March 31, a document which, in her eyes, has no legal claim to exact compliance. She appeals to the conscience of the Cabinets which she has a right to consider animated towards her by the same sentiments of elevated equity and friendship as in the past.

"Immediate and simultaneous disarmament would be the only efficacious means of averting the dangers by which the general peace is threatened.

"The reply which the Imperial Government has made above to the declaration of the Ambassador of Russia furnishes the Powers with suitable elements for bringing about this result, which they most assuredly will not seek to obtain by persisting in imposing upon the Ottoman Empire sacrifices of rights and honour to which it will not consent.

"You are instructed to read this Memorandum to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and to leave a copy of it with his Excellency."