[Bosnia and Herzegovina.] No. 531.-AUSTRIAN PROCLAMATION on the Entrance of Austro-Hungarian Troops into Bosnia and the Herzegovina. 28th July, 1878. (Translation.) INHABITANTS OF BOSNIA AND THE HERZEGOVINA, THE troops of the Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary are upon the point of crossing the frontiers of your country. They come not as enemies, to take away your territory by force. They come as friends, to put an end to the evils which for a series of years have troubled not only Bosnia and the Herzegovina, but also the neighbouring countries. The Emperor and King has learnt with grief that civil war is desolating this beautiful country, that the inhabitants of the same province are struggling together with arms in their hands, that commerce and employment are suspended, that your flocks are carried away, that your fields remain without cultivation, and that misery has invaded both town and country. Great and cruel events have deprived your Government of the power of re-establishing among you in a durable manner the calm and union on which the welfare of the people depends. The Emperor and King could no longer remain a passive spectator of the violence and discord which reigned in the neighbourhood of his provinces, any more than of the poverty and misery which knocked at the door of his States. He has called the attention of the European States to your situation, and it has been unanimously decided in the Council of the People that Austria-Hungary shall give back to you the calm and prosperity of which you have been so long deprived. His Majesty the Sultan, animated with the desire of providing for your welfare, has decided to entrust you to the protection of his powerful friend the Emperor and King. The Imperial and Royal troops are therefore coming amongst you. They do not bring you war; they come, on the contrary, to give you back peace. Our arms will be a protection to each one of you, and to no one an instrument of oppression. The Emperor and King has ordered that all the children of this country shall enjoy the same legal rights; that all shall receive protection for their lives, their creed, and their property. Your laws and your institutions shall not be arbitrarily modified; your manners and your customs shall be respected. No violent change shall be introduced without your desires having been maturely considered. The ancient laws shall be in vigour as long as new ones shall not have been made. It is expected on the part of all the authorities, both civil and religious, that they will maintain order and support the Government. The revenues of this country shall be exclusively employed to provide for the wants of the country itself. The taxes in arrear for the last year shall not be recovered. The troops of the Emperor and King shall not oppress the country, and shall not be a burden upon it. They will pay ready money to the inhabitants for all they may require. The Emperor and King is aware of your complaints, and desires your welfare. Numerous races live united under his powerful sceptre, and each of them speak their own language. He reigns over the faithful of diverse creeds, and all freely practise their religions. INHABITANTS OF BOSNIA AND THE HERZEGOVINA ! Place yourselves with confidence under the protection of the glorious standard of Austria-Hungary. Receive our soldiers as friends, obey the authorities, resume your work, and you will obtain protection for the fruit of your labours. [Cyprus.] No. 532.-AGREEMENT between Great Britain and Turkey, defining the Powers vested in Great Britain during the British Occupation of Cyprus. Signed at Therapia, 14th August, 1878. The Right Honourable Sir A. Henry Layard, G.C.B., and his Highness Safvet Pasha, Grand Vizier and Minister for Foreign Affairs of His Imperial Majesty the Sultan, having met together this day, have, in virtue of their full powers, signed the following Additional Article to the Convention of the 4th June, 1878 [No. 524], signed by them as Plenipotentiarics of their respective Governments. Powers vested in Great Britain during Occupation of Cyprus. Laws, Conventions, Commercial and Consular Affairs. It is understood between the High Contracting Parties, without prejudice to the express provisions of the Articles I, II, and IV of the Annex of the 1st July, 1878 (No. 525), that His Imperial Majesty the Sultan, in assigning the Island of Cyprus to be occupied and administered by England, has thereby transferred to and vested in Her Majesty the Queen, for the term of the occupation and no longer, full powers for making Laws and Conventions for the Government of the island in Her Majesty's name, and for the regulation of its Commercial and Consular relations and affairs free from the Porte's control. Done at Constantinople, the 14th day of August, 1878. A. H. LAYARD. [See also Order in Council respecting British Jurisdiction, 14th September, 1878 (No. 534); and Agreement respecting Crown Property, Revenues, &c., 3rd February, 1879 (No. 541). For Orders in Council respecting the Neutrality of Cyprus, Extradition, &c., see "Hertslet's Treaties," Vol. XV, pages 108, 120, and 131.] [Rhodope Districts.] No. 533.-REPORT of the International Commission appointed to enquire into the State of the Rhodope Districts. Buyukdéré, 27th August, 1878. [Ar the sitting of the Congress of Berlin (Protocol No. 18, 11th July, 1878, No. 528) it was decided that a Commission should be appointed to inquire into the state of the Rhodope Districts. On the 17th of the same month a Memorandum was drawn up by the Ambassadors of Great Britain, Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, Italy, and Russia, at Constantinople, for the appointment of such a Commission. The Special Commissioners were— For Great Britain, Mr. Fawcett, Consul-General and Judge of the British Consular Court, Constantinople. For Austria-Hungary, Colonel Raab, Military Attaché to the Austro-Hungarian Embassy. For France, M. Challet, Consul. For Germany, M. Müller, Vice-Consul. For Italy, M. Graziani, Second Dragoman of the Italian Legation. For Russia, M. Basily, Second Secretary (who was succeeded. by M. Leschine, Dragoman of the Russian Embassy). Naschid Pasha, Ex-Governor of the Vilayet of Syria, and Riza Bey, being the Turkish Delegates. The Commissioners visited various districts, and, on their return, Identic Reports were drawn up by the British, French, Italian, and Turkish Commissioners at Buyukdéré on the 27th August, 1878, and presented to their respective Ambassadors; but the Commissioners of Austria, Germany, and Russia refused to adopt the Report. The correspondence which passed respecting the proceedings of the International Commission sent to the Mount Rhodope Districts was laid before Parliament on the 15th August and 6th December, 1878, accompanied by a map, and the Report is given in the "State Papers," Vol. 69, p. 1112.] * See Parliamentary Papers, Turkey, Nos. 49, 50, and 52 (1878). [Cyprus.] No. 534.-BRITISH ORDER IN COUNCIL, defining the Powers and Jurisdiction of Great Britain over the Island of Cyprus. Balmoral, 14th September, 1878.* 1. Appointment of High Commissioner. 2. Duties of High Commissioner. 3. Seal of High Commissioner. 4. Legislative Council. 5. Laws and Ordinances. 6-16. Constitution of Legislative Council. Its proceedings, &c. 21. Appointment of Judges, Justices of the Peace and others. 22. Power of High Commissioner over Judicial Sentences. 23. Power of High Commissioner to remit Fines in certain cases. 24. Power of High Commissioner to suspend Officials. 25. Executive Council. 26. Acting High Commissioner. 27. Cessation of Orders in Council relating to Ottoman Dominions. 28. Commencement and Duration of Order in Council. (Extract.) WHEREAS it is expedient to make provision for the exercise of the power and jurisdiction vested by Treaty in Her Majesty the Queen in and over the Island of Cyprus (Nos. 524, 525, 531). Now, therefore, Her Majesty, by virtue of the powers in this behalf by the Foreign Jurisdiction Acts, 1843 to 1878, or otherwise in Her vested, is pleased by and with the advice of Her Privy Council to order, and it is ordered, as follows: Appointment of a High Commissioner. I. There shall be a High Commissioner and Commanderin-Chief (hereinafter called "the High Commissioner ") in and over the said Island of Cyprus (hereinafter called "the said Island"), and the person who shall fill the said office of High Commissioner shall be from time to time appointed by Commission under Her Majesty's Sign-Manual and Signet. For a complete copy of this Order in Council see Vol. 69, page 720. State Papers," |