[War. Russia and Turkey.] No. 234.-TURKISH DECLARATION of War against Russia. Constantinople, 4th October, 1853. (Translation as laid before Parliament.*) UNDER existing circumstances it would be superfluous to recapitulate from the commencement the narrative of the difference which has arisen between the Sublime Porte and Russia, to enter into a fresh detail of the different stages of this difference, as well as to recite the opinions and views of the Government of His Majesty the Sultan, which have been made public by the official documents published from time to time. Notwithstanding our desire not to revert to the urgent motives which led to the modifications introduced by the Sublime Porte into the draft of note prepared at Vienna, motives which have, moreover, been previously set forth in an explanatory note, fresh representations having been made, subsequently to the refusal of Russia to accept those same modifications, in favour of the adoption of the said draft without alteration, the Ottoman Government finding it at the present time utterly impossible to adopt the draft of note in question, and being compelled to declare War, deems it to be its duty to set forth the imperative reasons of this important determination, as well as those which have constrained it to adapt its conduct in this instance to the recommendations of the Great Powers its Allies, although it has never ceased to appreciate the benevolent character of their observations. The principal points which the Government of His Majesty the Sultan will in the first place notice, are these: that, at the outset, there was nothing in its conduct to give occasion for complaint, and that, animated with the desire of preserving peace, it has acted with a remarkable spirit of moderation and conciliation from the commencement of the difference up to the present time. It is easy to prove these facts to all who do not deviate from the paths of justice and equity. Even though Russia might have had a ground of complaint in regard to the question of the Holy Places,† she ought to have confined her measures and representations within the limits of * For French version, see "State Papers," vol. xlii, p. 1321. The first published despatch respecting the question of the Holy Places at Jerusalem, or the Rights and Privileges of the Latin and Greek Churches in Turkey, was dated 20th May, 1850. See Papers laid before Parliament in 1854, Part I. [War. Russia and Turkey.] that single question, and not put forth pretensions which the object of her claims could not bear out. Moreover, she ought not to have had recourse to measures of intimidation, such as those of sending her troops to the frontiers and of making maritime preparations at Sevastopol, in regard to a question which might have been amicably settled between the two Powers. However, it is clear that the contrary of all this has taken place. The question of the Holy Places had been settled to the satisfaction of all parties: the Government of His Majesty the Sultan had shown itself to be favourably disposed on the subject of the assurances required as to that question, and as to certain other demands relative to Jerusalem. In fine, there was no ground for putting forward on the part of Russia any further demand. Is it not to seek occasion for War to insist, as she does, on the question of the privileges of the Greek Church which have been bestowed by the Ottoman Government, privileges which it considers it a matter of honour, of dignity, and of its sovereign authority to uphold, and in regard to which it cannot admit of the interference or supervision of any Government? Has not Russia occupied with a considerable force the Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia,* declaring that those provinces should serve her for a guarantee until such time as she should have obtained what she requires? Was not this act justly considered by the Porte as an infraction of Treaties, and consequently as a casus belli? Could the other Powers themselves entertain any other opinion of it? Who, then, can doubt that Russia is the aggressor? Was it possible that the Sublime Porte, which has always observed with notorious fidelity all its Treaties, should have infringed them to such a degree as to induce Russia to adopt so violent a course as that of herself violating these Treaties? Or, have there occurred within the Ottoman Empire, in disregard of the promise explicitly recorded in the Treaty of Kainardji, such acts as the demolition of Christian churches, or have any obstacles been offered to the exércise of the Christian religion? The Ottoman Cabinet, without wishing to enter into longer details on these points, entertains no doubt that the High Powers, its Allies, will find and consider what has been mentioned to be altogether correct and true./ In regard to the non-acceptance by the Sublime Porte of the Vienna draft of note in its unaltered form, it is to be observed * See Note, page 1175. [War. Russia and Turkey.] that that draft, without being altogether the same as Prince Menchikoff's note, and while it comprised indeed some paragraphs of the Sublime Porte's own draft of note, does not on the whole, either in letter or in spirit, differ essentially from that of Prince Menchikoff. The assurances recently given by the Representatives of the Great Powers in regard to the danger to be apprehended from mischievous interpretations of the draft of note in question, are a further proof of the good intentions of their respective Governments towards the Sublime Porte; they have consequently afforded lively satisfaction to the Government of His Majesty the Sultan. It is to be observed, however, that while we have still before our eyes the commencement of the question of Religious Privileges which has been raised by Russia, who seeks to rest her claim on a paragraph so clear and so precise of the Treaty of Kainardji,* to consent to record in a diplomatic document the paragraph concerning the active solicitude of the Emperors of Russia for the maintenance, within the States of the Sublime Porte, of the Immunities and Religious Privileges granted to the Greek religion by the Ottoman Emperors, before the existence even of Russia as an Empire; to leave in a state of doubt and obscurity the fact that there is no relation between these Privileges and the Treaty of Kainardji; to employ in favour of a great community of subjects of the Sublime Porte professing the Greek religion, expressions which should contain an allusion to Treaties concluded with France and Austria in regard to the French and.Latin monks, would be to incur the risk of leaving at the disposal of Russia certain vague and obscure paragraphs, some of which are inconsistent with fact; it would likewise, without any doubt, offer to Russia a good ground for its claims to supervision and to Religious Protectorate, claims which she would attempt to put forward, asserting that they are by no means prejudicial to the sovereign Rights and Independence of the Sublime Porte, The very language of the officers and agents of Russia who have declared that the intention of their Government was no other than to discharge the office of advocate with the Sublime Porte so often as proceedings contrary to the existing privileges should take place, is an evident proof of the correctness of the opinion of the Ottoman Government. 21st July, 1774. See Appendix. [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? 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. |