Beilage. Memorandum des russischen Botschafters in London an den englischen Minister des Auswärtigen. I cannot enter upon an examination of the views expressed in Mr. Goschen's note in regard to the Ottoman Ministry which succeeded Kiamil Pasha, the supposed powerlessness of the Sultan to put an end to the present complications, and the incapacity and corruption of the men by whom he is surrounded. These views, which are taken from the reports of Sir P. Currie, concern subjects, which are matters of personal opinion. On the other hand, the picture drawn by the British Ambassador of the internal condition of the Ottoman Empire is unfortunately only too true; the continuation of the disorders in Asia Minor, the acts of brigandage committed by the Kurds, the want of discipline of the Redifs, the exhaustion of the Turkish Treasury, all these facts are also reported to us by M. de Nélidoff, and our officials on the spot. We do not, however, agree with the conclusions which the British Prime Minister draws from them. Lord Salisbury is of opinion that, in view of the dangers which such a state of things presents for Europe, it is her duty to seek a remedy for it, and that, for this purpose, the Powers should authorize their Representatives at Constantinople, to concert together on the general state of the Ottoman Empire. || The confidential relations which have never ceased to exist between the Representatives at Constantinople have at all times allowed them to exchange their views, and it does not appear to us that any special instructions are necessary to enable them to continue to communicate their impressions to each other. Lord Salisbury's idea evidently goes further, and, if I understand its true bearing, its consequence would be to produce a radical change in the position of the Powers at Constantinople as defined by the Treaties. The proposal appears to be for a direct interference in the internal affairs of Turkey, an interference which is distinctly forbidden by Article IX of the Treaty of Paris, and forbidden by implication by Article LXIII of the Treaty of Berlin. || This consideration alone would suffice to make us hesitate to agree to Lord Salisbury's proposal; but even if we put aside our scruples on this head, we should have so consider what would be the practical results of such an infringement of the principles of European public law. || It is certain, as any one who knows Constantinople will admit, that the news of the official deliberations, or rather, to use the right term, the conferences, which would be opened there on all the internal affairs of the Ottoman Empire, would not fail to spread amongst the public without delay, and that they would be looked upon as evidence of the imposition of a kind of guardianship on the Sultan, which would, of course, very much weaken his authority. I do not suppose that it can be the intention of the British Government to produce such a result, but it is not the less certain, and would be sure to lead to fresh disturbances and prepare the way for a series of surprises one more dangerous than the other. || Does this mean that we wish britannien. to keep aloof from what is happening in the East? Far from us be the Nr. 11056. thought. But we are of opinion that, in view of the good-will now being Grossshown by the Sultan in the introduction of the reforms obtained from him, 29. Jan. 1896. it is desirable to assist him in this arduous task, to give him the necessary time, and to increase his authority and prestige in the eyes of the different rival populations which are subject to his rule. We think that it is only by acting thus that the Powers can effectively assist in restoring tranquillity in the East. Such a line of conduct assuredly does not preclude the Representatives from addressing to the Sultan any friendly and well-meaning advice which they may be in a position to offer, without in being necessary to modify in any way the practice established at Constantinople. Moreover, there is nothing to prevent this advice being unanimous, and in that case, in accordance with Lord Salisbury's wish, it will be all the more likely to be accepted. Nr. 11057. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Botschafter in Konstan- bericht über die Verluste in den armenischen Un- Pera, January 30, 1896. (Received February 3.) Gross My Lord, I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith two Nr. 11057. copies of a Tabular Statement*) of facts connected with the recent distur- britannien. bances in Asia Minor prepared by a Committee of Delegates from the six 30. Jan. 1896. Embassies. The object of this Statement is to give a succinct account of the events which preceded the massacres or disturbances in each town where they occurred, of the loss of life and property as far as the details, are known, and also of the attitude of the local authorities. || It is mainly based on a comparison of the Consular Reports addressed to the various Embassies. Some of the details, however, respecting the Vilayets of Sivas, Kharput, Adana, Diarbekir, and Aleppo are derived from Catholic priests and Protestant missionaries, not natives of this country, but their evidence was admitted only when they described events of which they were eye-witnesses, and when it was in harmony with the general tenour of the official Reports. || The number of victims has been entered only in those cases where there exist data for forming an accurate estimate. This was often found to be impossible, particulary in the case of villages respecting whose fate nothing was known except that the region in which they were situated had been devastated. instance, there is no record of the loss of life in the country districts of Van, Kharput, or Diarbekir. The total loss, respecting which accurate information was obtainable, amounts to about 25000 persons, and, if we add to this the massacres respecting which there are no details, the estimate may be increased to a much higher figure. Philip Currie. *) Hier fortgelassen. Red. For Nr. 11058. Nr. 11058. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Derselbe an Denselben. Frie densschluss in Zeitun. Constantinople, February 11, 1896. (Received February 12.) Telegraphic. || The Consuls have sent a collective telegram, stating that britannien, the conditions telegraphed to them by the Ambassadors have been accepted 11. Fbr.1896. by the Zeitounli Chiefs. The following were the conditions which had been previously agreed to by the Turkish Government:-|| 1. Both the Zeitounlis and any Mussulmans living in the valley are to surrender their arms of war. They are to be permitted to retain sporting guns, daggers, and revolvers. || 2. Grant of a general amnesty. The few foreign members of the Hunchag Society will simply be expelled from Ottoman territory. Private persons may, however, institute prosecutions at common law against individuals to whom the amnesty applies. || 3. Remission of the arrears of taxes will be considered, and the demand for the re-building of the barracks will not be insisted upon. These concessions, however, are not conditions of the agreement, and must be asked as an act of grace from the Sultan. || 4. The appointment of a Christian to the office of Kaïmakam will be made in accordance with the provisions of the Act of Reforms. || 5. The demand made by the minority for the withdrawal of the Turkish garrison is declined. || The Ambassadors added that they considered the conditions acceptable; that they themselves were unable to give guarantees, but would ask for a declaration on the subject from the Porte. || An arrangement having been proposed by the Turkish Commandant for the future security of the refugees at present in Zeitoun, the Consuls have been authorized to come to an agreement with the Commandant as to its terms, and to supervise its execution. Aegypten"). Nr. 11059. GROSSBRITANNIEN. My Lord. Cromer. Bericht über die Entwicklung Egyptens Ghezireh Palace, Hôtel Cairo, April 18, 1895. Gross In 1882-83 I had the honour of submitting to his Ex- Nr. 11059. cellency the Marquis of Dufferin a Report on Reorganization in Egypt, which britannien. was quoted by his Excellency in his despatch to the English Government, 18. Apr. 1895. and subsequently issued as a Parliamentary paper to the members of both Houses of the Legislature as "Egypt No. 7 (1883)." It occurred to me that it would be instructive to make a second tour of inquiry during this present season, more than twelve years after the investigation above referred to, visiting the same districts, and questioning the same classes of natives with a view of contrasting their present condition, after twelve years of British administration, with that which prevailed previously, and noting the progress achieved so far in carrying out the reforms then ascertained to be most urgently needed. || Amongst the abuses to be dealt with were those connected with- || Taxation. || Native Courts of Justice. || The prison system. || The corvée. || Irrigation. || Agriculture. Sugar factory abuses. There were also other subjects of inquiry, amongst them- || Village debts to usurers, and the temper of the population, &c. || With this view I proceeded to Middle and Upper Egypt, first traversing the Provinces of Ghizeh, the Fayoom, Beni Souef, Minieh, Guergeh, Keneh, Assiout, Esneh, and Assouan. || I visited a large number of villages, closely questioning the natives of all classes, going over their farms and examining their crops. On these occasions I was always accompanied by some of the peasants or by the village Sheiks, who stated their views on the subjects which most closely concerned them, such as irrigation, taxation, administration of justice, the corvée, and the land tax. || I also visited the prisons in several towns, and was shown over every part of them by the officials, as also some of the schools. I paid special attention to the question of irrigation, and rode or walked along many miles of the new or improved *) Die folgenden Aktenstücke entstammen dem englischen Blaubuch. Egypt No 2. 1895. (7712). Gross Nr. 11059. canals. || I had opportunities of visiting the camps and barracks of the Egypbritannien. tian army, especially that portion of it stationed at Assouan, and was shown 18. Apr. 1895. through the tents of the men and the officers (chiefly native); the latter courteously gave me all the information I required. || I have thought it most convenient to submit to your Lordship, in the first instance, a summary of the results of my tour in Middle and Upper Egypt, and to attach to it subsequently, in the form of an appendix, the details of the inquiry, and the methods by which I arrived at the conclusions I now have the honour to lay before you. These notes may prove useful for reference, and as illustrating the facts upon which my conclusions are based. || It has been my aim throughout to depend as far as possible on native sources for my information, and to render my Report a reflection of the sentiments and views of the native population, verifying them, however, by personal observation. || I am aware that no facts I can state are new or unknown to your Lordship. || Still it may be useful to have before you the confirmation, from the inhabitants themselves, of the information submitted to you by European officials. The general conclusion at which I have arrived from my inquiries in Upper Egypt is that, though much has been done, the condition of the people greatly ameliorated, and their worst grievances to a considerable extent redressed, yet much remains to be done. The effects of centuries of misgovernment cannot be effaced in a dozen years. || A couple of generations would be needed to enable the reforms already effected to take root and acquire permanence; were the country left to itself now, it would quickly relapse, the old grievances would be revived, the old abuses would be restored, the new lessons forgotten, and its last state might well be worse than its first. || Egypt would, in that case, become a standing reproach to us-a monument of failure. We should be placed in the unenviable position of the man in the parable who began to build but was not able to finish. It is wonderful that so much has been accomplished within the short space of twelve years, especially in view of the political difficulties and the artificial obstacles which have been placed in our way. Our hands have been tied by international compacts, designed, perhaps, partly for the benefit of Egypt, but which have proved her grievous misfortune. We have had to work in manacles and fetters. How much more would have been accomplished if we had had a free hand. || I may adduce, in illustration, the case of that work so all-important to Upper Egypt-its irrigation. It is comparatively poor, and will continue to be poor, because, for want of irrigation, its cultivators can only extract one crop a year from the soil instead of two or three, as in portions of Middle Egypt and throughout the Delta; and that one crop is not the most profitable. || For instance, the peasants cannot raise cotton or sugar-cane, except to a very limited extent, by means of irrigation by hand ("shadoofs"), because their hand is not embanked; they are, however, tantalized by seeing splendid crops of both these profitable staples grown in their neighbourhood on the Daïra estates, where |