[Holland and Belgium.]

shall take place on the same footing as before the 1st of November, 1832.

The present Explanatory Article shall have the same force and validity, as if it were inserted word for word in the Convention of this day. It shall be ratified, and the Ratifications shall be exchanged at the same time as those of the said Convention.

In witness whereof, the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the same, and have affixed thereto the Seals of their Arms. Done at London, the 21st day of May, in the year of Our Lord, 1833.

(L.S.) PALMERSTON.

(L.S.) TALLEYRAND. (L.S.) DEDEL.

[Belgium acceded to the above Convention in a Note addressed to the Plenipotentiaries on the 10th June, 1833.1

[Treaty of Unkiar Skelessi.]

No. 168.-TREATY of Defensive Alliance between Russia and Turkey. Signed at Constantinople, 8th July, 1833.*

3. Maintenance by Russia of Independence of Turkey.

4. Land and Sea Forces to be maintained by the Power requesting As

Strait of the Daraanelles to be closed to Foreign Ships of War during War between Russia and any other Foreign Power.

(Translation as laid before Parliament.†)

In the name of Almighty God.

His Imperial Majesty, the Most High and Most Mighty Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias, and His Highness the Most High and Most Mighty Emperor of the Ottomans, being equally animated with the sincere desire of maintaining the system of peace and good harmony happily established between the two Empires, have resolved to extend and strengthen the perfect friendship and confidence which reign between them by the conclusion of a Treaty of Defensive Alliance.

Their Majesties have accordingly chosen and named as their Plenipotentiaries; that is to say:

His Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias, the Most Excellent and Most Honorable Alexis, Count Orloff, his Extraordinary Ambassador at the Sublime Ottoman Porte, and the Most Excellent and Most Honorable Apollinaire Bouténeff, his Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Sublime Ottoman Porte, &c.;

And His Highness the Sultan of the Ottomans, the Most Illustrious and Most Excellent, the Most Ancient of his Viziers, Hosrew Mehemet Pasha, Seraskier, Commander-in-Chief of the Regular Troops of the Line, and Governor-General of Constantinople, &c., and the Most Excel'ent and Most Honorable Ferzi Akhmet Pasha, Mouchir and Commander of the Guard of His * Modified by Treaty of 29th January, 1834. See also Treaties of 30th March, 1856, and 13th March, 1871.

† For French version, see "State Papers," vol. xx, p. 1176.

[Treaty of Unkiar Skelessi.]

Highness, &c., and the Most Excellent and Most Honorable Hadgi Mehmet Akiff Reis Effendi, actual Reis Effendi, &c. ;

Who, after having exchanged their Full Powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon the following Articles :

Peace, Amity, and Alliance.

ART. I. There shall be for ever Peace, Amity, and Alliance between His Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias and His Majesty the Emperor of the Ottomans, their Empires and their Subjects, as well by land as by sea. This Alliance having solely for its object the common defence of their dominions against all attack, their Majesties engage to come to an unreserved understanding with each other upon all the matters which concern their respective tranquillity and safety, and to afford to each other mutually for this purpose substantial aid, and the most efficacious assistance.

14th

26th

Confirmation of Treaties.

ART. II. The Treaty of Peace concluded at Adrianople on the 2nd September, 1829 (No. 145), as well as all the other Treaties comprised therein, as also the Convention signed at St. Petersburgh on the 14th April, 1830* and the Arrangement relating to Greece, concluded at Constantinople on the July, 1832 (No. 161), are fully confirmed by the present Treaty of Defensive Alliance, in the same manner as if the said transactions had been inserted in it word for word.

9th

21st

Maintenance by Russia of Independence of Turkey.

ART. III. In consequence of the principle of conservation and mutual defence, which is the basis of the present Treaty of Alliance, and by reason of a most sincere desire of securing the permanence, maintenance, and entire Independence of the Sublime Porte, His Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias, in the event of circumstances occurring which should again determine the Sublime Porte to call for the naval and military assistance of Russia, although, if it please God, that case is by no means likely to happen, engages to furnish, by land and by sea, as many troops and forces as the two High Contracting Parties may deem necessary. It is accordingly agreed, that in this case the Land and Sea Forces, whose aid the Sublime Porte may call for, shall be held at its disposal.

* Reduction of War Indemnity.

[Treaty of Unkiar Skelessi.]

Land and Sea Forces to be Maintained by the Power requesting

Assistance.

ART. IV. In conformity with what is above stated, in the event of one of the two Powers requesting the assistance of the other, the expense only of provisioning the Land and the Sea Forces which may be furnished, shall fall to the charge of the Power who shall have applied for the aid.

Duration of Treaty.

ART. V. Although the two High Contracting Parties sincerely intend to maintain this engagement to the most distant period of time, yet, as it is possible that in process of time circumstances may require that some changes should be made in this Treaty, it has been agreed to fix its duration at 8 years from the day of the exchange of the Imperial Ratifications. The two parties, previously to the expiration of that term, will concert together, according to the state of affairs at that time, as to the renewal of the said Treaty.

Ratifications.

ART. VI. The present Treaty of Defensive Alliance shall be ratified by the two High Contracting Parties, and the Ratifications thereof shall be exchanged at Constantinople within the space of two months, or sooner if possible.

The present Instrument, consisting of 6 Articles, and to be finally completed by the exchange of the respective Ratifications, having been agreed upon between us, we have signed it, and sealed it with our Seals, in virtue of our Full Powers, and have delivered it to the Plenipotentiaries of the Sublime Ottoman Porte in exchange for a similar Instrument.

8th July'

Done at Constantinople, the 26th June, 1833 (the 20th of the moon Safer, in the 1249th year of the Hegira).

(L.S.) CTE. ALEXIS ORLOFF. (L.S.) A. BOUTENEFF.

Strait of the Dardanelles to be closed to Foreign Ships of War during War between Russia and any other Foreign Power. In virtue of one of the clauses of Article I of the Patent Treaty * See Convention of 13th July, 1841: and Treaties of 30th March, 1856, and 13th March, 1871.

[Treaty of Unkiar Skelessi.]

of Defensive Alliance concluded between the Imperial Court of Russia and the Sublime Porte, the two High Contracting Parties are bound to afford to each other mutually substantial aid, and the most efficacious assistance for the safety of their respective dominions. Nevertheless, His Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias, wishing to spare the Sublime Ottoman Porte the expense and inconvenience which might be occasioned to it by affording substantial aid, will not ask for that aid if circumstances should place the Sublime Porte under the obligation of furnishing it, the Sublime Ottoman Porte, in place of the aid which it is bound to furnish in case of need, according to the principle of reciprocity of the Patent Treaty, shall confine its action in favour of the Imperial Court of Russia to closing the Strait of the Dardanelles, that is to say, to not allowing any Foreign Vessels of War to enter therein under any pretext whatsoever./

The present Separate and Secret Article shall have the same force and value as if it was inserted word for word in the Treaty of Alliance of this day.

8th July

Done at Constantinople, the 26th June, 1833 (the 20th of the moon of Safer, in the 1249th year of the Hegira).

(L.S.) CTE. ALEXIS ORLOFF. (L.S.) A. BOUTENEFF.

The British and French Governments protested against the above Treaty. The following is a Copy of the British Protest delivered to the Porte :

The Undersigned has been instructed to express to the Sublime Porte the deep concern with which the British Government has learnt the conclusion of the Treaty of the 8th of July between the Emperor of Russia and the Sultan. That Treaty appears to His Majesty's Government to produce a change in the relations between Turkey and Russia, to which other European States are entitled to object; and the Undersigned is instructed to declare that if the stipulations of that Treaty should hereafter lead to the armed interference of Russia in the internal affairs of Turkey, the British Government will hold itself at liberty to act upon such an occasion, in any manner which the circumstances of the moment may appear to require, equally as if the Treaty above mentioned were not in existence.

Constantinople, 26th August, 1833.

PONSONBY.