No. 580] GREAT BRITAIN, &c., AND TURKEY. [Turco-Montenegrin Boundary; Dulcigno, &c.] 10 May, 1880. 28 Jan., 1881. No. 580.-PROTOCOLS OF CONFERENCES between the Commissioners of Great Britain, Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, Italy, Montenegro, Russia, and Turkey, respecting the Turco-Montenegrin Boundary, and accepting the so-called "Dulcigno Arrangement" (Page 3000), as marking the Boundary from the River Boyana to Lake Scutari.* 10th May, 1880, 28th January, 1881. PROTOCOL. [For Protocols Nos. 1 to 26, see No. 552.] ABSTRACT OF PROTOCOLS. No. 27. Count Colonna Ceccaldi again elected President. Captain Testa and Baron d'Estournelles elected to form Secretariat, with M. Müller as Assistant. Lieut.-Colonel Sollogoub appointed Russian Commissioner in place of Colonel Baron Kaulbars. Commission declared to be constituted for 1880. Omissions in previous Protocol (No. 26)† made good: labours of Commission not terminated: thanks of Commission to Secretariat for services. Danish Effendi proposes that all Memoranda and Communications be deposited with Secretariat. Montenegrin Delegates present a written Declaration to President, who reads it to the Conference. Commission take note of the Declaration, but Turkish Commissioner protests against the use of certain words in it. Montenegrin Delegates withdraw, and a discussion ensues between the Commissioners. Captain Sale does not believe delimitation Captain Sale. Lieutenant Caillard. Austria-Hungary: Consul-General Lippick. France; Germany: ,, Italy: Count Colonna Ceccaldi (Minister Plenipotentiary). Baron d'Estournelles de Constant. M. de St. Quintin (Minister Plenipotentiary). Lieutenant-Colonel Ottolenghi. {Maitenant-Co M. Simo Popović. Montenegro : M. Nico. Matanovich. Russia: PROTOCOL. [Turco-Montenegrin Boundary; Dulcigno, &c.] impossible in Albania between the Lake and the Sea. Italian Commissioner thinks the question of principle is opposed to this partial delimitation, it being evident that Montenegro could not accept as definitive the tracings fixed between the Sea and the Lake without first being assured that it will receive the compensation between the Lake and the Zem stipulated by the Memorandum of 12th April (No. 563). French and Russian Commissioners share this opinion, especially as the absence of one of the interested parties would not permit the delimitation being proceeded with, and refer to the line of conduct adopted in a similar case in the previous year, when the Turkish Commissioners withdrew (see Protocol No. 5) (No. 552). Italian Commissioner considers it desirable to delimitate the frontier on the Herzegovinian side, if Montenegro be represented in the Commission. Commissioners adjourn on the understanding that the renewal of their labours shall be subject to the instructions that they may receive from their Governments. Ragusa, 10th May, 1880. No. 28. The French Commissioner, Count Colonna Ceccaldi, recalled; M. de St. Quintin appointed his successor. Major Boselli appointed Italian Commissioner in the place of Lieutenant-Colonel Ottolenghi. Commission declared to be constituted for 1881. Thanks expressed to Governor-General Osman Pasha, for assistance rendered by him. Austro-Hungarian Commissioner suggests that explanatory Memorandum respecting the New Frontier, as indicated in the Identic Note of 26th June, 1880,* should serve as the basis for the labours of the Commission between the Lake and the Sea. The Montenegrin Commissioner proposes the adoption of the Granville Project† as the basis, inasmuch as it had been accepted by all the Cabinets as well as by Turkey. The acceptance of this line by the Sublime Porte is the consequence of its acceptance of the "Dulcigno Arrangement" (No. 579). The Russian Commissioner considers that the line of the "Dulcigno Arrangement" forms the basis upon which the Com. mission has been convened; but that the object of its labours at the present meeting, has only for its basis the existing understanding (entente) between Turkey and Montenegro. The Turkish Commissioner, Bedri Bey, declares that he has no knowledge of the explanatory Memorandum, and that the "Dulcigno Arrangement" has not been accepted by the Sublime Porte, and he then proceeds to read the instructions which he has received relative to the delimitation of the Territory between Lake Scutari and the Sea. The Montenegrin Commissioner, out of deference to the Great Powers, accepts in principle the line between Lake *See "State Papers," Vol. 71, page 1234. L28 Jan., 1881. [Turco-Montenegrin Boundary; Dulcigno, &c.] Scutari and the mouth of the small river which runs out of Lake Sass. He accordingly proposes that the frontier-line on leaving Lake Scutari should follow Captain Sale's line as far as Point IX, thence, by the thalweg of the Megured, then by a line crossing (traversant) Lake Sass, and continuing by the thalweg of the small river which leaves the Lake and enters the Boyana. Discussion ensues on the expression "cours d'eau," respecting the bridges across the rivers, and the boundary line across Lake Sass. Commission decide to adopt the southern line (ligne méridionale) of the Lake. Montenegrin Commissioner demands the free navigation of the Lake and the equal rights of the Riverain States over its waters. Commission expresses its opinion that the use of the waters of the Lake should belong to its Proprietors. Question of withdrawal of troops then discussed. President declares that an agreement towards the definitive direction of the frontier has been arrived at as far as the Boyana, and that it only now rests to send to each of the interested Parties a copy of the "cahier de spécification," to entrust to them the marking of the Boundary, and to draw up a description of the frontier between Lake Scutari and the Boyana, and to submit it to the two Parties interested, as well as to each Commissioner, to be submitted for the approval of their Governments. Difficulty pointed out of marking the Boundary at that time of year. Commission adjourned sine die. Scutari, 28th January, 1881. [For Protocol No. 29, 4th February, 1881, see No. 581.] Detailed Description of that part of the Frontier between Lake Scutari and the Adriatic, situated between the River Boyana and the said Lake. 28th January, 1881. (Translation.) Starting from the confluence of the Boyana with the small effluent of Lake Sass, the frontier follows along the course of that stream* as far as Lake Sass, the south bank of which it follows as far as the mouth of the small River Megured, then ascends in the said Lake. It then ascends the course of the Rivulet Megured as far as the point which appears in the "cahier de spécification" as Point I (Point numbered IX in Captain Sale's Map of 1879). Thence the frontier follows the line described in the subjoined "cahier de spécification" as far as Point X (numbered XVIII on Captain Sale's Map of 1879). It is agreed that the bridges over the Rivulet Megured shall be divided between the bordering States, as well as that over the tributary of Lake Sass which flows into the Boyana. May, 1880 Jan., 1881 [Turco-Montenegrin Boundary; Dulcigno, &c.] This part of the line may shortly be described in the following manner : Leaving the Rivulet Megured at a place where this stream runs through an aperture which it has made for itself through the rocks, the frontier ascends a spur named Leponiak as far as the summit Bratovica or Mraured; thence it passes to the south of Mali Jan (leaving that mountain to Montenegro), and descends by the summits Merox, Smrdič, Mešulanit, and Potiča, as far as the hillock called Mali Potiča, near the village of Velič; thence it runs to the hill called Majaljers, which is situated to the west of the village of Curian, from whence it passes by the side of the islet of Goriča Topal or Planica. The exact description of this part of the line is given in the subjoined list : |