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Leader (1850-1860), 12th May 1855, Edition 1 of 2, Page 439, Untitled Article

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      equilibrium , and of putting an end to the preponderance ; of Russia in the Black Sea . " 4 . Russia abandons the principle of covering with an official " protectorate the Christian subjects of the Sultan of the Oriental ritual ; but the Christian Powers ¦ will lend eaeh other their mutual assistance , in order to obtain , from the initiative of the Ottoman Government the confirmation and the observance of the religious rights of the Christian communities subject to the Porte , ¦ without distinction of ritual . " When the other Plenipotentiaries expressed their assent to this statement of the bases , Prince Gort--schakoff also expressed his agreement in very emphatic terms . He said : —

      • « i fy - g are here as serious men , met together to work on a serious matter , the most arduous which has occurred in our times ; and we must all heartily endeavour to avoid generalities , in order to arrive at a practical application of the principles which we have adopted , and consequently to enter without farther delay upon the development of the details of each question . " The First Point occupied the Conferences on . the 17 th and 19 th of March , when there was a general agreement as to the details by which the point was

      to be carried out , and the Russian Plenipotentiaries distinguished themselves by standing up for the local privileges and immunities of the inhabitants of the Provinces . The Second Point—the navigation of the Danube —occupied the Conferences of the 2 1 st and 23 rd of March , and met also with general agreement , but some verbal contest ; the Russian Plenipotentiaries distinguishing themselves by professions of desiring the unimpeded navigation of the river .

      At the Conference on the 26 th of March , there was some discussion on the order of proceeding , and it was resolved that the initiative of proposing detailed arrangements on the Third Point should be left to Russia . In the meanwhile , there was some talk of proceeding on the Fourth Point . To this Fourth Point , Prince Gortschakoff said he attached no particular political idea ; but at this and subsequent Conferences he showed a disposition to proceed with its discussion . On the Third Point , he took the proposal for the initiative ad referendum , awaiting instructions from his own Court . These instructions arrived in time for the Tenth Conference , held on April 17 th . On that occasion

      " Prince Gortsckakoff said that his Court , though fully appreciating the reasons which had prompted the members of the Conference to surrender to the Cabinet of St . Petersburg the initiative of the proposals respecting the development of the Third Point , did not feel it incumbent on itself to take advantage of the initiative which lad been offered to it ; that , at the same time , it had authorised its Plenipotentiaries , in conformity with the declaration made at the meeting of the 17 th of January last , to enter most gravely , and with the sincere desire of

      arriving at an agreement , on the examination of the measures which should be proposed , provided they were not of a nature to infringe on the rights of sovereignty of the Emperor of Russia in his own territory ; that , for his part , he agreed with the form in which Lord John Russell had stated the question , when he said , in the Conference of the 25 th of March , that the best and only admissible conditions of peace would be those which , whilst consistent with the honour of Russia , should at the same time suffice for the security of Europe , and for preventing the recurrence of the existing complications .

      " M . Drouyn do Lhuys expressed his deep regret at seeing , after a delay of eighteen days , the initiative which had been surrendered to Russia at a Conference at which ho had not assisted , again thrown upon the originators of the proposal . Ilia regrets were the moro sincere as the Allies , having expected a precisely opposite result , were not prepared to draw up their proposals immediately . He thought , therefore , that the Allies should at once meet to consult together on this subject , lie felt bound , considering the importance of the reservation made by Prince Gortschakofl " , to demand further explanations respecting the meaning which that Minister attached to it . lie put the question , whether Russia would consider her rights of sovereignty infringed if she deprived herself of the liberty of building an unlimited number of ships of war in the Black fSea .

      " Prince Gortschakoff" replied , that Russia would not consent to tho strength of her navy being restricted to any fixed number , oithor by treaty or in any other manner . " Ali Pacha expressed his opinion that this limitation of tho naval forces in tho Black Sou was tho only mode of solution at once practicable and honourable to all parties . u Baron do Prokosch assorted that , as tho Allied Powers had consulted on the four buses of nogotiation , nothing could bo muro logical than that they should ulso consult on tho application of thorn .

      " Count Buol shared in tho repfrot expressed by tho Plenipotentiaries of Franco and ( Jroat Britain that the answer of tho Cabinet of St . Petersburg was not of a nature to servo na a point of departure for further deliberations . Ho could have wished that the Imperial

      Court of Russia had not only appreciated the feelings which had prompted the offer of the initiative , but had been equally struck with the facilities which the acceptance of this offer would have opened for the success of its negotiations . At the subsequent conference , Ali Pacha was invited to explain himself on the point of introducing Turkey into the European equilibrium . He said that he thought this might be effected by a declaration

      conceived in the following terms : — " ' The contracting Powers , wishing to manifest the importance which they attach to the participation of the Ottoman Empire in the advantages of the system established by public law between the different European States , declare that they consider that empire as forming , henceforward , an integral part of that system , and mutually undertake to respect its territorial integrity and independence as an essential condition of the general equilibrium . '

      " The Plenipotentiaries of France and Great Britain give their entire adhesion to the principle established by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Sublime Porte . " The Plenipotentiaries of Russia also concur in it . In explaining their idea they add , that they do not intend thereby to pledge their Court to a territorial guarantee . " At this Conference , M . de Titoff suggested that Russia should be permitted to treat upon this point separately and directly with Turkey . The other Plenipotentiaries objected ; and Prince Gortsehakoff sneered at the independent position in which Turkey now exhibited herself .

      At this , and at the subsequent Conference on 21 st of April , trie Plenipotentiaries proceeded with the discussion of the draft proposed for the settlement of the Third Point by the Allied Powers ; and , on the 21 st , Prince Gortschakoff read a memorandum and a draft proposed by Russia . The memorandum consisted chiefly of an argument that other powers might as , sail Russia ( at the next Conference . Prince Gortschakoff alluded to Tunis and Aden as instances ) —and that in former times Russia , at the invitation of the Porte , had actually assisted Turkey . The Russian draft proposed that the Dardanelles should be opened to the war ships of all nations , unless Russia pleased to close them exceptionally . At this Conference , Baron Pokesch distinguished himself by objecting to the Russian views . The protocol closes thus : —

      " Count Buol does not consider the different modes of solution as exhausted , and considers it especially the task of Austria to look for means of accommodation . He hopes , therefore , that the Conferences will meet again as soon as any of its members shall have any new propositions to make . " Lord John Russell , in doing full justice to the conciliatory spirit of the Austrian Minister for Foreign Affairs , declares , as regards himself , that his instructions are exhausted . " M . Drouyn de Lhuys made the same declaration , adding that he is under the necessity of taking the orders of the Emperor , his master , and be reserves to himself to ' make an eventual communication thereon to the representative of France at Vienna . " The proposed * draft of the Allies on the Third Point ran thus :-

      —" Art . I . The high contracting parties wishing that the Sublime Porte should-participato in the advantages of the system establishes by public law between the different States of Europe , engage themselves severally to respect the independence and territorial integrity of the Ottoman Empire , guarantee together the strict observance of this engagement , and will , in consequence , consider every act or event which should bo of a nature to infringe on it as a question of European interest . "Art . 2 . If a misunderstanding should arise between the Porte and one x > C the contracting parties , these two States , before having recourse to tho employment of force , should placo the other Powers in a position to anticipate this extreme course by pacific means .

      " Art . 8 . His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias and his Highness tho Sultan , wishing reciprocally to give a proof of their conlidonco , and to anticipate tho misgivings which might arise from tho excessive development of their naval forces in tho Euxine , engage respectively not to have iu that « ea more than four ships , four frigates , with a proportionate number of light vessels and of unarmed vessels exclusively adapted to tho transport of troops . "Art . 4 . Tho rule of tho closing of tho Straits of tho BoHphorii . s and of tho Dardanelles , laid down by tho treaty of . Inly J . 'l , 1811 , shall remain in force , with tho exceptions specified in tho following articles : —

      " Art . f > . Each of tho contracting Powers who have not an establishment in tho Ulack > Soa shall bo authorised by a linnnn of his Highness , on notifying it , live days boforohund , to bring into that n < ia a number ol vessels equal to half tho naval forces which ouch of the two l ' oworn bordering on tho hcii whall maintain there in conformity with Article 2 . " Art .. < i . At . no timo shall ships of war of foreign nation h , with tho exception of light vosswln belonging to tho Embassies admitted heretofore , bo able to anchor at

      the Golden Horn , and in time of peace the number o vessels of the line of the contracting Powers who have n < establishment in the Black Sea shall not be allowed -t < be more than , four at the same time before Constantinople , in their passage from the Dardanelles to the Blaci Sea , and from the Black Sea to the Dardanelles . " Art . 7 . In case ( which God forbid !) the Sultar should be menaced by an aggression , he reserves to himself the right to open the passages to all the maritime forces of his allies . " Art . 8 . The two Powers bordering on the Black Sea , in order to testify to the other high contracting parties their desire to maintain with them the most friendly relations , engage to admit in all the ports situate in the Black Sea the consuls whom the latter may consider it useful to establish there .

      " Art . 9 . His Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias and his Highness the Sultan , wishing to give a proof of the generous sentiments with which they are animated , promise a full and entire amnesty to all inhabitants and officers of the Provinces which have been the theatre of war . None of them shall be molested or prosecuted for his opinions , for his acts , or for the conduct he may have held during the war , or during the temporary occupation of the Provinces by the respective . troops of the belligerent parties . The inhabitants of the Islands of Aland are admitted to the benefit of this provision . " Art . 10 . His Majesty the King of Sardinia is comprised in the present peace . Commercial and other relations are re-established between that kingdom and the Empire of All the Kussias , on the same footing as they were before the declaration of war . " The Russian draft was as follows : —

      " Art . . The high contracting Courts being desirous of putting an end to the anxieties which may arise from the inequality of the naval forces of the two bordering Powers in the basin of the Black Sea , his Highness the Sultan , by a spontaneous act of his sovereign will , consents to modify the rule of the closing of the Straits of the Dardanelles and of the Bosphorus , as provided for by the treaty of the 1 st ( 13 th ) July , 1841 , and to grant henceforth , without distinction , to the flags of war of all nations , the free passage through these Straits to proceed from the Archipelago into the Black * Sea , and vice versa . " Art . . The arrangements for regulating the passage of ships of war through these Straits , and laying down the positions and the duration of the anchorages , shall form the subject of a special regulation , which the Sublime Porte shall promulgate , according as it may think necessary for its security .

      " Art . . The regulation mentioned in the preceding article shall be identic for the flags of war of all nations in a state of peace with the Sublime Porte , who , called upon to enjoy it on a footing of perfect equality , shall engage scrupulously to observe it . " Art . . His Highness the Sultan , however , reserves to himself , with a view to particular circumstances , to introduce into the provisions of that regulation , in favour of any flag he pleases , exceptional and temporary modifications , destined to extend the privileges for a limited time .

      " Art . . In case ( which God forbid !) the Sublime Porte should herself be in a state of war , or should see her security compromised by hostilities which might break out between other Powers , his Highness the Sultan reserves to himself the power to suspend the free passage through the Straits , either entirely or partially , until the cessation of the circumstances which may have required such a measure . " At the Thirteenth Conference , Prince Gortschakoff proposed the subjoined plan , to the second part of which Baron Prokosch decidedly objected , while Count Buol saw in it elements , not for settlement , but for discussion . Tho Thirteenth Conference closes thus : —

      "At the moment of closing the meeting Princo Gortschakoff declares that tho Plenipotentiaries of Russia have amply redeemed their word by proposing several plans of solution . " The annexed ia the latest Russian proposal : — " Art . 1 . The principle of tho closing of the Straits of tho Bosphorus and tho Dardanelles in time of poaco , sanctioned by the ancient legislation of tho . Sublime Porto , and by tho treaty of July 1 st ( ltff . ) i ) , J 8 < M , remains in full force . " Art . 2 . Ilia Highness tho Sultan reserves to luniscU tho power to open , by way of temporary exception , the Straits of tho Dardanelles and of « ' » " H « MnI «<> rii * to the fleets of r «> rfii ii Power * which tlio Sublime , l ' ori . « should think it ; necessary to . summon , whenever she should contfidor her security menaced . "

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      ADMIN ISTRATIVE REFOU-M . JIIOKTINU IN TilK CITY . A MBKTiNa of tho merchants and traders of tho molronoliH was held last Saturday ut the London Tavern The objwit of tho meeting wan to organise an association for proinotiiifr a thorough reform in tho various di-niirtmentH of tho State ; and , with this end in viow a largo number of gentlemen connected with thu trade mrd commerce of the City , and professing

      Untitled Article

      May 12 , 1855 . ] THE -LEA DEB . ^ 39

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), May 12, 1855, page 439, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2090/page/7/