Il est à craindre qu'il n'en tienne aucune. Il ne parait pas convaincu de la Nr. 11366. solidité du concert européen et cette pensée suffit à calmer les émotions que 26.Sept.1886. pourraient causer à Sa Majesté les représentations des Ambassadeurs. P. Cambon. Frankreich. Nr. 11367. FRANKREICH. Der Botschafter in Konstantinopel an den Minister des Auswärtigen. Neue Metzeleien in den Provinzen. Thérapia, le 18 octobre 1896. 18.0kt. 1896. Aujourd'hui que des rapports consulaires sur le massacre d'Eghin sont Nr. 11367. arrivés à Constantinople, il n'est guère permis de douter que, le 15 septembre Frankreich. dernier, les Musulmans se soient jetés sur les Arméniens de cette ville et aient fait un affreux massacre. Près de 2,000 d'entre eux ont été tués par les troupes et parmi eux beaucoup de femmes et d'enfants. Sur les 1,150 maisons du quartier arménien, 900 ont été brûlées et toutes ont été pillées. Aucun des Kurdes, si nombreux cependant dans la région, n'a paru dans la ville, et la responsabilité du massacre incombe tout entière à la troupe. Un avancement de faveur a été donné au gouverneur d'Eghin, quelques jours après ce massacre. || Dans les vilayets voisins, la situation reste toujours des plus précaires. P. Cambon. Nr. 11368. FRANKREICH. Derselbe an Denselben. Fortgang der Reformarbeiten. Thérapia, le 19 octobre 1896. Frankreich. Au cours de l'audience qu'il m'avait accordée à mon retour de France, Nr. 11368. le Sultan m'avait affirmé avoir rendu un iradé étendant à tout l'empire les réformes adoptées l'an dernier pour les six vilayets orientaux d'Asie Mineure. || A ce moment, l'iradé en question n'avait point encore été communiqué à la Porte. Ce n'est que ces jours derniers qu'elle a reçu du Palais le texte, approuvé en Conseil des Ministres, d'une série de mesures ,,applicables à tous les vilayets, le Hedjaz excepté". || Inspiré par le plan des réformes arméniennes de l'an passé, ce projet néglige cependant plusieurs des points importants prévus par ce dernier. En le déclarant applicable à tous les vilayets, le Sultan a-t-il en vue de le substituer, même dans les six vilayets orientaux, au plan de réforme qu'il s'est, par un accord avec la France, la Russie et l'Angleterre, engagé à y introduire? Le Ministre des affaires étrangères, interrogé sur ce point, s'est dérobé à toute réponse, et nous sommes en droit de conserver des soupçons que ne justifie que trop l'inapplication dans ces six vilayets de réformes édictées depuis plus d'une année. P. Cambon. 19. Okt.1896. Nr. 11369. Frankreich. Nr. 11369. FRANKREICH. Derselbe an Denselben. Die Pforte erhebt eine Zwangsanleihe. Thérapia, le 20 octobre 1896. Un projet d'emprunt forcé vient d'être adopté. Tous les musulmans seront 20. Okt. 1896. frappés d'une imposition de cinq piastres (un franc dix centimes). Le prétexte choisi pour justifier cette mesure extraordinaire est la nécessité d'armer tous les musulmans. P. Cambon. Nr. 11370. britannien. Nr. 11370. GROSSBRITANNIEN. — Der Botschafter in Paris an den französischen Minister des Auswärtigen. Denk schrift über die Lage im Orient. Foreign Office, 20th octobre 1896. Sir, The recent lamentable occurences in Asiatic Turkey, succeeded by Gross- the massacre of Armenians in the streets of Constantinople, give evidence of 20. Okt.1896. a state of maladministration and insecurity in the Ottoman Empire, which cannot fail to be a subject of great solicitude to the Powers who have joined in guaranteeing that Empire. || The successive periods of urgent peril through which the Ottoman Government has passed in consequence of its inability to provide the elementary conditions of good Government for its christian subjects have powerfully affected the political history of Europe during the present Century. The European powers have, in the interests of general peace, earnestly desired to maintain the fabric of the Ottoman Empire, at least in that extensive portion of it in which the mixed character of the population makes an autonomous Christian Government impossible. But they have sought with equal earnestness, by the constant exercise of their influence and from time to time by the conclusion of special stipulations, to secure due protection. in these regions to the Christian subjects of the Porte. || The Treaty of Paris of 1856, by article VII of which the Great Powers bound themselves to respect the independance and territorial integrity of the Ottoman Empire and guaranteed in common the strict observance of that engagement, contained also the following article: Article IX. His imperial Majesty the Sultan having, in his constant solicitude for the welfare of his subjects, issued a Firman which, while ameliorating their condition without distinction of religion or of race, records his generous intentions towards the christian populations of his Empire, and wishing to give a further proof of his sentiments in that respect, has resolved to communicate to the contracting Parties the said Firman emanating spontaneously from his sovereign will. || The contracting Powers recognize the high value of this communication. It is clearly understood that it cannot, in any case, give to the said Powers the right to interfere, either collectively or separately, in the relations of His Majesty the Sultan with his subjects, nor in the internal administration of his Empire". || The preliminary Treaty of Gross Peace concluded between Russia and Turkey in 1878 at San Stefano con- Nr. 11870. tained the following article, pledging the Sublime Porte to carry into effect britannien. the necessary reforms in the provinces inhabited by Armenians. ||,,Article XVI. 20. Okt.1896. As the evacuation by the Russian troops of the territory which they occupy in Armenia, and which is to be restored to Turkey, might give rise to conflicts and complications detrimental to the maintenance of good relations between the two countries, the Sublime Porte engages to carry into effect, without further delay, the improvements and reforms demanded by local requirements in the provinces inhabited by Armenians, and to guarantee their security from Kurds and Circassians." || This article was replaced in the European Treaty which resulted from the Congress of Berlin by one containing a pledge of a more stringent character to all the signatory Powers, of which the following is the text: || Article LXI. The Sublime Porte undertakes to carry out, without further delay, the improvements and reforms demanded by local requirements in the provinces inhabited by the Armenians, and to guarantee their security against the Kurds and the Circassians. It will periodically make known the steps taken to this effect to the Powers, who will superintend their application. || The views of Her Majesty's Government in regard to the Treaty were set out by me in a despatch, in which, as one of the British Plenipotentiaries at the congress of Berlin, I described its main provisions. I observed that by the action of the Great Powers rich and extensive European provinces had been restored to the Sultan's rule, while, at the same time, careful provision against future misgovernment had been made, which would, it might be hoped, assure their loyalty and prevent a recurrence of the calamities which had brought the Ottoman Power to the verge of ruin. I added: ||,,Arrangements of a different kind but having the same end in view, have provided for the Asiatic dominions of the Sultan security for the present, and the hope of prosperity and stability in the future. |,,Whether use will be made of this probably the last opportunity, which has been thus obtained for Turkey by the interposition of the Powers of Europe, and of England in particular, or whether it is to be thrown away, will depend upon the sincerity with which Turkish statesmen now address themselves to the duties of good Government and the task of reform." || The reforms promised in article LXI of the Treaty formed the subject of discussions between the Porte and the representatives of the Powers at Constantinople in 1880, but these discussions unfortunately led to no practical result. || In April 1883 Earl Granville, then Her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, directed the Marquess of Dufferin, Her Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople, again to bring the subject before the Sultan. He concluded with these words: ||,,Her Majesty's Government are actuated by a sincere desire for the welfare and stability of the Ottoman Empire. They have pressed upon the Sultan the introduction of reforms primarily on behalf of the suffering populations, but also from the conviction that, without great improvements in britannien. Nr. 11370. general government, and in the administration of justice, there can be no Gross- content, and that with peoples of various nationalities and different faiths, such20. Okt.1896. as those who inhabit the Asiatic provinces of the Empire, the maintenance of order is rendered doubly difficult by gross misgovernment, and a total absence of justice. In fact, the present state of Asia minor is such that the grievances under which its inhabitants labour may at any moment bring about an insurection which may lead to foreign intervention. It would then be not a question only of a further loss of territory in Asia, but the very existence of the Sultan's Empire might prove to be at stake." Again, in 1886, a despatch was addressed by the Earl of Rosebery to Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Porte, of which the substance was communicated to the Turkish Minister for Foreign affairs in August of that year. In this despatch a hope was expressed that the attention of the Sultan and his Ministers might be directed to questions of internal reform, and that, in the consideration of that subject, the means of improving the condition of the Asiatic provinces of Turkey might not be neglected. || Lord Rosebery continued. ,,Her Majesty's Government have repeatedly pointed out the necessity for such measures. They have urged on the Porte the introduction of reforms in the collection of the taxes and the Administration of justice, a more careful selection and supervision of the local officials, more effectual provision for the security of life and property, for the preservation of law and order, and for the protection of the industrious and peaceful portion of the inhabitants of the Eastern provinces from the depredations of the Kurds. All these reforms, in addition to their effect on public feeling, would operate to the advantage of the Imperial revenues, and any progress towards keeping the Kurdish tribes under proper control would also tend to remove a source of constant irritation an danger on the Persian frontier. The efforts of Her Majesty's Government during the recent troubles have been directed to the maintenance of the settlement effected under the Treaty of Berlin in the sense most favourable to the peace and tranquillity of the Ottoman Empire. Their policy in this respect has been dictated by feelings of sincere friendship for Turkey, and of respect for Treaty obligations. It is from the same motives that they feel it incumbent upon them to urge whenever the opportunity offers the duty of fulfilling the engagements of the LXI article of the Treaty of Berlin. The absence of all serious attempt to introduce the reforms promised in that article is, in their opinion, a source of danger to the future integrity of Turkey, and might, at a critical moment, tend to embarras and even paralyze the friendly sympathies of the signatory Powers." || The massacre of Armenians which took place in the district of Sasun in the summer of 1894 brought the subject once more into notice, and showed the urgent necessity of steps beeing taken to secure the fulfilment of the promises which had been made seventeen years before. The result of a prolonged negociation was the acceptance by the Sultan of a scheme intended to assure to the provinces where Armenians formed a Gross considerable proportion of the population such institutions as would afford to Nr. 11370. them the elements of equitable Government. Unfortunately, a few days before britannien. the consent of the Sultan had been obtained to this arrangement, a demon- 20. Okt.1896. stration in the streets of Constantinople led to a disturbance in which, whether by the fault or the neglect of the authorities, numbers of Armenians who cannot be held to have been guilty of any serious offence were murdered or brutally ill treated. This occurence was followed shortly by sanguinary attacks on the Armenians in various parts of Asia Minor resulting in the loss of many thousands of lives, enormous destruction of property, and widespread distress among the survivors. The attacks may possibly in some cases have originated in disturbances commenced by Armenian agitators but is impossible not to hold the Turkish authorities, civil and military, mainly responsible for them and for their effects. They have been succeded by a massacre at Constantinople, in which it is estimated that between 5,000 and 6,000 lives of innocent persons have been sacrificed, which has every appearance of having been in some way organized by authority, and which certainly might, either wholly or in great part, have been prevented by timely action on the part of the turkish military force. In the meanwhile, though the consent of the Sultan was given twelve months ago to the plan of reforms for the Armenian vilayets, no real progress has been made towards putting them in execution beyond the appointment of a few Christian officials. || It is impossible, on a review of these events, not to feel how great is the insecurity of the lives and property of the Christian subjects of the Porte, and how oppressive the misgovernment under which Christians and Moslems are suffering alike. The whole population of the Asiatic provinces is in a state of discontent and unrest, the soldiers and gendarmerie are suffering from want of pay, which is in many cases several months in arrear, the officials are powerless to exercise control. It seems that at any moment the fanatical feelings of certain sections of the Mussulman population may be excited into savage attacks on those who differ from them in creed, and that no reliance can be placed on the energy or good-will of those whose duty it is to provide for the preservation of the public peace. || The indiscriminate and wide-reaching slaughter of which the Turkish officials, and a portion of the Moslem population under their guidance or with their connivance, have been guilty, has had for its nominal aim the maintenance of the Sultan's Government. But it has had the effect of bringing the stability of that Government into greater peril than it has yet encountered. It has resulted either in exterminating or in driving away a large portion of the classes by whom the industry and trade of the country was carried on, and has reduced to the utmost extremity the material resources of the Government. Financial collapse threatens the military strength by which the Empire is supported, while the atrocious cruelty of many of those by whom the Government is administered has roused among Christian nations a sympathy and an |