of H.M. the Sultan, and the consideration which the Sublime Porte has always had for Russia, as a great neighbouring power, eveu under the most difficult circumstances, clearly prove the great value which the government of H.M. the Sultan has attached to the maintenance of its friendly relations with that of H.M. the Emperor of Russia.

Besides, as a justification of the rupture of diplomatic relations, the Cabinet of St. Petersburg, through the organ of its Chargé d'Affaires, only appeals to the rejection of the propositions which had previously been made to the Sublime Porte, and the nonacceptation (of the Protocol) which accompanied it.

At such a solemn moment, the Sublime Porte regrets to be obliged to oppose to the statement of the Cabinet of St. Petersburg, so far as relates to the refusal by the Sublime Porte to accept the propositions which have successfully been made to it, the most absolute denial. The London Protocol states that the Great Powers, as well as Turkey, are entirely agreed as to the reforms which are to be carried out; tranquillity has been re-established in Servia; and we know that it has depended only on the Prince of Montenegro to re-establish his relations with the Sublime Porte on an advantageous footing. All this is so incontestable that the Sublime Porte considers it useless to insist any longer on the fact that it is. useless to try to make any one believe that there is any difference of opinion between her and the Great Powers; and if the Sublime Porte has been unable to accept the guarantees of execution contained in the London Protocol, or to acquiesce in the conditions. of peace enumerated in Count Schouvaloff's declaration, appended thereto, the Ottoman Government (which still regrets to see the Protocol of the 19th and 31st March, and Count Schouvaloff's declaration appended thereto, placed on an equality) has already communicated to the Great Powers the reasons why its deference for their counsels has no other limits than the necessity of preserving the honour and independence of the Ottoman Empire. Agreeing with the Great Powers even as to the extent of reform, the Sublime Porte asks if Russia is authorized to declare war against the Ottoman Empire in the name of a document which, according to the declarations made at the time of its signature, was to be of value only so long as war should not break out; to have recourse to arms alone of all the subscribers of the Protocol; to attach to Count Schouvaloff's declaration an obligatory character for all the subscribers of the Protocol; to make war in the name of the general peace; to let loose upon all the Mussulman and Christian peoples of the Ottoman Empire frightful calamities in order the better to provide for their welfare; to place, in short, the integrity and independence of the Empire in danger, in order to try to secure its prosperity.

The Great Powers, whose great wisdom these truths will not escape, will equally appreciate the gravity and bearing of the declaration by which the Russian Chargé d'Affaires has thought

proper to make the Sublime Porte responsible for the pretended dangers to which not only the Russian nationalities, but also all Christians in general, whether subjects of the Sultan or foreigners, might be exposed. If the condition of the Christian subjects of the Sultan were so precarious as to justify the war with which Russia threatens the Ottoman Empire, the value of the recommendation addressed by the representative of Russia to the Sublime Porte when leaving Constantinople, would be incomprehensible, but it is still more astonishing that this recommendation should have for its object not only all the Christian subjects of the Sultan, but also all foreigners, subjects of the other Powers, which have representatives accredited to the Sublime Porte. The Sublime Porte cannot well understand the ideas which have led the Russian representative to wish to extend to all Christians in general, whether foreign subjects or not, that same idea of protection which stirred up the war of twenty years ago, when Russia applied it to the orthodox subjects only of H.M. the Sultan.

On the other hand, the Great Powers will appreciate the declarations which the Sublime Porte has reiterated in the most categorical forms to assure Europe that the reforms promised by her shall be executed. They may rest assured that the sole means of hastening their realization is that which the Porte has already pointed out when asking pledges of an immediate and simultaneous disarmament, and insisting at different times on the injustice there would be in exacting from her the application of the promised reforms, by means which would not allow her to address herself to them with the calmness indispensable to their success.

In endeavouring to explain to the friendly governments who showed so much anxiety for the welfare of this country, the ideas which seem best calculated to produce the desired result, the Ottoman Government was conscious of fulfilling a sacred duty, being interested more than any one else in all which could aid in assuring the order and tranquillity of its States. Our Government have, I repeat, placed no other limit to their deference for the counsels of Europe than those imposed on them by the necessity of guaranteeing from all attack, their sovereign rights, the opinions of H.I.M. the Sultan and of his government being perfectly well known and affirmed in a manner which can leave no doubt. They do not wish to expose themselves in the eyes of the world, and of their own people, to the reproach of not having tried every means in their power to avert the calamities which seem imminent. The Sublime Porte consequently call attention to Article viii. of the Treaty of Paris, thus worded: "If a difference should arise between the Sublime Porte and one or more of the other subscribing Powers, which should menace the continuance of their relations, the Sublime Porte and each of those Powers, before resorting to the employment of force, shall enable the other contracting parties to prevent such extremity by their mediatory action."

Although it is not the Ottoman Government which threatens to

take the initiative in aggression, and consequently it is, strictly speaking, for the Russian Government to appeal to these stipulations of the Treaty of Paris, yet the Imperial Government, in order to avoid any misunderstanding, addresses itself to the Powers who signed the Treaty, in order that they may in the present serious condition of affairs, apply the above mentioned article, and put a stop to the perilous attempt which affects the relations of the two States, by means of a mediatory action conformable to rights and treaties. Independently of all stipulations of treaties, the action of the Powers would be justified by the reason, which, according to the statement of her Chargé d'Affaires at Constantinople, Russia now wishes to put forward for her military action, alleging the refusal of the Porte to accede to the propositions which have been made to her by all the Powers, and to the document signed by them.

While pointing out that this step would be in exact accordance as well with the provisions of Article viii. of the Treaty of Paris, as with the motives for rupture put forth by Russia, the Sublime Porte expresses her conviction that the friendly Powers, faithful to the sentiment of benevolent interest which they have not ceased to show to the Ottoman Government, will seize this legitimate opportunity of arresting the breaking out of a great war, and of thus sparing these countries the sad extremities with which they are threatened, and Europe herself the trouble and danger resulting from a conflict between the States, a conflict, the responsibility for which the Sublime Porte is justified in entirely repudiating.

Be so good as to read this and to give a copy of it to the Government to which you are accredited.

THE TURKISH MANIFESTO.

"Pera, April 26, 10.15 p.m.

"The Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Embassy of

"I send you herewith the Manifesto of the Sublime Porte, published to-day in the journals of the capital. Russia, by declaring war against the Ottoman Empire, and by opening hostilities through the invasion of our Asiatic Provinces and of a Principality which forms an integral part of the territory of the Sultan, has just made

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most unhappy termination to the troubles and the political difficulties which have been agitating the East for more than two years. Europe, which, in the interest of humanity, and in order to insure its own repose, has laboured ardently and perseveringly to obviate this unhappy calamity, has, doubtless, the right to seek for the causes of the failure of its efforts, and to determine upon which of the two States must fall the responsibility of the war and the evils which follow in its train. The Government of the Sultan, on its part, feels solemnly bound at this time to present to its peoples and the friendly Powers a faithful account of its acts and of the political events which have created the present situation. In the

course of the year 1876 peace with Servia was restored, and the friendly disposition which the Sublime Porte manifested towards Montenegro seemed calculated to overcome the difficulties arising from the inadmissible claims of this Principality. The Imperial Government was unwilling even to be impeded in the accomplishment of its task by the necessity of maintaining a war footing, and of thus supporting the crushing expenses of an armed peace.

"At that time it had thoughts of disarming; but before carrying into effect its resolution so imperiously demanded by circumstances, it was thought necessary that Europe should not remain indifferent to the step, but that it should favour Turkey with its co-operative advice in order that the demobilization of the Ottoman Army might not be done incautiously and with improvident haste. At the very moment when the Sublime Porte was preparing to invite the assistance of Europe in this pacific work, the Cabinet of St. Petersburg thought fit to take the initiative of fresh measures, not by seeking an understanding with, but by exercising pressure on, the Imperial Government.

"This quite unexpected turn of events gave rise to the London Protocol, which was discussed and signed without the Imperial Government having been invited to share in the deliberations, and without even being consulted. The same reasons which had compelled the Sublime Porte to reject certain articles drawn up at the Conference at Constantinople made it necessary for it to discard the new resolutions of Europe, rendered still more inadmissible by the private declaration of Russia which preceded them. No Government, jealous of its honour and its independence, could have given its adhesion to a programme thus presented to it, especially when conscious that its refusal in presence of a powerful neighbour ready to support its demands by arms would expose it to attack. The Government of the Sultan, backed by the unanimous approval of the representatives of the nation, did not hesitate to uphold its Sovereign integrity; but the dreaded event has unhappily been realized. Russia, after having vainly endeavoured to weaken and humiliate the Ottoman Empire by inflicting foreign tutelage upon.it, now seeks by arms to satisfy her political ambition. She will meet in her path a united people armed for the defence of its soil, for the protection of its homes, for the maintenance of its own and its Sovereign's rights, and for the independence of its Fatherland. But at the moment when this inhuman war is going to begin, and whatever may be the issue of it, Europe and the whole world must know the truth. All the populations of the Empire rallied round the Throne to-day, from a feeling of common danger, must learn the cause of the sufferings which they have already endured, and of the fresh calamities to which their country is about to be exposed; in fine, the Ottoman Empire, whether it be victorious or whether it be defeated, must be discharged of all responsibility for the present war. Wherefore the Imperial Government deems itself bound to declare that the Christian populations of Herzegovina and Bosnia,

and the vilayets inhabited by the Bulgarians, rose in insurrection solely at the instigation of Panslavic Committees, organized and paid by Russia; that Servia and Montenegro only took up arms against the Sovereign Power through the direct intervention of Russia; that they never could have sustained the struggle without aid from Russia; that, in fact, all the ills which for the last two years have scourged their portion of the Empire are due to the action, open or hidden, but always presert, of Russia. Let Europe now look upon the ruin which Russian politics have already made in Turkey; let it examine and judge with impartiality the pretended wrongs which Russia uses as a pretext for breaking the general peace and plunging two great countries into the horrors of war; and let its verdict satisfy the public conscience. The aggressor of Turkey is as much the enemy of the Christian as of the Mussulman populations, for she has caused them, and is now preparing for them, more ills than ever she could promise benefits when alluring them falsely on to civil war. She has the boldness to pretend that she has arined to protect the Christians, and that, too, at a moment when the most complete Constitution which a free country can wish for proclaims the principle of equality among all Ottomans, at a moment when this principle is daily receiving confirmation of such a nature that it will be henceforth impossible for the Sublime Porte to do any political act in the country, good or evil, without benefitting or injuring all those, Mussulmans or non-Mussulmans, who live under the authority of the Sultan. The Imperial Government said to Russia, as well as to the other European Powers, 'Look on and judge,' and to these true earnest words Russia replied by a declaration of war, without previously having recourse to the mediation of Europe, as she was bound to do by Article 8 of the Treaty of Paris, and without allowing the Powers the time and the means to accomplish this pacific task in regard to which the Imperial Government declares that it has done its duty. In fact, Russia, in defiance of all the rules observed in such cases by civilized States, notified her declaration of war to the Chargé d'Affaires at St. Petersburg at the same time as she broke off her relations with the Sublime Porte throngh her own Chargé d'Affaires at Constantinople. But on the night even preceding the declaration of war she had invaded the territory of the Empire. History will record this unheard-of act, that in our age of enlightenment, of civilization, and of justice, a great Power carried fire and sword into a neighbouring Empire, because this Empire was of opinion that the same observance should be paid with respect to it, as to others, of international engagements, the eternal rules of public law, the independence of its domestic administration, and above all, the honour and the dignity of its people and its Sovereign.

"It is to defend those sacred principles, and to beat back the most hateful and the most criminal of aggressions that the Ottoman Army is about to march to meet its assailant, with the whole nation marshalled round its august head, confident in the triumph of the