[Preliminary Meetings at Constantinople.]

ABSTRACT OF DELIBERATIONS OF MEETINGS.

9TH PRELIMINARY MEETING. 22ND DECEMBER, 1876.

Notification of Sublime Porte of intention to send Plenipotentiaries to the full Conference, and 23rd December named for day of meeting.

Observations of Russian Ambassador. "Irreducible minimum" demanded in favour of Christians of the East no longer represents wishes of one Power, but is the common work of united Europe.

Guarantee of Expenses of Passage of Neutral Troops. Observations of Ambassadors. Documents reporting Deliberations of Meetings to be laid before Turkish Representatives at first meeting of full Conference. Order of Discussion in full Conference. Power reserved by Ambassadors to agree among themselves on questions raised.

Sittings of Preliminary Meeting closed.

Speech of President. Thanks of Plenipotentiaries to Doyen of Diplomatic Body.

}

[Plenipotentiaries of Great Britain, Austria - Hungary, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, and Turkey, sat in Conference at Constantinople on the Affairs in the East from the 23rd December, 1876, till the 20th January, 1877; and an Abstract of their Proceedings is given at page 2541 (No. 477).]

24. Property. Forced Labour. Contributions in time of War.

* The Ottoman Parliament was opened for the first time, by a Speech from the Sultan, on the 19th March, 1877.

page 817.

See State Papers," Vol. 68,

113. State of Siege. Expulsion of Persons Dangerous to the State. 114. Primary Education.

115. Execution of Constitution.

116. Modifications in Constitution on certain Conditions.

117

& Interpretation of Laws.

118

119. Provisional Order concerning General Assembly.

(Translation as laid before Parliament.)

The Ottoman Empire.

ART. I. THE Ottoman Empire comprises present territory and possessions, and semi-dependent (privilégiés) provinces. It forms an indivisible whole, from which no portion can be detached under any pretext whatever.

ART. II. Constantinople is the capital of the Ottoman Empire. This city possesses no privilege or immunity peculiar to itself over the other towns of the Empire.

Sultan, "Supreme Caliph."

ART. III. The Ottoman Sovereignty, which includes in the person of the Sovereign the Supreme Caliphat of Islamism, belongs to the eldest Prince of the house of Osman, in accordance with the rules established ab antiquo.

ART. IV. His Majesty the Sultan, under the title of "Supreme Caliph," is the protector of the Mussulman religion. He is the Sovereign and Padisha of all the Ottomans.

ART. V. His Majesty the Sultan is irresponsible; his person

is sacred.

ART. VI. The liberty of members of the Imperial Ottoman Dynasty, their property, real and personal, and their Civil List during their lifetime, are under the guarantee of all.

Sovereign Rights of Sultan.

ART. VII. Among the Sovereign rights of His Majesty the Sultan are the following prerogatives:-He makes and cancels

[Constitution.]

the appointments of Ministers; he confers the grades, functions, and insignia of his Orders, and confers investiture on the chiefs of the privileged provinces, according to forms determined by the privileges granted them; he has the coining of money; his name is pronounced in the mosques during public prayer; he concludes Treaties with the Powers; he declares war and makes peace; he commands both the land and sea forces; he directs military movements; he carries out the provisions of the Cheri (the sacred Law), and of the other laws; he sees to the administration of public measures; he respites or commutes sentences pronounced by the Criminal Courts; he summons and prorogues the General Assembly; he dissolves, if he deems it necessary, the Chamber of Deputies, provided he directs the election of new members.

Public Law of the Ottomans.
Personal Liberty.

ART. VIII. All subjects of the Empire are called Ottomans, without distinction, whatever faith they profess; the status of an Ottoman is acquired and lost, according to conditions specified by law.

ART. IX. Every Ottoman enjoys personal liberty on condition of not interfering with the liberty of others.

ART. X. Personal liberty is wholly inviolable. No one can suffer punishment, under any pretext whatsoever, except in cases determined by law, and according to the forms prescribed by it.

Religion.

ART. XI. Islamism is the State Religion.

Religious Liberty.

But, while maintaining this principle, the State will protect the free exercise of all faiths professed in the Empire, and uphold the religious privileges granted to various bodies, on condition of public order and morality not being interfered with.

The Press.

ART. XII. The press is free, within limits imposed by law.

Commercial and other Companies.

ART. XIII. Ottomans have the power of forming commercial

[Constitution.]

companies, industrial or agricultural, within limits imposed by law and statute.

Right of Petition.

ART. XIV. One or more persons of Ottoman nationality have the right of presenting petitions in the proper quarter relating to the breaking of law and regulation, done either to their own or public detriment, and may likewise present in protest signed petitions to the General Ottoman Assembly, complaining of the conduct of State servants and functionaries.

Education.

ART. XV. Education is free.

Every Ottoman can attend public or private instruction on condition of conforming to the law.

Schools.

ART. XVI. All schools are under State supervision.

Proper means will be devised for harmonizing and regulating the instruction given to all the Ottomans, but without interfering with the religious education in the various districts.

ART. XVII. All Ottomans are equal in the eye of the law. They have the same rights and owe the same duties towards their country, without prejudice to religion.

ART. XVIII. Eligibility to public offices is conditional on a knowledge of Turkish, which is the official language of the State.

ART. XIX. All Ottomans are admitted to public offices, according to their fitness, merit, and ability.

Taxes.

ART. XX. The assessment and distribution of the taxes are to be in proportion to the fortune of each taxpayer, in conformity with the laws and special regulations.

Property.

ART. XXI. Property, real and personal, of lawful title, is guaranteed. There can be no dispossession, except on good public cause shown, and subject to the previous payment, according to law of the value of the property in question.