[Close of the Constantinople Conference.] The utterances of General Ignatiew have this peculiar character, that, being made at the moment of the close of the Conference, they put the Ottoman Plenipotentiaries in the most delicate position possible. Nothing could have been easier for them -if they had not thought it necessary carefully to avoid the ground which the General had taken up-than to have addressed themselves one by one to the different points on which he had touched, and to have forthwith corrected the errors of his assertions, both as regards their form and substance. But the subjects to which he alluded had so little in common with the object of the deliberations of the Conference, and were so completely outside the programme of its labours, that the Ottoman Plenipotentiaries thought it better after all to push personal delicacy towards the Russian Representative to its furthest limits, and they therefore kept silence. The Representatives of the other Powers also followed their example, and in this we may see au unequivocal sign of the astonishment with which they heard the words in which General Ignatiew assumed to represent the opinion of his colleagues. The Sublime Porte is nowise blind to the dangers of the situation and to the fresh dangers in which the unhappy result of the Conference may involve her. But she is persuaded that Europe will not aggravate these consequences by making her responsible for this want of success, which is exclusively due to the maintenance of two measures, the efficacy and practical utility of which are at least questionable, and which would undoubtedly have been paralysed by the feelings of general disapproval with which they would have been received, if the Imperial Government, regardless of all national dignity, had allowed itself to be drawn into their acceptance. It seems to us impossible that we can have thereby forfeited the good-will and the sympathy of Europe. You will be good enough, M. l'Ambassador, to read this despatch to his Excellency the Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and to leave him a copy of it. I have, &c., SAFVET. [Nichsich and Riéka.] No. 479.-CONVENTION between Turkey and Montenegro, for the Transport of Provisions to Nichsich and Riéka. 1877. 26th January Signed at Cettigné, 7th February (Translation as laid before Parliament.) His Highness the Prince of Montenegro consenting to the entrance into the town of Nichsich of the provisions necessary for the civil population, and charging himself with their transport, the Sublime Porte, on its side, consenting to the passage, by way of the Lake of Scutari, of the provisions destined for the population of Montenegro, and charging itself with effecting their transport. The following has been agreed : Between the Voivode Pierre Vukotich, Commander-in-Chief of the Forces of His Highness the Prince of Montenegro, authorized by His Highness, and represented by M. Nicolas Mantanovich, Aide-de-Camp of the Prince, on one part; and His Excellency Marshal Suleiman Pasha, Commander-in-Chief of the Forces of His Imperial Majesty the Sultan in Bosnia and Herzegovina, authorized by the Sublime Porte, and represented by Azarian Effendi, Secretary of the Commander-in-Chief in Herzegovina, on the other part: ART. I. The Montenegrin authorities charging themselves with the transport at their expense from Risano to Nichsich of the quantity of 153,000 okes of provisions, destined for the civil population of Nichsich, which the Agents of the Sublime Porte shall deliver to the Montenegrin Agents on the quay at Risano. ART. 11. The Ottoman authorities charging themselves with the transport at their expense by water from Cattaro to Riéka (Montenegro) of the quantity of 1,200,000 okes of provisions, destined for the population of the Principality, which the Agents of the Prince shall deliver to those of the Sublime Porte on board the boats destined for the transport. ART. III. The two Contracting Parties engage to effect the abovementioned transports up 26th February, inclusive. If, at the to 10th March 2 17th February expiration of the present Armistice, on 1st March hostilities should recommence, the two Parties engage to complete the [Nichsich and Riéka.] abovementioned transports, and to ensure the free passage of the convoys, as well as the safety of the agents employed on either side. ART. IV. The hospitals of Nichsich being destitute of certain articles of medicine, the Montenegrin authorities charge themselves with the transport, also at their expense, to Nichsich of a quantity equivalent to the loads of 5 horses, which shall be delivered to them on the quay at Risano. ART. V. Each of the Contracting Parties reserves to itself the right of causing each of the convoys destined for it to be accompanied by an agent, and of testing on arrival the weight of the quantities delivered. 26th January 1877. Done at Cettigné, in duplicate, 7th February N. MATANOVICH, m.p. [Peace between Turkey and Servia.] Constan No. 480.-PROTOCOL between the Servian and Turkish Plenipotentiaries, for the restoration of Peace. tinople, 18th February, 1877. Confirmation of Imperial Hatts. Amnesty. Evacuation of Territories. TABLE. ANNEX. Ottoman Flag to fly with Servian Flag on the Citadel of Belgrade. (Translation as laid before Parliament.) TO-DAY, the 18th February, 1877, the Delegates of His Highness the Prince of Servia, MM. Ph. Christitch and D. Matitch assembled in session with his Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs, declared that they considered that their labours were concluded, and that an agreement had been arrived at with his Excellency the Minister, in conformity with the explanatory note presented by them to the Sublime Porte under date of 18th February.* The Delegates consequently declared that, under the full powers conferred on them by the Government of the Prince, they confirm its desires of seeing relations restored with the Sovereign Court on the footing of the status quo ante. His Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs declared on his side, in the name of the Sublime Porte, that he had considered the said supervised explanatory note, that the Imperial Government had determined to re-establish its relations with the Principality of Servia on the footing of the status quo ante, and that this decision will be communicated to the Prince in the forms hitherto in use. Under these circumstances, and with the purpose of fixing as explicitly as is necessary the extent of the principle of status quo ante, and to avoid all misunderstanding which might arise on this head, it is affirmed that under this agreement it is understood:: See page 2554. [Peace between Turkey and Servia.] Confirmation of Imperial Hatts. 1. That the re-establishment of the status quo ante signifies, with the necessity of other and longer explanations, the complete and unexceptional re-establishment of all the clauses and stipulations inscribed in the Imperial Hatts, and in the other State Acts concerning Servia, and especially the Hatt of 11th April, 1867 (5 Zilhidje, 1283) (No. 404), respecting the regulations of the Fortresses. Amnesty. 2. That the Sublime Porte having already granted a full and complete amnesty to the Ottoman subjects compromised in the late events,† the Government of the Prince likewise grants pardon and amnesty to the Servians compromised in the same unhappy events. Evacuation of Territories. 3. That in the interval of twelve days from this date, the Imperial troops and those of Servia shall evacuate the territory occupied by them outside the ancient frontier demarcation, so that, this interval having clapsed, the officials of each party may resume their former lawful functions. This paper is signed in duplicate. PH. CRISTICH. D. MATITCH. NOTE REFERRED TO IN THE ABOVE PROTOCOL The Servian Delegates to the Grand Vizier, Constantinople, 18th February, 1877. (Translation.) THE Undersigned, Special Delegates of His Highness the Prince of Servia, have already had the honour to make them * See Index, Vol. III. See note, page 2447. |