[Reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina.] me, that, if these suggestions are carried into effect, the AustroHungarian Government will, in concert with the other Powers whose united action Count Andrassy has invited, use their best exertions to prevent the spread of the movement and to induce the insurgents to submit, or effectually preclude them from receiving assistance from beyond the frontier should they persist in continuing the struggle. Her Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople will accordingly be instructed to give a general support to the proposals of the Austro-Hungarian Government, and to act with his colleagues for this purpose. I have, &c., DERBY. [Reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina.] No. 458.-TURKISH REPLY to the Andrassy Note, respecting proposed Reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 13th February, 1876. Supplementary Reforms. Religious Liberty. Farming of Taxes. TABLE. Amelioration of Condition of Rural Population. Appropriation of Direct Taxes. Circular to the Representatives of the Sublime Porte at Paris, London, Vienna, St. Petersburgh, Berlin, and Rome. (Translation as laid before Parliament.) You are aware that his Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs of His Royal and Imperial Majesty of Austria-Hungary had arranged with the Great Powers to recommend as a friend to the Sublime Porte certain Reforms for application in Bosnia and in Herzegovina, with a view to induce, as soon as possible, the pacification of our insurgent districts. Some days ago, Count Zichy, Baron Werther, and General Ignatiew, Ambassadors of the three Northern Courts, communicated to me verbally the contents of a despatch which Count Andrassy addressed on the 30th of last December (No. 456) to the Representatives of Austria-Hungary at Paris, at London, and at Rome. On their side, the Representatives of France, England, and Italy have acquainted me with the adhesion of their Governments to the ideas suggested by the Austro-Hungarian Cabinet (No. 457). My telegram of the 1st instant informed you of the above. In view of the unofficial and friendly form in which, as I have just said, this communication was made to us, and since, moreover, the despatch which was read was not directly addressed to ourselves, I consider it quite unnecessary to enter upon an analysis of the purport of this document, or to touch upon certain points which lend themselves to discussion. The Sublime Porte has therefore confined itself to considering the five points which contain the proposals of the Count, and has examined them with care. We are persuaded of the [Reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina.] firm and sincere intention of the Great Powers to co-operate in an efficacious manner for the prompt pacification of the insurgent districts, and consequently are glad to declare ourselves ready to avail ourselves of their friendly dispositions. We never doubted the frankness and loyalty of their intentions as regards ourselves, insomuch as we onrselves also were very anxious to bring back to reason these interesting but mistaken populations, in order to make them, like the other provinces of the Empire, reap benefit from the advantages granted to them by the Imperial Firman of the 12th of last December (No. 456). Anxious for the well-being of all his subjects without distinction, and desirous, in his high and generous initiative, to extend to the revolted districts both the favours already conceded as well as the measures loyally suggested by Count Andrassy, measures which he considers as appertaining to his sovereign rights, and as ameliorations supplementary to those already decreed by his recent august rescript, His Imperial Majesty the Sultan has been pleased to ordain by an Iradé, dated 15th Mouharrem, 1293,* the application of the following points, which are the necessary consequence of the principles adopted by the Sublime Porte, and which are to come into full force in all parts of Bosnia and the Herzegovina without exception. Supplementary Reforms: Religious Liberty. Farming of Taxes. Amelioration of Condition of Rural Population. Commission to Superintend Execution of Reforms. These supplementary reforms may be summarized as follows: 1. Full and entire religious liberty. 2. Abolition of the system of farming the taxes. 3. Amelioration of the agrarian position of the peasants who cultivate the soil. 4. The establishment of a Local Commission, composed in equal numbers of Mussulmans and non-Mussulmans, to superintend the general execution of all the reforms which have been decreed. Appropriation of Direct Taxes. With regard to the clause in Count Andrassy's project which relates to appropriation of the direct taxes to the wants of the 11th February, 1876. [Reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina.] province itself, the Sublime Porte has to observe that this proposition cannot be brought into harmony with the general system of our financial administration. However, His Imperial Majesty the Sultan, with his feelings of clemency and anxiety for the districts ravaged by the insurrection, has determined that their situation shall be taken into consideration by his Government, and he consequently has just decreed the measures necessary for setting aside a certain sum, the amount of which will be settled by His Majesty's orders, after that he has heard the wishes of the Administrative Councils, based upon the wants of the several places. This sum will form a supplement to the revenue already allotted to Bosnia and Herzegovina for purposes of public utility. The expenditure of the sums appropriated under this latter head will be minutely audited by the Provincial Councils, established according to the terms of the Firman of the 12th of December last (No. 455). Your Excellency will closely follow this order of the Sublime Porte, which seems to us to offer no perceptible difference between matters affecting the very basis and matters relating only to the form of Count Andrassy's propositions. I conclude this despatch by declaring, by order of His Majesty our august Master, that the Imperial Government is firmly resolved to carry out these reforms in all their integrity, and to take good care that they are not infringed in any way. I request you, M. l'Ambassadeur, to read this despatch to His Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and to give him a copy of it. I beg, &c., RASCHID. [In February, 1876, a Proclamation was issued by Sultan Abdul Aziz, granting an amnesty to all insurgents in Bosnia and Herzegovina, who, within four weeks from that date, would lay down their arms and make their submission. On the 30th May, 1876, Sultan Abdul Aziz was deposed; and died on the 4th June following. He was succeeded by Sultan Murad V; and on the 5th of June, Vizirial instructions were issued to the Turkish Commissioners in Bosnia and Herzegovina to proclaim an amnesty for all insurgents who would make their submission and return to their homes within six weeks.] [Law of the Vilayets.] No. 459.-TURKISH INSTRUCTIONS to GovernorsGeneral of the Provinces, relating to the General, Administration of the Vilayets.* March, 1876. Chapter I.-Duties of the Valis. 1. Administration of each Vilayet by a Governor-General. 2. Equality of all Ottoman Subjects before the Law. 3. Responsibility of Valis to the Government. 4. Execution of Reforms. Exercise of Functions, 5. Maintenance and Development of Reforms. Chapter II.-Duties of the Valis. 6. Execution of Reforms. Tribunals and Councils. Police Agents, Tax Gatherers, &c. Prisons. Landed Property. Military Service. Forced Labour. Agriculture. Taxes. 7. Elections. Councils and Tribunals. ลอง & 9 10 19. Police Agents, Tax Collectors, and Bailiffs. 20. Transport of Military Baggage, &c. 21. Prisons. Detention of Individuals without Trial. 22 & Prisons and Prisoners (Mutessarifs and Kaïmakams). 23 For Law of the Vilayets, 1867, see "Législation Ottomane," Ed. 1874, Part II, p. 273. For Law respecting the general administration of the Vilayets, see Ed. 1874, Part III, p. 7. See also "Law of the Vilayets (Eastern Roumelia)," 23rd August, 1880. |