XII. Les étrangers et les protégés propriétaires ou locataires de terrains cultivés, ainsi que les censaux adonnés à l'agriculture, paieront l'impôt agricole. Ils remettront chaque année à leur Consul la note exacte de ce qu'ils possèdent, en acquittant entre ses mains le montant de l'impôt. Celui qui fera une fausse déclaration paiera, à titre d'amende, le double de l'impôt qu'il aurait dû régulièrement verser pour les biens non déclarés. En cas de récidive cette amende sera doublée. La nature, le mode, la date, et la quotité de cet impôt seront l'objet d'un règlement spécial entre les Représentants des Puissances et le Ministre des Affaires Étrangères de Sa Majesté Shériffienne. XIII.* Les étrangers, les protégés, et les censaux propriétaires de bêtes de somme paieront la taxe dite des portes. La quotité et le mode de perception de cette taxe, commune aux étrangers et aux indigènes, seront également l'objet d'un règlement spécial entre les Représentants des Puissances et le Ministre des Affaires Étrangères de Sa Majesté Shériffienne. La dite taxe ne pourra être augmentée sans un nouvel accord avec les Représentants des Puissances. XIV. La médiation des Interprètes, Secrétaires indigènes, ou soldats des différentes Légations ou Consulats, lorsqu'il s'agira de personnes non placées sous la protection de la Légation ou du Consulat, ne sera admise qu'autant qu'ils seront porteurs d'un document signé par le Chef de Mission ou par l'autorité Consulaire. XV. Tout sujet Marocain naturalisé à l'étranger, qui reviendra au Maroc, devra, après un temps de séjour égal à celui qui lui aura été régulièrement nécessaire pour obtenir la naturalisation, opter entre sa soumission entière aux lois de l'Empire et l'obligation de quitter le Maroc, à moins qu'il ne soit constaté que la naturalisation étrangère a été obtenue avec l'assentiment du Gouvernement Marocain. La naturalisation étrangère acquise jusqu'à ce jour par des sujets Marocains, suivant les règles établies par les lois de chaque pays, leur est maintenue pour tous ses effets, sans restriction aucune. XVI. Aucune protection irrégulière ni officieuse ne pourra être accordée à l'avenir. Les autorités Marocaines ne reconnaîtront jamais d'autres protections, quelle que soit leur nature, que celles qui sont expressément arrêtées dans cette Convention. Cependant l'exercice du droit consuétudinaire de protection sera réservé aux seuls cas où il s'agirait de récompenser des services signalés rendus par un Marocain à une Puissance étrangère, ou pour d'autres motifs tout à fait exceptionnels. La nature des services et l'intention de les récompenser par la protection seront *The Regulations in execution of this Article were signed at Tangier on the 30th March, 1881, and will be given in Vol. LXXII. préalablement notifiées au Ministre des Affaires Étrangères à Tanger, afin qu'il puisse au besoin présenter ses observations; la résolution définitive restera néanmoins réservée au Gouvernement auquel le service aura été rendu. Le nombre de ses protégés ne pourra dépasser celui de douze par Puissance, qui reste fixé comme maximum, à moins d'obtenir l'assentiment du Sultan. La situation des protégés qui ont obtenu la protection en vertu de la coutume désormais réglée par la présente disposition sera, sans limitation du nombre pour les protégés actuels de cette catégorie, identique pour eux et pour leurs familles, à celle qui est établie pour les autres protégés. XVII. Le droit au traitement de la nation la plus favorisée est reconnu par le Maroc à toutes les Puissances représentées à la Conférence de Madrid. XVIII. La présente Convention sera ratifiée. Les ratifications seront échangées à Tanger dans le plus bref délai possible. Par consentement exceptionnel des Hautes Parties Contractantes les dispositions de la présente Convention entreront en vigueur à partir du jour de la signature à Madrid. En foi de quoi les Plénipotentiaires respectifs ont signé la présente Convention, et y ont apposé le sceau de leurs armes. Fait à Madrid, en treize exemplaires, le 3 Juillet, 1880. (L.S.) L. S. SACKVILLE WEST. (L.S.) G. E. SOLMS. CORRESPONDENCE between Great Britain, Turkey, &c., respecting the Unionist Movement in Bulgaria and Eastern Roumelia-May-July, 1880. No. 1.-Mr. White to Earl Granville.-(Received June 8.) (Extract.) Bucharest, May 31, 1880. FROM reports received here from the Principality of Bulgaria, it would appear that the concentration of a large force under General Ernroth, the new War Minister, about Shoumla, is very much commented upon. Persons receiving intelligence from Bulgaria say they would not be the least surprised to hear ere long of a movement for a junction of Eastern Roumelia with the Principality, and of an attempt to override in this matter the Berlin stipulations. Earl Granville. W. A. WHITE. No. 2.-Mr. Michell to Earl Granville.—(Received June 9.) MY LORD, Philippopoli, May 29, 1880. THE inclosed extract from the "Philippoupolis" gives publicity to a rumour which has been for some time current, to the effect that the Bulgarian Deputies to the Provincial Assembly, or some other body of Bulgarian patriots, will hold a meeting or Congress at Slivno towards the end of the present month, or early in June (0. 8.). I have been assured that the seat of the "Central Administration of the Gymnastic Societies of Southern Bulgaria" has been transferred to Slivno in order to insure greater secrecy for their proceedings; and it is therefore not improbable that a Congress such as was held in the same town at a similar period last year is now actually in contemplation. The Governor-General has denied all knowledge of the convocation of such an Assembly. I have, &c., Earl Granville. T. MICHELL. (Inclosure.)-Extract from the " Philippoupolis" of May 29. 1880. Nous apprenons qu'un Conseil dans lequel prendront part tous les patriotes exaltés se réunira à Slivno vers la fin du présent mois. Nous croyons devoir rappeler à nos lecteurs que c'est cette même ville qui, le Mai de l'année dernière, a servi pour premier lieu de réunion aux Représentants de la Bulgarie du Sud; la place n'est pas mal choisie, aucune des Puissances Européennes n'y étant pas représentée. No. 3.-Mr. Michell to Earl Granville.—(Received June 22.) (Telegraphic.) Philippopoli, June 5, 1880. THE leading Bulgarian agitators held on 29th ultimo at Slivno a Congress attended likewise by Delegates from Principality. As yet I have obtained only following positive information:— They discussed present position of Gymnasts, and resolved that unless latter were immediately drawn into reserve of militia their military exercises must be resumed. The Delegates from Bulgaria inquired into military resources at disposal of province for "purpose of defence" in view of approaching difficulties in Turkey. They also urged co-operation for a speedy union, but the majority refused to compromise province by any initiative with latter object, and told Delegates that they must induce their Prince to negotiate matters with the Great Powers. I am assured the Delegates left not well satisfied. No. 4.-Mr. Lascelles to Earl Granville.-(Received June 24.) MY LORD, Sophia, June 14, 1880. THE Bulgarian Chamber, in a secret Session held on the 11th instant, authorized an advance of a sum of 33,000l. being made to the Government of Eastern Roumelia. A question having been put to M. Zankoff by one of my colleagues with regard to this loan, his Excellency explained that the Government of Eastern Roumelia had applied to the Bank of Bulgaria for a loan in order to meet certain immediate payments which the province, in consequence of delay in the collection of the taxes, was unable to make. The Bank of Bulgaria, which was established by Prince Dondoukoff-Korsakoff, has not the power of disposing of the money in its possession without the authority of the Chamber. M. Zankoff admitted that he did not see the necessity for discussing the question in a secret Session, and thought that it would have been better if it had been determined to submit the matter to the Chamber in the ordinary course. I have, &c., Earl Granville. FRANK C. LASCELLES. No. 5.-Mr. Lascelles to Earl Granville.-(Received June 24.) MY LORD, Sophia, June 14, 1880. MR. MICHELL having communicated to me a copy of the telegram which he sent to your Lordship on the 5th instant, on the subject of the meeting of Bulgarian agitators which had taken place at Slivno, I took an opportunity of asking M. Zankoff whether he had received any information as to what had been the result of the meeting. M. Zankoff told me that he had seen both M. Stambouloff and M. Givkoff, the Bulgarian Delegates, who were both somewhat dis appointed. They had gone to Slivno in the hopes of obtaining great things, and had found that, at all events for the present, there was nothing to be done with regard to the union of the Principality with Eastern Roumelia. His Excellency assured me that there was no probability of any attempt being made to upset the existing order of things, and repeated the statement that he has more than once made to me, that all that the Principality desired was to be left quiet until she had reorganized the administration. On my inquiring of his Excellency whether it was true that it had been resolved to recommence the military exercises of the Gymnastic Societies unless they were immediately drawn into the reserve of the militia, his Excellency said that he believed that this was so, and he also informed me that a Bill would shortly be presented to the Bulgarian Chamber for the organization of a National Guard in the Principality. I told his Excellency that the experience that had been gained in France with regard to the National Guard was not such as to encourage its formation in other countries. I reminded his Excellency that the proportions which the Commune had assumed in Paris. in 1871 were due to the existence of a National Guard, and I expressed some astonishment that in the present state of the finances it should be thought advisable to incur the expense which would be entailed by the formation of a National Guard, which appeared to me to be rather an element of danger than of strength for the country. M. Zankoff replied that no further expense would be incurred; the National Guard already existed, aud all that would be done. would be to organize it by law. His Excellency added that there was not the slightest danger of any revolutionary movement taking place in the Principality. I understand that a Law was passed by the Chamber yesterday by which every male Bulgarian between the ages of 20 and 40 will form part of the National Guard, and will be called upon for military service for fifty days in each year. The officers are to be elected by the men, and the superior management is to be intrusted to a Committee appointed by the Chamber and approved by the Prince. I have, &c., Earl Granville. FRANK C. LASCELLES. SIR, No. 7.-Earl Granville to Mr. Lascelles. Foreign Office, June 24, 1880. I INCLOSE, for your information, a copy of a despatch from Her Majesty's Minister at Bucharest, referring to the possibility of an |