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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/20394-8.txt b/20394-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8c04f95 --- /dev/null +++ b/20394-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3469 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Correspondence Relating to Executions in +Turkey for Apostacy from Islamism, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Correspondence Relating to Executions in Turkey for Apostacy from Islamism + +Author: Various + +Release Date: January 18, 2007 [EBook #20394] + +Language: French and English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO *** + + + + +Produced by John Bechard (JaBBechard@aol.com) + + + + + +CORRESPONDENCE + +RELATING TO + +EXECUTIONS IN TURKEY + +FOR + +APOSTACY FROM ISLAMISM. + +[stamped:] BIBLIOTHÈQUE DU PALAIS DE LA PAIX + +Presented to the House of Lords, by Her Majesty's Command. + +May, 1844. + +LONDON: + +PRINTED BY T. R. HARRISON. + + + + + + +CORRESPONDENCE + +RELATING TO + +EXECUTIONS IN TURKEY + +FOR + +APOSTACY FROM ISLAMISM. + + + + + + +No. 1. + + +_Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen_.--(_Received +September_ 20.) + +(Extract.) _Buyukderé, August_ 27, 1843. + +Within the last few days an execution has taken place at +Constantinople under circumstances which have occasioned much +excitement and indignation among the Christian inhabitants. The +sufferer was an Armenian youth of eighteen or twenty years, who +having, under fear of punishment, declared himself a Turk, went to +the Island of Syra, and returning, after an absence of some length, +resumed his former religion. Apprehensive of the danger but resolved +not to deny his real faith a second time, he kept out of sight till +accident betrayed him to the police, and he was then thrown into +prison. In spite of threats, promises, and blows, he there +maintained his resolution, refused to save his life by a fresh +disavowal of Christianity, and was finally decapitated in one of the +most frequented parts of the city with circumstances of great +barbarity. + +Inclosed herewith is a statement of the particulars drawn up by Mr. +Alison. + +It is not merely on grounds of humanity that I would draw your +Lordship's attention to this incident: political considerations of +serious importance are connected with it; and on this account, no +less than from regard for the tears and entreaties of a distracted +family, I exhausted my influence in vain endeavours to divert the +Porte from its purpose. Every Member of the Council to whom I +applied, returned the same answer, expressing a willingness to meet +my wishes, and regretting the inexorable necessity of the law. + +For my own part I do not believe that any such necessity exists. The +determination of the Government to sacrifice the Armenian youth, in +spite of my earnest solicitations, unless he recanted publicly, is +part and parcel of that system of reaction which preceded my arrival +here, against which I have constantly struggled, and which, +notwithstanding the assurances given to me, and the efforts of its +partisans to conceal it, is day by day gaining strength, to the +despair of every enlightened Turkish statesman, to the prejudice of +our relations with this country, and to the visible decline of those +improvements which, in my humble judgment, can alone avert the +dissolution of the Sultan's empire. + +The law, which, in this instance, has torn a youth from the bosom of +his family, and consigned him to an ignominious and cruel death, +would apply with equal force to a subject of any Christian Power. + +Such of my colleagues as I have consulted upon this subject appear +to take a view of it similar to my own, I refer, in particular, to +the Austrian, French, Russian, and Prussian Ministers: each of them +has told me that he intended to recommend the question to the +serious consideration of his Government. + +Since my arrival here one British and two French subjects have +declared in favour of Mahomedanism, and much difficulty has been +experienced in dealing with the individuals concerned. The British +subject, a Maltese, returned to the Catholic faith a few days after +he had declared himself a Turk, and he was privately conveyed out of +this country. The Porte, on that occasion, evidently identified the +change of allegiance with the change of creed, and not only would a +trifling incident have sufficed to raise the question arising out of +that principle between Her Majesty's Embassy and the Porte, but had +the man been arrested after his recantation, I should perhaps have +been reduced to the necessity of putting all to hazard in order to +snatch him from the hands of the executioner. + +The only* Articles relating to this matter in our Capitulations with +the Porte are the sixty-first and seventy-first. The French have an +Article of similar meaning in their capitulations, and by the Treaty +of Kainardji between Russia and the Porte it was agreed that +individuals who had changed their religion should be mutually +exempted from the operation of the Article, which otherwise +stipulates for the extradition of refugees and malefactors. + +* Article LXI.--That if any Englishman should turn Turk, and it +should be represented and proved that besides his own goods he has +in his hands any property belonging to another person in England, +such property shall be taken from him and delivered up to the +Ambassador or Consul, that they may convey the same to the owner +thereof. + +Article LXXI.--That should any Englishman coming with merchandize +turn Turk, and the goods so imported by him be proved to belong to +merchants of his own country, from whom he had taken them, the whole +shall be detained, with the ready money, and delivered up to the +Ambassador, in order to his transmitting the same to the right +owners, without any of our judges or officers interposing any +obstacle or hindrance thereto. + +Under these impressions I trust that your Lordship will not think I +have exceeded the bounds of prudence in stating confidentially, +though without reserve, to the Grand Vizier the impressions made +upon my mind by the recent execution. Couched as my message was in +respectful and kindly terms, I hope it will operate as a salutary +admonition. The interpreter's report of his Highness' reply is +inclosed with this despatch. + +Inclosure l in No. 1. + +_Case of the Armenian Avakim, son of Yagya, of the parish of Top +Kapousee_. + +About a year and a half ago Avakim having had a drunken quarrel with +some neighbours, was sentenced at the War Office to receive 500 +bastinadoes. + +Fear and intoxication induced him to become a Mussulman, and he was +conducted on the spot to the Mehkemé where the name of Mehemet was +given him. + +Some days afterwards Avakim repented of what he had done, and fled +to Syra, from whence he returned a few months ago. + +About three months ago, while returning from his sister's house with +a small bundle containing wearing apparel, he was recognized by the +Kolaga of the quarter, Mustapha, and denounced at the War Office of +having renegaded from Islamism. He was then submitted to the most +cruel punishment to compel him to re-abandon his original belief, +and was even paraded through the streets with his hands tied behind +his back as if for execution. Avakim, however, unintimidated by +torture or the prospect of death, proclaimed aloud his firm belief +in Christianity, and was led forth to suffer on Wednesday last +amidst the execrations of the Ulema partisans. + +Only one man, Taouk-Bazarli Ali, among the thirty armed police who +conducted him, could be prevailed upon to strike the blow. Many of +the Turks spat on him as they passed, and openly reviled the faith +for which he had died. A Yafta, in the following terms, was affixed +on the opposite shop:-- + +"The Armenian shoemaker, Avakim, son of Yagya, having last year, in +the beginning of Moharrem, while at an age of discretion, accepted +Islamism, and received the name of Mehemet, some time afterwards +renegaded, and having now obstinately persisted in refusing the +proffer made to him by the law to re-become a Moslem, sentence of +death was awarded unto him according to fetwa, and he has thereby +suffered." + +The first intelligence received in Pera of this occurrence was the +appearance in the streets of the unfortunate lad's mother tearing +her grey hair, and rushing distractedly from the scene of bloodshed. +The poor old woman, when assured of her boy's fate, returned and sat +in grief by the corpse, from which she was afterwards removed. + +A petition of the Armenians for the corpse was rejected, and it was +after three days exposure cast into the sea. + +_Constantinople, August_ 27, 1843. + +Inclosure 2 in No. 1. + +M. Pisani to Sir Stratford Canning. + +Excellence, _Péra, le_ 24 _Août_, 1843. + +Conformément à vos ordres, j'ai vu le Grand Vizir, et je lui ai +rendu, mot à mot, le message contenu dans votre instruction +confidentielle en date d'hier, relativement au jeune Arménien qui +vient d'être exécuté. Son Altesse a répondu de la manière suivante: + +"Quant à moi, personnellement, j'ai en horreur même d'égorger une +poule. Les exécutions, si fréquentes dans l'ancien système, sont +très rares aujourd'hui. Mais dans le cas récent, je vous ai déjà +dit, et je vous répète, qui ni les Ministres, ni le Sultan, ne +pouvaient absolument pas sauver la vie de l'Arménien. Les lois du +Coran ne forcent personne de se faire Musulman; mais elles sont +inexorables tant à l'égard du Musulman qui embrasse une autre +religion, qu'à l'égard du non-Musulman qui, après avoir de son +propre gré embrassé publiquement l'Islamisme, est convaincu d'y +avoir renoncé. Nulle considération ne peut faire commuer la peine +capitale à laquelle la loi le condamne sans miséricorde. Le seul, +l'unique moyen d'échapper à la mort, c'est pour l'accusé de déclarer +qu'il s'est fait de nouveau Musulman. C'est dans le seul but de +sauver la vie a l'individu en question que nous avons, contre la +lettre de la loi, qui exige que la sentence dans le cas dont il +s'agit soit mise à exécution aussitôt qu'elle a été prononcée, que +nous lui avons laissé quelques jours de temps pour y bien réflêchir, +avec l'assurance que la déclaration voulue par la loi une fois +faite, il serait mis en liberté, et qu'il pourrait partir de +Constantinople; mais comme il a résisté à toutes les tentatives +faites pour le persuader de recourir au seul moyen d'échapper à la +mort, force fut à la fin d'obéir à la loi, sans quoi les Oulémas se +souleveraient contre nous. L'exécution a dû, aux termes de la loi, +être faite publiquement." + +Voyant que le Grand Vizir n'avait rien dit par rapport aux +observations de votre Excellence sur ce qui arriverait si un +étranger, un Anglais par exemple, se trouvait dans des circonstances +analogues, j'ai prié son Altesse de considérer et de faire +considérer au Ministère Ottoman, dans quelle position la Porte se +mettrait vis à vis du Gouvernement Anglais, si elle recourait à des +violences. Le Grand Vizir a dit alors: "Je ne sais pas vraiment ce +qu'un cas pareil exigerait s'il s'agissait d'un étranger; j'ignore +ce que les lois disent à l'égard d'un Franc qui se trouverait +compromis par les circonstances qui ont fait condamner à la mort +l'Arménien, qui est un rayah." + +Le Grand Vizir a fini par dire; "Faites mes complimens à Monsieur +l'Ambassadeur, et dites lui que j'apprécie ses sentimens d'humanité +et de bienveillance; mais que ce qui vient d'arriver était un mal +tout à fait sans remêde." + +J'ai l'honneur. &c., + +(Signé) FRED. PISANI. + +(Translation.) + +Excellency, _Pera, August_ 24, 1843. + +In conformity with your orders I saw the Grand Vizier and +communicated to him, word for word, the message contained in your +confidential instruction of yesterday respecting the young Armenian +who has just been executed. His Highness made answer to the +following effect:-- + +"As regards myself personally, I have a horror of even putting a +fowl to death. Executions, so frequent under the old system, are now +of rare occurrence. But in the late instance, as I have already said +to you, and again repeat, positively neither the Ministers nor the +Sultan could have saved the life of the Armenian. The laws of the +Koran compel no man to become a Mussulman, but they are inexorable +both as respects a Mussulman who embraces another religion, and as +respects a person not a Mussulman, who, after having of his own +accord publicly embraced Islamism, is convicted of having renounced +that faith. No consideration can produce a commutation of the +capital punishment to which the law condemns him without mercy. The +only mode of escaping death is for the accused to declare that he +has again become a Mussulman. It was only with a view to saving the +life of the individual in question, that we--contrary to the letter +of the law, which requires that the sentence in cases of this +nature, should be executed as soon as pronounced--allowed him some +days respite to think over the matter carefully, with the assurance +that having once made the declaration required by law, he would be +set at liberty and would be able to leave Constantinople; but +inasmuch as he resisted all the attempts which were made to induce +him to have recourse to the only means of escaping death, it finally +became necessary to obey the law, otherwise the Ulemas would have +risen against us. The execution, according to the terms of the law, +was necessarily public." + +Seeing that the Grand Vizier had said nothing with reference to your +Excellency's observations as to what would occur if a foreigner, an +Englishman for instance, were to be placed in similar circumstances, +I begged His Highness to consider, and to direct the consideration +of the Ottoman Ministry to the nature of the position in which the +Porte would place itself as regards the British Government, were it +to have recourse to violence. The Grand Vizier then said, "I really +do not know what would become necessary in such a case if a +foreigner were concerned; I am ignorant as to what is said in the +law as regards a Frank who should be compromised by the +circumstances which caused the Armenian, who was a Rayah, to be +condemned to death." + +The Grand Vizier concluded by saying, "Present my compliments to the +Ambassador, and tell him that I appreciate his humane and +well-intentioned sentiments, but that what has occurred was a +misfortune for which there was no remedy whatever." + +I have, &c. + +(Signed) F. PISANI. + + + + + + +No. 2. + + +_Lord Cowley to the Earl of Aberdeen_.--(_Received September_ 20.) + +My Lord, _Paris, September_ 18, 1843. + +M. Guizot informed me this morning that he had received a +communication from M. de Bourqueney, relative to a most +unjustifiable act of the Turkish Government, in having, under +circumstances of great cruelty, put to death an Armenian Turk who +had embraced Christianity, and had refused to renounce that religion +and resume the Ottoman faith. + +M. Bourqueney having asked for instructions for his guidance in this +matter, the Minister for Foreign Affairs sent him a protest which he +is to present to the Ottoman Government on the behalf of the +Government of France. + +M. Guizot observed, that as the Great Powers of Europe were using +their best endeavours to induce the Sultan's Christian subjects to +live peaceably under the Ottoman rule, they could not allow of such +arbitrary acts of cruelty as that which had been perpetrated, and +which was sufficient to rouse the whole of the Christian population +against the Government. He understood, he said, that Sir Stratford +Canning had asked for instructions from your Lordship in this +matter, and that he trusted that they would be in a similar tenor to +those he was about to send to M. de Bourqueney. + +I have, &c., + +(Signed) COWLEY. + + + + + + +No. 3. + + +_Chevalier Bunsen to the Earl of Aberdeen_.--(_Received September_ +29.) + +Le Soussigné, Envoyé Extraordinaire et Ministre Plénipotentiaire de +Sa Majesté le Roi de Prusse, a l'honneur de transmettre à son +Excellence le Comte de Aberdeen, Principal Secrétaire d'Etat de Sa +Majesté Britannique pour les Affaires Etrangères, copie d'une +dépêche qu'il vient de recevoir, avec l'ordre d'en donner +connaissance à sa Seigneurie. + +En s'acquittant de cette commission, il profite, &c. + +(Signé) BUNSEN. + +_Londres, le_ 28 _Septembre_, 1843. + +(Translation.) + +The Undersigned, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary +from His Majesty the King of Prussia, has the honour to transmit to +his Excellency the Earl of Aberdeen, Her Britannic Majesty's +Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy of a +despatch which he has just received, with instructions to +communicate it to his Lordship. + +In executing this instruction, he avails himself, &c. + +(Signed) BUNSEN. + +_London, September_ 28, 1843. + +Inclosure 1 in No. 3. + +_Baron Bülow to Chevalier Bunsen_. + +Monsieur, _Berlin, ce_ 21 _Septembre_, 1843. + +Vos rapports au Roi jusqu'au No. 91 du 15 du courant nous sont +parvenus et ont été placés sous les yeux de Sa Majesté. + +Vous êtes sans doute déjà instruit, par la voie des journaux, des +détails de l'exécution de l'Arménien Serkiz Papazoghlou, mis à mort +dernièrement à Constantinople pour avoir renié la foi de Mahomet +qu'il avait embrassée quelque temps avant. A la vérité, la lettre du +Coran inflige la peine de mort à tous ceux qui abandonnent le +Mahométisme, mais longtemps déjà l'usage avait adouci la rigueur +d'une loi si peu en harmonie avec les préceptes de la civilisation, +et depuis nombre d'années aucune exécution de ce genre n'avait eu +lieu. Celle du malheureux Serkiz doit par conséquent être considérée +comme un triste retour aux barbaries du fanatisme Musulman. Elle le +doit d'autant plus que, d'un côté, l'énergique intercession de Sir +Stratford Canning en faveur de la victime est restée infructueuse; +et que, de l'autre, les autorités Turques, en conduisant Serkiz, +quoique Arménien, en costume Franc et la casquette sur la tête au +supplice, semblent avoir voulu donner à ce sanglant spectacle le +caractère d'un défi public porté par l'ancienne cruauté Mahométane à +l'influence des moeurs Européennes et de la civilisation Chrétienne. + +Partant de ce point de vue et regardant la catastrophe qui vient +d'avoir lieu comme un symptôme de plus d'une tendance rétrograde et +pour ainsi dire anti-Européenne dont, dans son propre intérêt, il +importe de détourner le Gouvernement Ottoman, les Répresentans des +Cinq Grandes Puissances à Constantinople ont cru qu'un avertissement +unanime, à la fois bienveillant et sérieux, que ces Puissances +feraient parvenir à cet effet à la Sublime Porte, produirait sur +elle une impression salutaire. Ils ont, en conséquence, et sur +l'invitation spéciale de Sir Stratford Canning, sollicité de leurs +Cours respectives les instructions nécessaires pour se porter à la +démarche en question, et M. l'Ambassadeur d'Angleterre voulait en +outre proposer à Lord Aberdeen de s'employer dans le même sens +auprès des Cabinets de Berlin, de Vienne, de Paris, et de St. +Pétersbourg. + +Je n'ai pas encore reçu de communication à ce sujet de la part de +Monsieur le Principal Secrétaire d'Etat, mais je me suis empressé de +répondre par la dépêche dont je joins ici une copie, à celle que +l'Envoyé du Roi à Constantinople a adressé à Sa Majesté sur cette +affaire. + +Veuillez, Monsieur, en donner connaissance, ainsi que de la présente +dépêche, à Lord Aberdeen, et exprimer de ma part à sa Seigneurie +l'espoir d'être allé de cette manière au devant des ouvertures +qu'elle serait peut-être dans le cas de me faire faire [sic] sur la +démarche proposée par les cinq Représentans à Constantinople, mais +mise, de préférence, sur le tapis par M. l'Ambassadeur d'Angleterre. + +Recevez, &c., + +(Signé) BULOW. + +(Translation.) + +Sir, _Berlin, September_ 21, 1843. + +Your reports to the King, to No. 91 of the 15th instant, have been +received and laid before His Majesty. + +You are doubtless already acquainted, by means of the newspapers, +with the details of the execution of the Armenian, Serkiz +Papazoghlou, lately put to death at Constantinople for having +renounced the Mahomedan faith, which he had embraced some time +before. In truth, the letter of the Koran inflicts the punishment of +death upon all those who abandon Mahomedanism, but for some time +past custom had mitigated the rigour of a law so little in harmony +with the precepts of civilization, and for a number of years no +execution of this kind had taken place. That of the unfortunate +Serkiz must therefore be considered as a sad return to the barbarity +of Mahomedan fanaticism. It must be so much the more so because, on +the one hand, the energetic intercession of Sir Stratford Canning in +behalf of the victim was fruitless; and because, on the other, the +Turkish authorities, in leading Serkiz, although he was an Armenian, +in the Frank costume and with a cap upon his head to execution, seem +to have wished to give to this bloody spectacle the character of a +public defiance offered by the old Mahomedan cruelty to the +influence of European manners and Christian civilization. + +Setting out from this view of the case and looking upon the +catastrophe which has just taken place as a fresh symptom of the +retrograde, and it may be said anti-European, tendency from which it +is important that the Turkish Government should, in its own +interest, be diverted, the Representatives of the Five Great Powers +at Constantinople thought that a joint representation, at once kind +and earnest, which those Powers should make for this purpose to the +Sublime Porte, would produce a salutary impression upon it. They, +therefore, and at the special request of Sir Stratford Canning, +applied to their respective Courts for the instructions necessary to +enable them to take the step in question, and the English Ambassador +wished moreover to propose to Lord Aberdeen to communicate in the +same sense with the Cabinets of Berlin, Vienna, Paris, and St. +Petersburgh. + +I have not yet received any communication upon this subject from the +Principal Secretary of State; but I lost no time in replying by the +despatch of which I inclose a copy, to that which the Envoy of the +King at Constantinople addressed to His Majesty respecting this +affair. + +Have the goodness, Sir, to communicate it, as well as this despatch, +to Lord Aberdeen, and to express to his Lordship, on my part, the +hope that I have in this manner anticipated the overtures which he +would perhaps have caused to be made to me with reference to the +step proposed by the Five Representatives at Constantinople, but +especially suggested by the English Ambassador. + +Accept, &c., + +(Signed) BULOW + +Inclosure 2 in No. 3. + +_Baron Bülow to M. Le Coq_. + +Monsieur, _Berlin, ce_ 20 _Septembre_, 1843. + +Vos rapports au Roi, &c., &c. + +Ce que vous avez mandé sur l'exécution de l'Arménien Serkiz +Papazoghlou n'a pu manquer de nous inspirer un intérêt aussi vif que +douloureux. En effet tous les détails de cette sanglante catastrophe +sont bien de nature à mériter la sérieuse attention des Puissances +Européennes. Ce sont autant de symptômes d'une tendance rétrograde à +laquelle la Sublime Porte paraît s'être abandonnée depuis quelques +années, et qui, en tolérant et en favorisant peut-être même les +excès du fanatisme Musulman, est aussi contraire aux lois de +l'humanité qu'aux règles qu'une saine politique devrait dicter au +Gouvernement Ottoman. + +A en juger d'après les circonstances qui ont précédé, accompagné et +suivi la mort de cette malheureuse victime de la rigueur Mahométane, +ne serait-on pas tenté de croire que ce Gouvernement a oublié ce +qu'il doit aux efforts réunis des Grandes Puissances, à leurs +conseils désintéressés, à la salutaire influence de la civilisation +Européenne? Ne semble-t-il pas, en opposant aux moeurs plus douces +qui sont la suite de cette civilisation la lettre impitoyable du +Coran, avoir l'intention de faire sentir à l'Europe entière le peu +de cas qu'il fait du bienveillant intérêt, de la constante +sollicitude que lui ont voués les Cabinets Européens, + +Or, les graves conséquences, qu'un pareil sytème [sic] entraînerait +pour la Porte, en finissant par lui aliéner réellement l'intérêt de +ces Cabinets, sont si évidentes, que nous aimons à croire qu'un +avertissement unanime de leur part suffira pour la détourner d'une +voie également désastreuse sous le point de vue politique et moral. +Je me range sous ce rapport entièrement à l'avis de Sir Stratford +Canning, et après avoir pris les ordres du Roi, notre Auguste +Maître, je vous invite, Monsieur, à vous associer à la démarche que, +je n'en doute pas, Messieurs vos collègues d'Autriche, de France et +de Russie seront également autorisés à faire à cet effet auprès du +Gouvernement Turc en commun avec M. l'Ambassadeur d'Angleterre. Dans +cette occasion où les Représentans des Cinq Grandes Puissances +agiront en quelque sorte comme organes de la civilisation +Européenne, il importera surtout de constater leur unanimité. +Veuillez par ce motif, Monsieur, attendre que les instructions que +Messieurs vos collègues ont sollicitées, leur soient parvenues, et +alors vous concerter avec eux sur la meilleure forme à donner à la +démarche qu'elles prescrivent. Si contre toute attente ces +instructions n'étaient pas de nature à établir un accord entier des +Cinq Puissances dans cette affaire, vous voudrez bien, Monsieur, +m'en informer, pour que je puisse, selon les circonstances, vous +faire parvenir des directions ultérieures. En tout cas la démarche +en question devra se borner à être simultanée et non pas collective, +et le langage que vous tiendrez à la Porte, pour être sérieux et +ferme, ne s'en tiendra pas moins dans les bornes d'un conseil +amical, et évitera tout ce qui pourrait blesser la susceptibilité +politique et religieuse du Gouvernement Ottoman. + +Nous n'avons pas encore reçu la communication à laquelle nous +pouvons nous attendre de la part de Lord Aberdeen, en suite de la +demande que Sir Stratford Canning lui a adressée au sujet de +l'affaire qui fait l'objet de la présente dépêche. Mais j'envoie une +copie de cette dernière à l'Envoyé du Roi à Londres, pour en donner +connaissance à M. le Principal Secrétaire d'Etat, et pour informer +de cette manière sa Seigneurie que, d'accord avec Sir Stratford +Canning sur l'opportunité de la démarche qu'il a proposée, le +Cabinet du Roi s'est empressé de vous autoriser à y concourir. + +Recevez, &c., + +(Signé) BULOW. + +(Translation.) + +Sir, _Berlin, September_ 20, 1843. + +Your reports to the King, &c. &c. + +The account which you have given of the execution of the Armenian +Serkiz Papazoghlou could not fail to excite our lively and painful +interest. Indeed all the details of this bloody catastrophe are well +calculated to deserve the serious attention of the European Powers. +They are so many symptoms of a retrograde tendency to which the +Sublime Porte appears to have given itself up for some years past, +and which, by tolerating, and perhaps even encouraging the excesses +of Mahomedan fanaticism, is as contrary to the laws of humanity as +to the rules which a wholesome policy should dictate to the Turkish +Government. + +To judge from the circumstances which preceded, attended, and +followed the death of this unhappy victim of Mahomedan severity, +should we not be tempted to think that that Government has forgotten +what it owes to the united exertions of the Great Powers, to their +disinterested advice, and to the salutary influence of European +civilization? Does it not appear, by placing in opposition to the +milder customs which are the result of that civilization the +inexorable letter of the Koran, to intend to make the whole of +Europe feel the little importance which it attaches to the +benevolent interest and the constant solicitude with which the +European Cabinets have regarded it? + +Wherefore, the serious consequences, which such a system would +entail upon the Porte, by finally alienating from it in reality the +interest of those Cabinets, are so evident, that we are fain to +believe that an unanimous intimation on their part will suffice to +turn it aside from a course equally disastrous in a political and in +a moral point of view. I side entirely in this respect with the +opinion of Sir Stratford Canning, and after having taken the orders +of the King, our august Master, I request you, Sir, to join in the +step which I doubt not your colleagues of Austria, France and Russia +will be equally authorized to take to this effect towards the +Turkish Government, in common with the Ambassador of England. On +this occasion when the Representatives of the Five Powers will act +in some manner as the organs of European civilization, it will above +all things be important to evince their unanimity. For this reason, +have the goodness, Sir, to wait until the instructions for which +your colleagues have applied, have reached them, and thereupon +concert with them as to the best form to be given to the step which +those instructions prescribe. If, contrary to all expectation, those +instructions should not be such as to demonstrate an entire +agreement of the Five Powers on this matter, you will have the +goodness, Sir, to inform me of the fact, in order that I may, +according to circumstances, transmit to you further instructions. In +any case the step in question should be limited to being +simultaneous and not collective, and the language which you will +hold to the Porte, while it is serious and firm, must not the less +be confined within the bounds of friendly counsel, and must avoid +everything that could wound the political and religious +susceptibility of the Ottoman Government. + +We have not yet received the communication which we may expect from +Lord Aberdeen, in pursuance of the application made to him by Sir +Stratford Canning, on the subject of the matter treated of in this +despatch. But I send a copy of this last to the King's Envoy in +London, in order that he may communicate it to the Principal +Secretary of State, and in this manner acquaint his Lordship that +the King's Cabinet, agreeing with Sir Stratford Canning as to the +fitness of the step which he has proposed, has hastened to authorize +you to concur in it. + +Receive, &c., + +(Signed) BULOW. + + + + + + +No. 4. + + +_The Earl of Aberdeen to Sir Stratford Canning_. + +Sir, _Foreign Office, October_ 4, 1843. + +The barbarous execution of the Armenian, recorded in your +Excellency's despatch of the 27th of August, has excited the +attention and interest of Her Majesty's Government in an unusual +degree; and they highly approve the line of conduct which you +pursued in reference to it. + +Her Majesty's Government had hoped that the time had passed away +when the perpetration of such acts of atrocity could have been +tolerated; and that the law by which they are permitted or enjoined, +although it might still disgrace the Mahomedan code, had fallen so +completely into disuse as to have become virtually null and of no +effect. + +It is, therefore, with the most painful feelings, that Her Majesty's +Government have seen so cruel a law brought so injudiciously again +into operation; and they consider every Christian Government not +only justified, but imperatively called upon to raise their voices +against such proceedings, whether the law be executed to the +prejudice of their own subjects, or of the Christian community in +general. + +Her Majesty's Government confidently trust that no repetition of so +unjustifiable an act as that against which your Excellency so +properly remonstrated will ever be suffered, and still less +authorized by the Turkish Government; and they earnestly counsel +that Government to take immediate measures for effectually +preventing the future commission of such atrocities. + +Under the full conviction that the Sultan will have the humanity and +wisdom to listen to this counsel, which is given with the most +friendly feeling, and which will, I doubt not, be equally impressed +on His Highness by other Christian Governments, I do not think it +necessary to enter further at present into the other points set +forth in your Excellency's despatch above referred to. + +You will not fall to communicate this despatch to Rifaat Pasha. + +I am, &c., + +(Signed) ABERDEEN. + + + + + + +No. 5. + + +_The Earl of Westmorland to the Earl of Aberdeen_.--(_Received +October_ 30.) + +My Lord, _Berlin, October_ 23, 1843. + +I have communicated to Baron Bülow your Lordship's despatch of the +4th instant to Sir Stratford Canning relative to the late execution +of an Armenian at Constantinople, and his Excellency has requested +me to express the interest with which he had learnt your Lordship's +views on that subject. + +I have, &c., + +(Signed) WESTMORLAND. + + + + + + +No. 6. + + +_Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen_.--(_Received +November_ 2.) + +My Lord, _Buyukderé, October_ 11, 1843. + +The Prussian Minister has communicated to me an instruction +addressed to him by Baron Bülow in reply to his representations on +the subject of the Armenian youth, whose execution and its natural +consequences were brought under your Lordship's notice in my +despatch of August the 27th. + + + +The French Minister has also communicated to me a note, transmitted +to him from Paris for presentation to the Porte, with reference to +the same deplorable act of the Turkish Government. + +Copies of these two papers have not been given to me; but I +understand that the Prussian instruction has been sent to your +Lordship, and it is probable that the same degree of confidence has +been shewn to your Lordship by M. Guizot. I have only to remark that +the terms in which these documents are respectively expressed, +appear to me highly creditable to the Cabinets from which they have +issued, and, should your Lordship see fit to instruct me in a +similar sense, it would afford me great satisfaction to repeat to +the Turkish Minister, with the immediate authority of Her Majesty's +Government, what I ventured at the time to intimate by anticipation +on my own suggestion. Baron Bülow and M. Guizot appear to be equally +impressed with the dangerous character of that policy to which the +Armenian execution is traceable, and their reprobation of the act +itself is proportionally strong. Baron de Bourqueney is prepared to +give in his note without waiting for the concurrence of his +colleagues. M. Le Coq is instructed to act simultaneously with the +other Representatives of the Five Powers. + +With respect to the Austrian and Russian Ministers, I am informed by +M. de Titow that the Emperor of Russia's absence from St. +Petersburgh has prevented his receiving an immediate answer to his +despatches; and I hear that the Internuncio refers to a +communication made by Prince Metternich to the Turkish Ambassador at +Vienna as sufficiently expressive of the sentiments of his Court and +superseding the necessity of any step on his part without further +instructions. + +I would venture humbly to submit that a concurrent expression of the +sentiments of the Five Courts on such an occasion would hardly fail +of producing a most beneficial effect upon the counsels of the +Porte. + +I have, &c., + +(Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. + + + + + + +No. 7. + + +_The Earl of Aberdeen to Sir Stratford Canning_. + +(Extract.) _Foreign Office, November_ 4, 1843. + +I have received your despatch of the 11th of October, reporting that +the French and Prussian Ministers had received instructions from +their respective Governments on the subject of the execution of the +Armenian referred to in your despatch of the 27th of August. + +I calculate that your Excellency will have received on the 24th +ultimo my despatch of the 4th, by which your Excellency will have +been enabled to acquaint the Porte with the feelings with which Her +Majesty's Government had received the intelligence of that +melancholy transaction. I have nothing to add to that instruction. + + + + + + +No. 8. + + +_Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen_.--(_Received +November_ 23.) + +My Lord, _Buyukdéré, October_ 31, 1843. + +The instruction which I have received from your Lordship respecting +the Armenian decapitated for returning to the Christian faith, +cannot fail of making a deep and, I hope, a salutary impression upon +the Ottoman Ministers. + +I have had it carefully translated into Turkish, and placed in M. +Pisani's hands for communication to the Porte, accompanied with an +instruction of which I have the honour to inclose a copy herewith. + +Monsieur de Bourqueney having been directed to present an official +note upon the same subject, I thought it advisable to give a certain +degree of formality to the communication of your Lordship's +despatch, and particularly to leave it with the Minister for Foreign +Affairs in writing. A copy of the French Minister's note is herewith +inclosed. + +The presentation of this remonstrance has strongly excited the +public attention, and occasioned no small embarrassment at the +Porte. It was proposed in Council to return it, but the suggestion +was overruled, and I hear that nothing will be added to the verbal +reply already given. + +The substance of that reply, which M. de Bourqueney read to me from +the report of his first interpreter, is by no means unfavourable. +The language employed by Rifaat Pasha in speaking of the French +Minister's note to M. Pisani, admitted, in substance, that much +might be said with reason against the manner and circumstances of +the execution, but as to the act itself, he said that nothing could +be alleged against a judgment founded upon the express will of God. +His answer to the communication of your Lordship's instruction has +not yet reached me. It will have the greater interest as two more +cases of religion involving capital punishment have recently +occurred. The offender in each instance is a native Mussulman; and +nothing, I conceive, but the late expression of indignation has +prevented the Porte from executing the sentence of the law. + +I am informed that Rifaat Pasha, on consulting the Grand Mufti as to +one of these cases, was advised not to bring it under His Holiness' +notice as he had no choice but to declare the law; and a charitable +intimation was added, that where a State necessity existed, the +Porte would herself be found the most competent judge. + +The Russian Minister informs me that he is still in expectation of +instructions from St. Petersburgh. The Internuncio refers to the +remarks addressed by Prince Metternich himself to the Turkish +Ambassador at Vienna. M. de Le Coq reserves the communication of his +instruction, in the hope of being able to act simultaneously with M. +de Titow. The silence of any one of the leading Courts on such an +occasion would be a cause of just regret. + +I have, &c., + +(Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. + +Inclosure l in No 8. + +_Baron de Bourqueney to Rifaat Pasha_. + + _Thérapia_, 17 _Octobre_, 1843. + +Le Soussigné, Ministre Plénipotentiaire de Sa Majesté le Roi des +Français près la Porte Ottomane, a reçu de son Gouvernement l'ordre +de faire à son Excellence le Ministre des Affaires Etrangères la +communication suivante. + +C'est avec un douloureux étonnement que le Gouvernement du Roi a +appris la récente exécution d'un Arménien qui, après avoir embrassé +la religion Musulmane, était revenu à la foi de ses pères, et que +pour ce seul fait on a frappé de la peine capitale, parcequ'il +refusait à racheter sa vie par une nouvelle abjuration. + +En vain pour expliquer un acte aussi déplorable voudrait-on se +prévaloir des dispositions impérieuses de la législation. On devait +croire que la législation faite pour d'autres temps était tombée en +désuétude; et en tout cas il était trop facile de fermer les yeux +sur un pareil fait pour qu'on puisse considérer ce qui vient +d'arriver comme une de ces déplorables nécessités dans lesquelles la +politique trouve quelquefois non pas une justification mais une +excuse. + +Lors même que l'humanité, dont le nom n'a jamais été invoqué en vain +en France, n'aurait pas été aussi cruellement blessée par le +supplice de cet Arménien, lors même que le Gouvernement du Roi, qui +a toujours protégé, et protégera toujours la religion Chrétienne en +Orient, pourrait oublier que c'est le Christianisme qui a reçu ce +sanglant outrage, l'intérêt qu'il prend à l'Empire Ottoman et à son +indépendance, lui ferait encore voir avec une profonde douleur ce +qui vient de se passer. + +Cette indépendance ne peut aujourd'hui trouver une garantie efficace +que dans l'appui de l'opinion Européenne. Les efforts du +Gouvernement du Roi ont constamment tendu à lui ménager cet appui. +Cette tâche lui deviendra bien plus difficile en présence d'un acte +qui soulevera dans l'Europe entière une indignation universelle. + +Le Gouvernement du Roi croit accomplir un devoir impérieux en +faisant connaître à la Porte l'impression qu'il a reçue d'un fait +malheureusement irréparable, mais qui, s'il pouvait se renouveler, +serait de nature à appeler des dangers réels sur le Gouvernement +assez faible pour faire de telles concessions à un odieux et +déplorable fanatisme. + +Le Soussigné, &c., + +(Translation.) + + _Therapia, October_ 17, 1843. + +The Undersigned, Minister Plenipotentiary of His Majesty the King of +the French at the Ottoman Porte, has received orders from his +Government to make the following communication to the Minister for +Foreign Affairs. + +It has been with a painful astonishment that the King's Government +has learnt the late execution of an Armenian who, after embracing +the Musulman religion, returned to the faith of his fathers, and +who, for this act alone, has been capitally punished, because he +refused to redeem his life by a fresh recantation. + +In vain can the imperious terms of the law be appealed to for an +explanation of so lamentable an act. It might have been supposed +that a system of law formed for other times had fallen into +desuetude; and at all events it was too easy to overlook such a +circumstance to admit of that which has happened being considered as +one of those lamentable cases of necessity, in which policy +sometimes finds not so much a justification as an excuse. + +Even had not humanity, whose name has never been vainly invoked +in France, been so cruelly hurt by the punishment of this +Armenian,--even could the King's Government, which has always +protected, and ever will protect, the Christian religion in the +East, forget that it is Christianity which has been thus cruelly +outraged,--the interest which it takes in the Ottoman Empire and in +its independence would still cause it to behold what has occurred +with profound regret. + +That independence can in these times find a real security only in +the support of the public opinion of Europe. The efforts of the +King's Government have been constantly directed towards obtaining +for it that support. This task will become much more difficult after +an act which will excite universal indignation throughout the whole +of Europe. + +The King's Government considers that it discharges an imperious duty +in making known to the Porte the impression which has been made upon +it by an event unfortunately irreparable, and which, were it to +occur again, would be likely to cause real danger to a Government +weak enough to make such concessions to a hateful and lamentable +fanaticism. + +The Undersigned, &c., + +Inclosure 2 in No. 8. + +_Sir Stratford Canning to M. Pisani_. + +Sir, _Buyukderé, October_ 30, 1843. + +In presenting to the Minister for Foreign Affairs the accompanying +translation of an instruction addressed to me by the Earl of +Aberdeen, with reference to the Armenian who was lately executed at +Constantinople, you will be careful to impress his Excellency with a +conviction of the deep and painful sentiments excited throughout +Great Britain by that deplorable act. + +You will require that the instruction be forthwith submitted not +only to his Highness the Grand Vizier, but also to His Imperial +Majesty the Sultan. + +A copy of this letter, with a translation in Turkish, is to be left +with Rifaat Pasha. + +(Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. + + + + + + +No. 9. + + +_Sir Stratford Canning to Mr. Addington_.--(_Received November_ 23.) + +Sir, _Buyukderé, November_ 3, 1843. + +A delay in the departure of the messenger affords me the opportunity +of transmitting to you at once the inclosed report addressed to me +to-day by M. Pisani. Though not official, it shews the strong +impression which has been made upon the Porte by a knowledge of the +sentiments entertained throughout Europe with reference to the +Armenian lately executed. The Porte will probably seek to avoid +replying ostensibly to the remonstrances of the several leading +Courts, but means will, no doubt, be taken to prevent the necessity +of practising such atrocities in future. A degree of success so +important, though limited, might reasonably encourage the allied +Courts to enter into a more complete understanding for the removal +of other blots from the legal or political practice of the Turks, in +their intercourse with Christians. + +I have, &c., + +(Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. + +Inclosure in No. 9. + +_M. Pisani to Sir Stratford Canning_. + +Excellence, _Péra, ce_ 3 _Novembre_, 1843. + +J'ai conformément à vos ordres remis à Rifaat Pacha la traduction en +Turc des instructions du Comte d'Aberdeen et de la lettre de votre +Excellence, avec une copie de votre lettre. + +Rifaat Pacha a lu la traduction des deux pièces qu'il a trouvées +très-importantes. Il m'a dit qu'il mettra les instructions de Lord +Aberdeen sous les yeux du Grand Vizir et du Sultan. + +Rifaat Pacha m'a dit confidentiellement que les mesures qu'il est +question de prendre sont, d'ordonner à toutes les autorités à +Constantinople et dans les provinces, d'avoir désormais soin, +lorsqu'un Turc qui était Chrétien, se fait Chrétien de nouveau, et +lorsqu'un Turc dit des injures contre Mahomet ou contre les +Prophètes, ou vomit d'autres blasphèmes, de ne pas permettre qu'il +soit traduit et jugé devant un Mehkemé quelconque; mais si le cas +arrive à Constantinople, d'envoyer l'accusé à la Porte, et s'il +arrive dans un pays hors de Constantinople, de l'envoyer au Pacha de +la province, sans aucune espèce de jugement préalable. De cette +manière-ci, dit Rifaat Pacha, la Porte et les Pachas au-dehors +songeront aux moyens de terminer ces sortes d'affaires sans éclat, +et (j'ose inférer des paroles de son Excellence) sans recourir à la +peine capitale. + +Rifaat Pacha a ajouté que la Porte ne peut faire aucune réponse par +écrit sur cette affaire sans se compromettre, soit vis-à-vis des +Puissances Chrétiennes, en disant qu'elle est obligée de mettre à +exécution la loi qui regarde les Chrétiens qui, après avoir embrassé +l'Islamisme de leur propre gré, y renoncent et redeviennent +Chrétiens, et qui encourent par là la peine de mort,--soit vis-à-vis +de la loi, en déclarant qu'elle ne sera pas exécutée à l'avenir dans +un cas semblable à celui de l'Arménien. + +Mais Rifaat Pacha m'a paru convaincu qu'après le bruit que l'Europe +a fait, une scène semblable à celle de l'Arménien ne se renouvellera +point. Les mesures que le Gouvernement se propose de prendre ont +pour but d'éviter un jugement; et sans jugement on ne peut condamner +personne à mort. L'Arménien avait été jugé au Mehkemé dit du Stambol +Effendi, avant d'être envoyé à la Porte. Le Kiatib qui est en prison +pour avoir dit des injures contre Mahomet, a été jugé au Mehkemé de +Salonique, avant d'être envoyé à Constantinople; et le Conseil +suprême l'a déclaré digne de mort, quoiqu'il n'ait pas été +juridiquement et formellement condamné ici encore. La circonstance +que le Kiatib a été jugé déjà et convaincu d'avoir blasphémé le nom +de Mahomet, expose ses jours au plus grand danger. + +J'ai l'honneur, &c., + +(Signé) FREDERIC PISANI. + +(Translation.) + +Excellency, _Pera, November_ 3, 1843. + +In conformity with your orders, I placed in the hands of Rifaat +Pasha the Turkish translation of Lord Aberdeen's instructions and of +your Excellency's letter, with a copy of your letter. + +Rifaat Pasha read the translation of the two documents which he +considered to be of great importance. He told me that he will lay +Lord Aberdeen's instructions before the Grand Vizier and the Sultan. + +Rifaat Pasha told me confidentially that the measures which it is +proposed to take, are to order all the authorities at Constantinople +and and [sic] in the provinces henceforth to take care that when a +Turk who was a Christian, becomes again a Christian, and when a Turk +speaks insultingly of Mahomet or the Prophets, or utters other +blasphemies, he shall not be allowed to be given up to, and judged +by, any Mehkemé whatever; but if the case occurs at Constantinople, +the accused shall be sent to the Porte, or if it occurs in a +district beyond Constantinople, he shall be sent to the Pasha of the +province without any previous judgment. In this manner, said Rifaat +Pasha, the Porte and the provincial Pashas will devise means for +terminating affairs of this kind without noise, and (I venture to +infer from his Excellency's words) without having recourse to +capital punishment. + +Rifaat Pasha added, that the Porte can give no written answer +respecting this affair without compromising itself either as regards +the Christian Powers, by stating that it is forced to execute the +law regarding Christians who, after having of their own accord +embraced Islamism, renounce it and become Christians again, and thus +incur capital punishment,--or as regards the law, by declaring that +it will not for the future be executed in cases similar to that of +the Armenian. + +Rifaat Pasha, however, seemed to me convinced that after the noise +which has been made in Europe, a scene similar to that of the +Armenian cannot be renewed. The measures which the Government are +about to adopt have for their object to avoid a trial, and without a +trial no one can be condemned to death. The Armenian was tried at +the Mehkemé called that of the Stambol Effendi, before being sent to +the Porte. The Kiatib who is in prison for having uttered +blasphemies against Mahomet, was judged at the Mehkemé of Salonica, +before he was sent to Constantinople; and the Supreme Council has +declared him worthy of death, although he has not yet been +judicially and formally condemned here. The circumstance of the +Kiatib having already been tried and convicted of uttering blasphemy +against the name of Mahomet puts his life in the most imminent +danger. + +I have, &c., + +(Signed) FREDERICK PISANI. + + + + + + +No. 10. + + +_Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen.--(Received December +5_.) + +(Extract.) _Buyukderé, November_ 17, 1843. + +I am happy to state that a serious and salutary impression has been +made upon the Turkish Government by the communication of your +Lordship's instruction respecting the Armenian decapitated in the +streets of Constantinople. Preceded as that communication was by the +delivery of M. Guizot's impressive note, and followed, as I believe +it to have been, by the presentation of Baron Bülow's instruction to +M. de Le Coq, the Porte has felt, even in the absence of any similar +declaration from the Austrian and Russian Legations, that she cannot +with prudence or safety repeat an atrocity tending so directly to +excite the indignant feelings of Christendom against her. I have not +received, nor indeed have I yet demanded, an official answer to my +remonstrance. M. de Bourqueney, though, like myself, without +instructions on that point, has made the demand, but, at my request, +he has abstained from pressing it, agreeing, on reflection, with me, +that it would be advisable at all events to afford time for M. de +Titow to hear from his Government, and to take a step more or less +in harmony with ours. It remains indeed to be considered whether it +would be prudent, even with that advantage, to insist upon receiving +a formal answer. I have already forwarded to your Lordship's office +the substance of Rifaat Pasha's remarks, and they convey an +assurance that the Porte will in future find means to avoid the +application of the law in cases like that which proved fatal to the +unfortunate Armenian. + +The apparent consequences of what has been done in this matter are, +a Ministerial understanding that occasions of calling the law into +action as to religious offences involving a capital punishment are +for the future to be avoided, and a proclamation addressed to the +Turkish authorities in Roumelia for the better treatment and +protection of the Sultan's Christian subjects. + +I venture to believe that your Lordship will derive the same +gratification which I do from this result. + + + + + + +No. 11. + + +_Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen_.--(_Received +December_ 18.) + +My Lord, _Buyukderé, November_ 20, 1843. + +I have the satisfaction to state, that the Russian Envoy has +informed me of his having received an instruction from his Court on +the subject of the Armenian youth decapitated at Constantinople. His +Excellency has given me to understand that the terms of this +instruction are in harmony with the sentiments of Her Majesty's +Government; and I presume that he will make me a more complete +communication of its contents the first time we meet. + +I have, &c., + +(Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. + + + + + + +No. 12. + + +_Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen_.--(_Received +December_ 24.) + +(Extract.) _Constantinople, December_ l, 1843. + +Having sounded Rifaat Pasha as to his intention of answering the +representations of the Five Powers concerning the late religious +execution, I was told by his Excellency that, although the Porte +wished to avoid any recurrence of that atrocity, yet, as such +executions, divested of the objectionable forms which accompanied +the Armenian's death, were obligatory under the law considered by +Mahomedans divine, and might be forced incidentally upon the +Government, it would be embarrassing to give an official declaration +to that effect. Some ostensible record of the Porte's intention to +avoid religious exeutions [sic] in future would, I humbly conceive, +be satisfactory to Her Majesty's Government, and it would not +perhaps be impossible to frame a reply, which might convey the +required security without coming into collision with the Mussulman +faith. There is reason otherwise to apprehend that the advantage now +obtained will be of very short duration. + +P.S.--There is reason to fear that another religious execution has +recently taken place in the Pashalic of Brussa. + + + + + + +No. 13. + + +_Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen_.--(_Received +January_ 5, 1844.) + +(Extract.) _Buyukderé, December_ 17, 1843. + +I have the honour to state, and I do so with much concern, that the +rumour, which has for some time prevailed, of another execution, +similar to that of the Armenian youth, having taken place by order +of the Porte, is now confirmed. The statements inclosed herewith +describe the circumstances as far they are known. One of them is an +extract of a despatch addressed to me by Her Majesty's Consul at +Brussa, which is at no great distance from Biligik where the Greek +was executed. The other was communicated to me by one of my +diplomatic colleagues. + +Rifaat Pasha in conversing with me some time ago alluded to this +execution, of which I had then scarcely heard the rumour, and he +spoke of it as a kind of accident, which had occurred prior to the +late remonstrances respecting the Armenian, and which was not to be +taken in proof of an objectionable policy at the Porte. With a +variation of terms, and in some degree of facts also, he has offered +the same kind of vague excuse to others, and I believe in particular +to the Internuncio. + +I presume that your Lordship would not approve of such an occurrence +being thrown into oblivion without an attempt at explanation, and I +am persuaded that any backwardness under such circumstances would +only serve to confirm the Porte in her present infatuated course of +policy. I have, therefore, communicated upon the subject with my +colleagues of Austria, France, Russia, and Prussia, and finding them +all substantially of the same mind, I have drawn up the instruction +of which a copy is here inclosed, and sent it to Rifaat Pasha by M. +Pisani. Similar instructions were sent in by the others, though +neither collectively, nor simultaneously, and perhaps not in writing +by the Austrian and Russian Ministers. + +Your Lordship will observe that we ask for a distinct assurance from +the Porte that measures shall be taken to prevent the recurrence of +such revolting punishments in future. In proposing to make this +demand I had in view the corresponding passage in your Lordship's +instruction, communicated to Rifaat Pasha, and I thought to satisfy +M. de Bourqueney, who had presented an official note in the former +instance and applied for an answer, without exceeding the limits +which my other colleagues were prepared to observe. Their joint +acceptance of the suggestion, and their engagements to make the same +demand, induce me to hope that the Porte's reply will prove +satisfactory, though I cannot yet speak with confidence in that +respect. + +Inclosure I in No. 13. + +_Mr. Consul Sandison to Sir Stratford Canning_. + +(Extract.) _Brussa, December_ 9, 1843. + +A fresh instance, I learn, has unfortunately occurred about a week +ago of the sanguinary spirit of the Turkish law and people against +relapsed proselytes. A young Greek at Biligik in the adjoining +district, who had become a Mussulman and returned to his own creed, +has been put to death by hanging. He must have been a willing victim +from what my informant states, as his profession of Islamism had +been complete according to the usual rites. + +P.S.--The execution of the Greek at Biligik took place, I further +learn, after the return of an answer from the Turkish Government to +a report on the case from the municipality of Biligik. + +Inclosure 2 in No. 13. + +_Extract of Letter communicated by M. de Cordoba to Sir Stratford +Canning_. + + _Constantinople_, 6 _Décembre_, 1843. + +Un jeune Grec s'était fait Turc dans un moment de mauvaise humeur; +revenu a lui, il était allé trouver un prêtre et avait témoigné le +désir de rentrer dans sa croyance. L'ecclésiastique, approuvant sa +pensée, lui dit qu'il devait réparer sa faute en revenant +publiquement sur son erreur. Le jeune homme, âgé de 22 ans, fit la +chose comme elle lui était ordonnée. Aussitôt les autorités Turques +s'emparent de lui et le mettent au secret: ceci se passe aux +environs de Brousse. L'on rapporte le fait à Constantinople: ici, en +dépit des notes Française, Anglaise, &c., on tient conseil, et +l'ordre est envoyé de l'exécuter, et en effet il y a quatorze à +quinze jours cet infortuné a été pendu publiquement à Biligik. +L'effet qui cet événement a produit sur les habitans Turcs du lieu a +été tel que le Gouverneur a dû prendre les plus grandes précautions +pour empêcher le massacre de tous les habitans. + +(Translation.) + + _Constantinople, December_ 6, 1843. + +A young Greek turned Turk in a moment of ill temper; having come to +himself, he went to a priest and evinced a desire to return to his +faith. The priest, approving his intention, told him that he must +repair his fault by a public retractation of his error. The young +man, who was twenty-two years of age, did as he was ordered. +Forthwith the Turkish authorities lay hold of him and shut him up: +this happens in the neighbourhood of Brussa. The transaction is +reported to Constantinople: here, notwithstanding the French and +English notes, &c., a Council is held, and the order to execute him +is sent off, and in fact this unfortunate person was publicly hanged +at Biligik fourteen or fifteen days ago. The effect which this event +produced on the Turkish inhabitants of the place has been such that +the Governor has been under the necessity of taking the greatest +precautions to prevent the massacre of all the inhabitants. + +Inclosure 3 in No. 13. + +_Sir Stratford Canning to M. Pisani_. + +Sir, _Buyukderé, December_ 16, 1843. + +It is with sentiments of deep concern that I have received +unquestionable intelligence of another religious execution, similar +in principle to that of the Armenian Avakim. In stating this +circumstance without delay to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, you +will lay before his Excellency the substance of the two accompanying +papers, which contain a relation of the principal facts. You will +express the surprise and disappointment which I feel in the +contemplation of so revolting an act, after the very distinct +communications which had recently taken place between his Excellency +and myself respecting the previous case. A full knowledge of the +sentiments entertained by Her Majesty's Government, and also by four +other leading Cabinets of Europe, has not to all appearance +prevented the Porte from again publicly outraging the principles of +humanity, and again exposing herself to the just animadversion of +those friendly Powers. + +Under these circumstances, and referring to the instructions of my +Government already communicated to Rifaat Pasha, I deem it an +indispensable duty to invite the explanations of the Porte, and to +state my expectation that the Turkish Government will not only +declare its regret for the two executions in suitable terms, but +that it will accompany the declaration with an assurance, admitting +of no question for the future, that effective measures will be +immediately taken to preclude the recurrence of such unwise and +odious acts. + +You will conclude by leaving with Rifaat Pasha a copy of this +instruction, and by calling upon his Excellency to lay it before the +Sultan, and to apprize you on an early day of the answer sanctioned +by His Majesty, for the information of my Government. + +I am, &c., + +(Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. + + + + + + +No. 14. + + +_M. Guizot to Count Ste. Aulaire_.--(_Communicated by Count Ste. +Aulaire to the Earl of Aberdeen, January_ 13.) + +(Extract.) _Paris, le_ 9 _Janvier_, 1844. + +Malgré les promesses formelles de la Porte, et les mesures qu'elle +disait avoir prises pour empêcher le renouvellement du douloureux +scandale auquel avait donné lieu, il y a quelques mois, l'exécution +d'un Arménien supplicié pour être revenu à la religion Chrétienne +après avoir embrassé l'Islamisme, un Grec des environs de Brousse +vient encore d'être mis à mort dans des circonstances absolument +semblables. Interpellé à ce sujet par M. de Bourqueney, la Porte n'a +su alléguer pour se justifier que des malentendus et des méprises +dont les allégations même sont contradictoires. Un tel fait n'est +plus seulement un outrage à l'humanité, c'est une insulte jetée à +l'Europe civilisée par le fanatisme d'un parti que le Gouvernement +Ottoman n'a pas le courage de contenir et de réprimer, à supposer +qu'il n'en soit pas lui-même le complice dans une certaine mesure. +Ce courage, il faut le lui donner en lui faisant craindre d'encourir +le sérieux mécontentement des Puissances dont l'appui bienveillant +lui est si nécessaire. + +Je vais charger M. de Bourqueney de faire à cet effet une démarche +énergique auprès de la Porte, et je ne doute pas que Lord Aberdeen +ne donne à Sir Stratford Canning des instructions analogues. Le +Gouvernement Britannique croira certainement aussi devoir se joindre +à nous pour demander le concours des autres Grandes Puissances. + +(Translation.) + + _Paris, January_ 9, 1844. + +Notwithstanding the formal promises of the Porte, and the measures +which it had declared that it had taken to prevent the repetition of +the mournful scandal to which a few months ago the execution of an +Armenian who was punished for having returned to Christianity after +having embraced Islamism, gave rise, a Greek of the neighbourhood of +Brussa, has now been put to death, under circumstances precisely +similar. On being questioned on this subject by M. de Bourqueney, +the Porte could only allege in its justification misunderstandings +and mistakes the very allegations with regard to which are +contradictory. Such a transaction is no longer only an outrage to +humanity, it is an insult cast upon civilized Europe, by the +fanaticism of a party which the Ottoman Government has not the +courage to keep within bounds and repress, supposing that it is not +itself to a certain degree an accomplice in the measure. This +courage must be given to it by causing it to apprehend that it will +incur the serious displeasure of the Powers whose benevolent support +is so necessary to it. + +I am about to instruct M. de Bourqueney to take an energetic step +for this purpose towards the Porte, and I doubt not that Lord +Aberdeen will furnish Sir Stratford Canning with corresponding +instructions. The British Government will likewise assuredly think +fit to unite with us in demanding the concurrence of the other Great +Powers. + + + + + + +No. 15. + + +_The Earl of Aberdeen to Sir Stratford Canning_. + +Sir, _Foreign Office, January_ 16, 1844. + +I have received your Excellency's despatch of the 17th of December, +reporting that a Greek had been executed near Brussa as an apostate +from Islamism, and inclosing a copy of the communication which you +had directed Mr. Dragoman Frederick Pisani to make to the Porte in +consequence of that transaction. + +I have to state to your Excellency that Her Majesty's Government +entirely approve the promptitude with which you acted on this +occasion. But the repetition of a scene of this revolting kind so +soon after that which had, in the course of last summer, excited the +horror and indignation of Europe, evinces such total disregard, on +the part of the Porte, for the feelings and remonstrances of the +Christian Powers, that it is incumbent upon Her Majesty's Government +without loss of time to convey their sentiments on the matter still +more explicitly to the knowledge of the Porte. They take this course +singly, and without waiting for the co-operation of the other +Christian Powers, because they desire to announce to the Porte a +determination which, though it doubtless will be concurred in by +all, Great Britain is prepared to act upon alone. Her Majesty's +Government feel too that they have an especial right to require to +be listened to by the Porte on a matter of this nature, for they can +appeal to the justice and to the favour with which the vast body of +Mahomedans subject to the British rule are treated in India, in +support of their demand that all persons, subjects of the Porte and +professing Christianity, shall be exempt from cruel and arbitrary +persecution on account of their religion, and shall not be made the +victims of a barbarous law, which it may be sought to enforce for +their destruction. + +Whatever may have been tolerated in former times by the weakness or +indifference of Christian Powers, those Powers will now require from +the Porte due consideration for their feelings as members of a +religious community, and interested as such in the fate of all who, +notwithstanding shades of difference, unite in a common belief in +the essential doctrines of Christianity; and they will not endure +that the Porte should insult and trample on their faith by treating +as a criminal any person who embraces it. + +Her Majesty's Government require the Porte to abandon, once for all, +so revolting a principle. They have no wish to humble the Porte by +imposing upon it an unreasonable obligation; but as a Christian +Government, the protection of those who profess a common belief with +themselves, from persecution and oppression, on that account alone, +by their Mahomedan rulers, is a paramount duty with them, and one +from which they cannot recede. + +Your Excellency will therefore press upon the Turkish Government +that, if the Porte has any regard for the friendship of England,--if +it has any hope that, in the hour of peril or of adversity, that +protection which has more than once saved it from destruction, will +be extended to it again, it must renounce absolutely, and without +equivocation, the barbarous practice which has called forth the +remonstrance now addressed to it. Your Excellency will require an +early answer; and you will let the Turkish Ministers understand that +if that answer does not fully correspond with the expectations which +Her Majesty's Government entertain, your Excellency is instructed to +seek an audience of the Sultan, and to explain to His Highness, in +the most forcible terms, the feelings of the British Government, and +the consequences, so injurious to Turkey, which a disregard for +those feelings will involve. Her Majesty's Government are so anxious +for the continuance of a good understanding with Turkey, and that +the Porte should entitle itself to their good offices in the hour of +need, that they wish to leave no expedient untried before they shall +be compelled to admit the conviction that all their interest and +friendship is misplaced, and that nothing remains for them but to +look forward to, if not promote the arrival of, the day when the +force of circumstances shall bring about a change which they will +have vainly hoped to procure from the prudence and humanity of the +Porte itself. + +Your Excellency will seek an interview with the Reis Effendi, and, +having read to him this despatch, leave a copy of it, with an +accurate translation in his hands. + +I am, &c., + +(Signed) ABERDEEN. + + + + + + +No. 16. + + +_The Earl of Aberdeen to Sir Stratford Canning_. + +Sir, _Foreign Office, January_ 16, 1844. + +With reference to my other despatch of this day upon the subject of +the execution of the Greek near Brussa as an apostate from Islamism, +I inclose, for your Excellency's information, an extract of so much +of a despatch from M. Guizot to Count Ste. Aulaire as relates to +this matter, which Count Ste. Aulaire communicated to me a few days +ago. + +Your Excellency will perceive from this paper that M. Guizot +anticipates that Her Majesty's Government will be disposed to invite +the co-operation of the other Great Powers with the view of making a +simultaneous appeal to the Porte on that subject. But although Her +Majesty's Government would certainly be glad to see the other Powers +of Europe declaring their abhorrence of so revolting a system as +that against which your Excellency and your French colleague will be +instructed to protest, they consider it, nevertheless, unnecessary +formally to solicit their co-operation in a matter in which they all +may be supposed to take a common interest, and to be prepared to act +without previous concert with each other. + +I have however directed Her Majesty's Ambassador at Paris to +communicate to M. Guizot a copy of my other despatch of this day; +and I should wish your Excellency to concert with M. de Bourqueney +as to the manner in which the instructions which I have addressed to +your Excellency and those which M. de Bourqueney will receive from +his Court on this matter, and which I conclude will closely +correspond with those addressed to yourself, shall be carried into +execution so as to produce a salutary impression on the Porte. + +A copy of my former instruction will be transmitted to Her Majesty's +Ambassador at St. Petersburgh for communication to the Russian +Government; but Lord Stuart de Rothsay will not be instructed, for +the reason stated in this despatch, to invite the Russian Government +to make a similar representation to the Porte. + +I inclose a copy of my despatch to Lord Stuart de Rothsay. A +corresponding despatch will be addressed to Sir Robert Gordon and to +Lord Westmorland. + +I am, &c., + +(Signed) ABERDEEN. + + + + + + +No. 17. + + +_The Earl of Aberdeen to Lord Cowley_. + +My Lord, _Foreign Office, January_ 16, 1844. + +I inclose, for your Excellency's information, a copy of a despatch +from M, Guizot which has been placed in my hands by the Count de +Ste. Aulaire, expressive of the just indignation of the French +Government on receiving the tidings that, notwithstanding the +representations which were made to the Porte by the Five Powers on +the occasion of the execution of the Armenian at Constantinople in +September last, a Greek has now been put to death near Brussa for +returning to Christianity after having embraced Islamism. This event +had been already made known to Her Majesty's Government by a +despatch from Sir Stratford Canning of which I herewith transmit a +copy. + +The Government of the Queen share entirely the feelings of +indignation and disgust which the French Government evince on this +occasion; and I have consequently instructed Her Majesty's +Ambassador at the Porte to make a fresh and more energetic +representation than before to the Turkish Government, in +condemnation of this repeated act of barbarity. + +I inclose a copy of this instruction to Sir Stratford Canning, and +also of a further one of the same date, in which I direct his +Excellency to concert with the Baron de Bourqueney in carrying that +instruction into effect. + +Your Excellency will communicate these instructions to M. Guizot. + +I am, &c., + +(Signed) ABERDEEN. + + + + + + +No. 18. + + +_The Earl of Aberdeen to Lord Cowley_. + +My Lord, _Foreign Office, January_ 16, 1844. + +With reference to my other despatch of this day, inclosing, for +communication to M. Guizot, a copy of an instruction which I have +addressed to Sir Stratford Canning respecting the execution of a +Greek near Brussa who had apostatized from Islamism, I have to state +to your Excellency that, in the event of your making the +communication to M. Guizot in sufficient time to enable him to send +his instructions to the French Minister at Constantinople by the +steam-vessel which leaves Marseilles on the 21st of this month, the +post for which is made up in Paris on the evening of the 18th, I +should wish your Excellency to acquaint Sir Stratford Canning by +that opportunity with what may have passed between you and M. +Guizot. + +The despatch will be sent this evening by post through France so as +to go on by the Marseilles steam-vessel of the 21st. + +I am, &c., + +(Signed) ABERDEEN. + + + + + + +No. 19. + + +_The Earl of Aberdeen to Lord Stuart de Rothsay_*. + +My Lord, _Foreign Office, January_ 16, 1844. + +I inclose for your Excellency's information, a copy of a despatch +from Sir Stratford Canning reporting that a Greek has been executed +near Brussa as an apostate from Islamism; and a copy of an +instruction which I have in consequence addressed to that +Ambassador. Your Excellency will communicate this instruction to +Count Nesselrode for the information of the Russian Government; but +although Her Majesty's Government would doubtless see with pleasure +that the other Powers of Europe should declare their abhorrence of +so revolting a system as that which the Porte has twice acted upon +within the last few months, they do not think it necessary formally +to solicit their co-operation in a matter in which they all may be +supposed to take a common interest, and to be prepared to act +without previous concert with each other. + +Your Excellency will therefore merely put Count Nesselrode in +possession of the instructions given to Sir Stratford Canning, and +leave to the Russian Government to determine for itself whether it +shall instruct M. de Titow to the same effect. + +I am, &c., + +* A similar despatch was addressed on the 20th January to Sir Robert +Gordon and the Earl of Westmorland. + +(Signed) ABERDEEN. + + + + + + +No. 20. + + +_Lord Cowley to the Earl of Aberdeen_.--(_Received January_ 22.) + +My Lord, _Paris, January_ 19, 1844. + +With reference to your Lordship's despatches of the 16th instant on +the subject of the execution of a Greek for returning to +Christianity after having embraced Islamism, I have the honour to +report that I had yesterday evening an interview with M. Guizot, +when I communicated to him the contents of those despatches, and +also of your Lordship's instructions to Sir Stratford Canning in +consequence of the aforesaid transaction; and I have now the honour +to inclose a copy of the despatch which, conformably to your +Lordship's instructions, I have addressed to Sir Stratford Canning +informing him of what passed upon this subject between M. Guizot and +me. + +My despatch was forwarded last night to Her Majesty's Ambassador at +Constantinople, and will reach Marseilles in time to go by the +steam-vessel which sails from that port on the 21st. + +I have, &c., + +(Signed) COWLEY. + +Inclosure in No. 20. + +_Lord Cowley to Sir Stratford Canning_. + +Sir, _Paris, January_ 18, 1844. + +I have received instructions from Lord Aberdeen to communicate to +the French Minister for Foreign Affairs your Excellency's despatches +to his Lordship respecting the execution of a Greek near Brussa who +had apostatized from Islamism, as also his instructions to your +Excellency, under date the 16th instant, in consequence of that +transaction. I am also desired to take the earliest opportunity of +acquainting you with what may have passed between M. Guizot and me +after this communication. + +I had this evening a conference with the Minister for Foreign +Affairs, when I communicated to him the contents of your despatches +upon this subject, and also Lord Aberdeen's instructions to you of +the 16th instant, and I am happy to be enabled to state that M. +Guizot expressed his entire approbation of those instructions. + +He also assured me that he had signified to M. de Bourqueney, in +terms not less strong than those used by Lord Aberdeen in his +instructions to you, the indignation and disgust of the French +Government at this transaction, affording as it did a painful +testimony of the total disregard of the Porte to the remonstrances +of the Allies upon a previous act of a similar kind. + +The Minister for Foreign Affairs then assured me that he had +directed M. de Bourqueney to consult with your Excellency as to the +best manner of carrying into effect the instructions of the two +Governments. The Representatives of France at St. Petersburgh, +Vienna, and Berlin, have likewise been directed to bring the subject +under the consideration of those Courts; but M. Guizot inclines to +the opinion that a separate, rather than joint, representation to +the Turkish Government would be advisable. He trusts, however, that +the British and French Plenipotentiaries will act in concert upon +this occasion, as they have done successfully in every other +transaction at Constantinople in which the Allies have taken any +interest. + +I have, &c., + +(Signed) COWLEY. + + + + + + +No. 21. + + +_The Earl of Westmorland to the Earl of Aberdeen_.--(_Received +January_ 30.) + +My Lord, _Berlin, January_ 24, 1844. + +In compliance with the directions contained in your Lordship's +despatch of the 20th instant, I have communicated to Baron Bülow +your instructions to Sir Stratford Canning relative to the late +execution of a Greek at Brussa. Baron Bülow gave me an instruction +to read addressed to M. de Le Coq, which was dated only two days +later than your Lordship's, and which expressed in strong terms his +reprobation of the conduct of the Turkish Government upon this +occasion. Baron Bülow felt the greatest satisfaction at the +statements made by your Lordship, and determined to write again to +M. Le Coq directing him to act in accordance with them. He hopes +that by conduct and language so energetic as that adopted by your +Lordship an impression may be made upon the Turkish Government, and +an end be put to the barbarous cruelties of which it has of late +been guilty. + +I have, &c., + +(Signed) WESTMORLAND. + + + + + + +No. 22. + + +_Sir Robert Gordon to the Earl of Aberdeen_.--(_Received February_ +24.) + +(Extract.) _Vienna, February_ 16, 1844. + +In compliance with your Lordship's instructions, I have communicated +to Prince Metternich, for the information of the Austrian +Government, your despatch to Sir Stratford Canning relating to the +execution of the Greek renegade by the Turkish authorities at Brussa +on the ground of his apostacy from Islamism. + +Whilst I stated to his Highness that my Government did not think it +necessary formally to solicit the co-operation of the Internuncio in +a matter which could only be viewed by every Government in Europe +with the greatest abhorrence, I have been anxious to ascertain in +how far the instructions which are forwarded from hence would be +made to coincide with your Lordship's; and I have now to state that, +although agreeing in the principle upon which have been founded the +remonstrances of Her Majesty's Government, and seeking to arrive at +the same result, the Austrian Minister has nevertheless a decided +objection to the wording of your Lordship's instructions, and the +peremptory terms in which it is endeavoured by them to enforce the +Sultan's compliance. + + + + + + +No. 23. + + +_Lord Stuart de Rothsay to the Earl of Aberdeen_.--(_Received +February_ 24.) + +(Extract.) _St. Petersburgh, February_ 6, 1844. + +In obedience to the orders contained in your Lordship's despatch of +the 16th January, I have communicated to Count Nesselrode a copy of +your instructions to Sir Stratford Canning upon the subject of a +Greek who had been executed near Brussa as an apostate from +Islamism. + +I did so without alluding to the wish of Her Majesty's Government +that the Russian Minister at Constantinople might be furnished with +instructions on the subject. The Vice-Chancellor, nevertheless, said +that he should consider attentively the communication I had made, +and see how far it might be useful to adopt a similar course, +adding, that although he quite participated in the feelings which +actuated Her Majesty's Government, he thought that other means might +be tried which would be more efficacious in attaining our common +object. He afterwards remarked that through the instrumentality of +some of the Russian Consular Agents Pashas had not unfrequently been +persuaded, in an unofficial manner, to facilitate the removal from +their Government of Greeks and others who had rendered themselves +liable to capital punishment for apostacy; and he gave me to +understand that he was of opinion that greater security to +Christians would be obtained by the exercise of the individual +influence of foreign agents, than by seeking an alteration in the +fundamental laws of the Turkish Empire, such as appeared to be the +object of Her Majesty's Government. + +Count Nesselrode appears disposed to instruct M. Titow to give his +general support to Her Majesty's Ambassador. + + + + + + +No. 24. + + +_Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen_.--(_Received March_ +8.) + +(Extract.) _Constantinople, February_ 10, 1844. + +On the 5th instant I received your Lordship's instructions of the +16th ultimo, relating to the execution of a Greek near Brussa for +relapsing from Islamism, and directing me to require of the Porte an +unequivocal renunciation of the principle involved in that barbarous +act. I received at the same time, from Her Majesty's Ambassador at +Paris a despatch informing me that he had communicated those +instructions to M. Guizot, and was authorized by him to express that +Minister's approbation of their contents, and his intention of +ordering M. de Bourqueney to concur with me for the attainment of +the object to which they were directed. + +I proceeded at once to execute the commands of Her Majesty's +Government. To the French Minister I read your Lordship's first +instruction, and also Lord Cowley's despatch. He returned my +confidence by putting me in possession of M. Guizot's instructions +to him of the 13th ultimo, and by expressing his readiness to act in +concert with me for the accomplishment of our common purpose. To +Rifaat Pasha I communicated a copy, together with an exact +translation, of your Lordship's first instruction. I waited upon his +Excellency by appointment for this object on the 9th instant, having +apprized the Russian, Austrian, and Prussian Ministers of my +intention the day before. + +The Ottoman Minister for Foreign Affairs read, in my presence, the +whole of your Lordship's instruction translated into Turkish. Having +finished it, he rose from his seat rather abruptly, without saying a +word, and left the room for a few minutes. On his return, he told me +that the subject was too important for him to give me an answer +without referring to the Council; but, if I were inclined to listen, +he would at once impart to me such observations as occurred to his +mind. I assured him that I was willing to receive with becoming +consideration whatever he thought proper to state; and he then +proceeded to draw a strong line of distinction between custom and +divine law, intimating that a practice derived from the former +source might be abandoned to meet the wishes of Europe, or even of +Great Britain alone, but that a law, prescribed by God himself, was +not to be set aside by any human power; and that the Sultan in +attempting it might be exposed to a heavy, perhaps even to a +dangerous, responsibility. He sought to learn from me whether your +Lordship had been fully aware of this view of the case in writing +the instruction communicated to him; and it seemed to be his object +both to prepare me for an unsatisfactory answer, and to obtain from +me some admission which might give him an advantage in shaping the +decision of the Council. + +I had already, in presenting the instruction, endeavoured to make it +clearly understood, that Her Majesty's Government had no object in +view but the one so distinctly and powerfully stated therein; and +also to show how imperiously the welfare of the Porte itself +requires that a practice and principle which operate as moral +barriers between Turkey and Christendom, should now be once for all +renounced and utterly abandoned. I had every reason to believe that +your Lordship had instructed me with a full knowledge of the +question in all its bearings and eventual consequences; that the +course deliberately adopted by Her Majesty's Government, and +announced to the principal Courts of Europe previously united in +reprobation of the late impolitic and atrocious executions, was not +to be receded from; and that any opening to a compromise on so vital +a point could only encourage resistance and endanger the most +important interests. I, therefore, rested entirely on the terms of +your Lordship's instruction, to which, in truth, there was nothing +for me to add. + +Although I replied to some of Rifaat Pasha's remarks in a +considerate and conciliatory manner, I referred him steadily to your +Lordship's instructions, and left no reason to hope that any evasive +or temporizing assurance would be accepted as satisfactory by Her +Majesty's Government. + + + + + + + +No. 25. + + +_Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen_.--(_Received March_ +8.) + +My Lord, _Constantinople, February_ 12, 1844. + +The interview which I had on the 9th instant with Rifaat Pasha was +followed yesterday by one of a similar character between that +Minister and the French Representative. M. de Bourqueney obligingly +called upon me as soon as he returned from the Pasha's house; and +his report of the conference presented in substance a counterpart of +what had before passed between his Excellency and myself. He stated +that he had given in a paper composed of the strongest passages from +M. Guizot's instruction to him of the 13th ultimo; that he had found +in Rifaat Pasha's remarks the same indication of resistance on the +ground of religion which I had experienced; that in reprobating the +executions complained of, and urging the abandonment of so barbarous +a law for the future, he had placed himself as nearly as possible on +the same ground with me, and that he had carefully avoided any +premature discussion of the form of declaration by which the Porte +would probably, in the end, attempt to satisfy the remonstrating +Governments without a surrender of the principle, or more than a +virtual suspension of the practice. + +Notwithstanding the want of any instruction from M. Guizot, +subsequent to Lord Cowley's communication to that Minister, Baron de +Bourqueney found himself sufficiently authorized by the instruction +of the 13th to give me his cordial and unqualified support. + +Agreeably to M. Guizot's suggestion, as conveyed to me in Lord +Cowley's despatch, we have acted separately in form, though +concurrently in substance. + +I have, &c., + +(Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. + + + + + + +No. 26. + + +_The Earl of Aberdeen to Sir Stratford Canning_. + +Sir, _Foreign Office, March_ 19, 1844. + +I have received your Excellency's despatch of the 10th of February, +giving an account of the manner in which you had executed the +instruction of the 16th of January, which I addressed to your +Excellency on receiving your report of the execution of a Greek near +Brussa on the ground of his having renounced his profession of +Islamism and returned to Christianity. + +I have to acquaint you that Her Majesty's Government entirely +approve of your having rested your communication to the Turkish +Minister on the terms of my instruction, and of your having steadily +referred his Excellency to that document, while replying in a +considerate and conciliatory manner to the remarks which he +addressed to you. + +Nothing, indeed, can be further from the wish of Her Majesty's +Government than that a communication which they have been compelled +by a strong sense of duty, and, I may add, by a sincere regard for +the welfare of Turkey, to make to the Porte, should be rendered more +unpalatable than from its nature it was likely to be, by being +conveyed in harsh or dictatorial terms; and they wish, if the +question is still under discussion when this despatch reaches your +Excellency's hands, that you should constantly bear in mind, that +Her Majesty's Government, although they propose to abide by the +general tenour of the communication which you have been directed to +make to the Porte, have no desire, and would deeply regret, that the +acquiescence of the Porte in the demand which they have addressed to +it, should be attended with unnecessary pain to the feelings of the +Turkish Government. + +Her Majesty's Government are persuaded that if the Ministers of the +Porte will dispassionately consider what has been desired of them, +they will find that, without any real sacrifice of national or +religious opinion, they may place themselves in harmony with the +wishes and the feelings of the Christian Powers. Her Majesty's +Government have not urged, and do not propose to urge, them to +abrogate any law, divine or human, but merely to revert to the +system which Her Majesty's Government believe to have been for some +time past constantly acted upon, and to allow the law to remain +practically dormant, and thus silently withdraw from a practice +which cannot be enforced without rousing the feelings of +Christendom, and rendering it impossible for the Turkish Government +to retain the good-will of Christian Powers. + +The Ministers of the Porte cannot, on calm reflection, suppose that +if they deliberately deprive their Government of the moral or +physical support of Christendom, the Turkish Empire can long be +preserved from the destruction with which, from numerous causes, it +is continually menaced; neither can they believe that, although the +sentiments of the various Powers of Europe on the question to which +the revival of an obsolete practice has now unfortunately given +rise, may be conveyed to the Porte in terms more or less decided, +there is any real and essential difference between the expectations +and the intentions of all. All must yield to public opinion +universally expressed; and the Porte may rest assured that Christian +States will, with one accord, refuse to tolerate any longer a +practice which, both in the principle on which it rests and the +manner in which it is carried into execution, is designed to +stigmatize the faith which they profess and cherish. + +I am, &c., + +(Signed) ABERDEEN. + + + + + + +No. 27. + + +_Count Nesselrode to M. de Titow_.--(_Communicated by Baron Brunnow +to the Earl of Aberdeen_, March 19.) + + _St. Pétersbourg, le_ 15/27 _Février_, 1844. + +Je n'ai pas manqué de prendre les ordres de l'Empereur sur le +contenu de votre rapport No. 10, du 21 Janvier/2 Février, par lequel +vous nous avez rendu compte de la fâcheuse impression que la +nouvelle exécution religieuse qui a eu lieu à Biligik a produite à +Constantinople. + +Sa Majesté a voué une attention sérieuse aux diverses considérations +que vous nous avez exposées pour décider du plus ou moins +d'opportunité qu'il y aurait pour les Puissances de l'Europe en +général, et pour la Russie en particulier, à protester contre des +actes de cruauté incompatibles avec les principes d'humanité dont la +Porte devrait se montrer pénétrée à l'égard de ses sujets Chrétiens. +D'une part, nous avons reconnu la difficutté, pour ne pas dire +l'impossibilité, de découvrir le moyen propre pour paralyser d'une +manière définitive les effets de la loi du Coran qui concerne les +apostasies; d'autre part, nous ne saurions ne pas élever la voix, +lorsqu'il s'agit de l'application de la peine de mort à des +individus qui, en embrassant le Christianisme, ou en retournant dans +le sein de l'Eglise, invoquent notre protection, et nous imposent le +devoir de les soustraire aux rigueurs d'une législation barbare. + +Dans un tel état de choses, l'opinion que vous a communiquée M. le +Comte de Stürmer, nous a paru celle qui offre le plus de chances de +succès. Cette opinion est d'ailleurs conforme aux vues que j'ai été +dans le cas de vous développer sur la même matière dans une occasion +précédente. Il est donc de l'intention de l'Empereur que vous +déclariez à la Porte Ottomane, sous la forme d'un conseil +bienveillant, que nous nous attendons positivement à ne plus voir se +renouveler des exécutions qui soulèvent contre elle l'indignation de +toute la Chrétienté. C'est dans son propre intérêt que nous lui +adressons cette demande. La Porte ne doit pas se faire illusion sur +les élémens qui fermentent en Turquie. Au lieu de s'aliéner les +sentimens des populations Chrétiennes, le Gouvernement Ottoman doit +travailler plus que jamais, à se les concilier. Qu'il comprenne +enfin la nécessité de laisser tomber en désuétude des dispositions +surannées de la loi Mahométane, qui ne peuvent être maintenues qu'au +mépris des représentations unanimes de toutes les Puissances. Tel +serait à peu près le langage que vous auriez à tenir, Monsieur, à la +Porte Ottomane, de concert avec les autres Représentans, et nous +espérons qu'en la rappelant ainsi à la conscience de ses devoirs et +de ses intérêts réels, nous l'empêcherons de retomber dans la voie +vicieuse qu'elle a suivie en dernier lieu. + +Recevez, &c., + +(Signé) NESSELRODE. + +(Translation.) + + _St. Petersburgh_, 15/27 _February_, 1844. + +I have not failed to take the orders of the Emperor upon the +contents of your despatch No. 10, of the 21 January/2 February, in +which you have reported the painful impression which the fresh +religious execution which has taken place at Biligik has produced at +Constantinople. + +His Majesty has given his serious attention to the various +considerations which you have laid before us in order to determine +the greater or less degree of propriety there would be in the +principal Powers of Europe generally, and in Russia particularly, +protesting against acts of cruelty incompatible with the principles +of humanity with which the Porte should show itself animated as +regards its Christian subjects. On the one hand, we have perceived +the difficulty, not to say the impossibility, of discovering the +suitable means of definitively paralyzing the effects of the law of +the Koran relating to apostacy; on the other hand, we cannot but +raise our voice when it is a question of inflicting the penalty of +death upon individuals who, in embracing Christianity, or in +returning into the bosom of the Church, appeal to our protection, +and impose upon us the duty of withdrawing them from the rigours of +a barbarous legislation. + +In such a state of things the opinion which M. de Stürmer has +communicated to you, has appeared to us to be that which offers the +greatest chance of success. This opinion is, moreover, in conformity +with the views which I have had occasion to explain to you on the +same subject on a former occasion. It is then the Emperor's +intention that you should declare to the Ottoman Porte, in the form +of friendly counsel, that we positively expect no longer to witness +executions which array against it the indignation of all +Christendom. It is with a view to its own interest that we address +to it this demand. The Porte must not delude itself with regard to +the elements now in a state of fermentation in Turkey. Instead of +alienating from itself the feelings of the Christian population, the +Ottoman Government ought more than ever to labour to conciliate them +to itself. Let it comprehend, in fine, the necessity of allowing to +become obsolete antiquated enactments of the Mahomedan law, which +cannot be upheld but in disregard of the unanimous representations +of all the Powers. Such should be the purport of the language which, +Sir, you should hold to the Ottoman Porte, in concert with the other +Representatives; and we trust that in thus recalling it to a sense +of its duties and real interests, we shall prevent it from again +falling into the vicious system which it has recently followed. + +Receive, &c., + +(Signed) NESSELRODE. + + + + + + +No. 28. + + +_Lord Cowley to the Earl of Aberdeen_.--(_Received March_ 21.) + +(Extract.) _Paris, March_ 18, 1844. + +With reference to the representations made to the Ottoman Government +by the French and English Representatives at Constantinople on the +subject of the execution of a Greek near Brussa, as reported in Sir +Stratford Canning's despatches of the 10th and 12th February, I have +the honour to state that M. Guizot has communicated to me the +substance of what passed at a conference which he has had within +these few days with Reshid Pasha upon that subject. + +The Pasha said that he was instructed to express in strong terms the +concern of the Sultan at this interference of the Allied Sovereigns +(of Great Britain and France in particular) in the internal concerns +of his empire; that a compliance with these demands might be +attended with very serious consequences to himself and his +Government; and that he (the Pasha) was instructed to express the +fervent hope of his Master, that they would not be persisted in. + +M. Guizot replied that the French and British Governments never +could desist from expressing their abhorrence of such atrocious acts +of cruelty as had been perpetrated upon the late occasion, and which +had given rise to a renewal of the requisition that the practice +should be entirely abandoned, and that they confidently expected +that their representations would have the desired effect upon the +Ottoman Government. + + + + + + +No. 29. + + +_The Earl of Aberdeen to Lord Cowley_. + +(Extract.) _Foreign Office, March_ 22, 1844. + +I transmit to your Excellency herewith a copy of an instruction +which I addressed on the 19th instant to Sir Stratford Canning, in +reply to his Excellency's despatch of the 10th of February last +relative to the execution of the Greek near Brussa, a copy of which +was forwarded to your Excellency on the 15th instant. + +You will lose no time in communicating this instruction to M. Guizot +and you will at the same time, suggest to him the propriety of +instructing the French Minister at the Porte to make it perfectly +clear to the Turkish Government, that neither Great Britain nor +France demand the abrogation of any law of the Turkish Empire; and +that all that we desire is an assurance that the practice which has +so justly called forth the reprobation of all Christian countries, +shall cease, by the law being suffered to remain, as it had long +been, dormant. + + + + + + +No. 30. + + +_Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen_.--(_Received March_ +24.) + +(Extract.) _Constantinople, February_ 29, 1844. + +I applied to Rifaat Pasha on the 24th instant, in concert with the +French Minister, for an answer to your Lordship's requisition on the +subject of the executions for apostacy from Islamism. My application +was made in the form of an instruction to M. Frederick Pisani, and +Baron de Bourqueney adopted a similar line of proceeding. Copies of +my instruction to M. Pisani and of his report of Rifaat Pasha's +reply, identical with the report of the French interpreter, are +inclosed herewith for your Lordship's more complete information. + +Several Councils have been held, as well at the Porte as at the +Sheik-ul-Islam's residence. + +I inclose with this despatch a short report from M. Pisani, which +preceded the instruction referred to above. + +Inclosure l in No. 30. + +_Sir Stratford Canning to M. Pisani_. + +Monsieur, _Péra, le_ 22 _Février_, 1844. + +Le message que vous m'avez transmis avant-hier de la part de son +Excellence Rifaat Pacha, laisse tout-à-fait incertaine l'époque où +je recevrai une réponse à la communication importante que j'ai eu +l'honneur de lui faire le 8 du courant par l'ordre exprès de ma +Cour. Il est pourtant à désirer que cette incertitude ne soit pas +prolongée hors de mesure. La question dont il s'agit est toute +entière dans la dépêche officielle dont la copie se trouve depuis +quinze jours entre les mains du Ministre, et j'attends du +Gouvernement Ottoman la prompte solution d'une affaire qui touche de +trop près ses intérêts, son avenir, et ses rapports avec les +Puissances amies, pour que son Excellence soit autorisée à la +regarder comme purement du ressort de la religion. + +Il me semble, au contraire, que cette question est, à ne pas en +douter, essentiellement liée avec les considérations les plus +élevées de la politique. J'aime par conséquent à croire que les +Ministres de Sa Hautesse ne méconnaîtront pas leur obligation d'en +mesurer la portée par les principes de la raison et les règles de la +prudence dont aucun Etat ne pourrait impunément se dispenser. Eviter +la responsabilité qui appartient nécessairement à leur position +serait-ce en effet autre chose que priver leur Souverain du gage le +plus sûr de leur exactitude à en remplir les conditions conformément +au but de leur nomination, aux exigeances de la conjoncture, et aux +inspirations de la sagacité que la Providence leur a accordée? + +Je vous invite donc, Monsieur, à vous rendre de nouveau auprès du +Ministre des Affaires Etrangères, et à exprimer formellement à son +Excellence ma juste attente que le Conseil ne tardera pas à me faire +remettre par son canal une réponse catégorique et comme je l'espère, +satisfaisante à la demande d'un Gouvernement sincèrement ami de la +Porte. Vous lui laisserez une copie de cette instruction, et vous +vous entendrez quant au temps de sa présentation avec Monsieur +l'Interprète de l'Ambassade Française, qui est muni d'une +instruction pareille par son Ministre. + +Je suis, &c., + +(Signé) STRATFORD CANNING. + +(Translation.) + +Sir, _Pera, February_ 22, 1844. + +The message which you yesterday conveyed to me from his Excellency +Rifaat Pasha leaves altogether uncertain the time at which I shall +receive an answer to the important communication which I had the +honour to make to him on the 8th instant by the express order of my +Court. It is however to be desired that this uncertainty should not +indefinitely be prolonged. The question at issue is altogether +contained in the official despatch the copy of which has been for +the last fortnight in the Minister's hands, and I expect from the +Ottoman Government the speedy settlement of a matter which affects +its interests, its future position, and its relations with friendly +Powers too nearly for his Excellency to be authorized in considering +it merely as a religious question. + +On the contrary it appears to me that without doubt this question is +essentially connected with the highest political considerations. I +am consequently fain to believe that the Ministers of His Highness +will not overlook their obligation to estimate the bearing of it by +the principles of reason and the rules of prudence which no State +can with impunity disregard. To shrink from the responsibility which +necessarily attaches to their position, what else would that be than +to deprive their Sovereign of the surest pledge of their diligence +in discharging the conditions thereof consistently with the object +of their appointment, the emergencies of the state of affairs, and +the inspirations of the sagacity which Providence has bestowed upon +them? + +I accordingly request you, Sir, to go again to the Minister for +Foreign Affairs, and formally to intimate to his Excellency my just +expectation that the Council will not delay to cause to be delivered +to me through him a categorical answer, and, as I hope, a +satisfactory answer to the demand of a Government sincerely friendly +to the Porte. You will leave with him a copy of this instruction, +and you will concert as to the time of its delivery with the +Interpreter of the French Embassy, who is furnished by his Minister +with a similar instruction. + +I have, &c., + +(Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. + +Inclosure 2 in No. 30. + +_Answer of Rifaat Pasha to M. Pisani, February_ 22, 1844. + +Aucune nouvelle démarche n'était nécessaire pour nous faire sentir +l'importance de cette question, importance dont nous sommes +profondément pénétrés. Nous la traitons avec tout le sérieux et tous +les soins que sa gravité exige. Oui, ce que vos chefs respectifs +disent est vrai; cette question a son côté politique aussi bien que +son côté religieux. Il faut en effet que nous nous séparions de la +nation, ou bien des Puissances Chrétiennes; ce sont là deux grands +maux également à éviter. Le Sultan a ordonné que cette question soit +discutée dans un Conseil d'Oulémas qui s'ouvrira Samedi prochain +chez le Sheik-ul-Islam, auquel seront appelés le Cazi-Asker et +d'autres notabilités parmi les hommes de loi; après quoi, le Conseil +des Ministres s'en occupera de nouveau. Ne croyez-pas au reste que +nous nous soyons bornés à appeler leur attention purement et +simplement sur la question sous le rapport religieux; nous leur +avons remis aussi les protocoles des conférences, les dépêches des +deux Gouvernemens, et même des extraits des journaux qui ont agité +cette question, et nous leur communiquerons également les +instructions que vous venez de me remettre, et qui, bien que +superflues pour la Porte, peuvent encore ajouter à l'impression +produite par les autres pièces qui sont entre leurs mains. Comme +nous ne devons pas douter des bonnes intentions des Puissances, nous +espérons que MM. les Représentans d'Angleterre et de France, dans +leur haute sagesse et avec l'esprit d'équité qui les anime, ne se +refuseront pas à prendre en considération les graves difficultés qui +existent, et qu'ils se prêteront à amener une solution qui nous +sauverait des deux maux que je vous ai signalés. C'est là le but que +nous devons nous efforcer d'atteindre. + +C'était pour vous informer de la marche de cette affaire que je vous +ai prié ce matin de passer chez moi. + +(Translation.) + +No fresh step was requisite to make us sensible of the importance of +this question, with which we are deeply impressed. We are dealing +with it with all the seriousness and all the care which its gravity +requires. Yes, what your respective chiefs say is true; this +question has its political as also its religious side. It is +requisite, in fact, that we should separate ourselves from the +nation, or otherwise from the Christian Powers; those are two great +evils to be equally avoided. The Sultan has commanded that this +question shall be discussed in the Council of Oulemas which will be +opened next Saturday at the Sheik-ul-Islam's, to which the +Cazi-Asker and the other principal persons among the men of the law +will be summoned; after which, the Council of Ministers will again +apply themselves to it. Do not suppose, however, that we have +confined ourselves to directing their attention purely and simply to +the question as it regards religion; we have likewise submitted to +them the protocols of the conferences, the despatches of the two +Governments, and even the extracts of the newspapers which have +discussed this question, and we shall likewise communicate to them +the instructions which you have just delivered to me, and which, +although superfluous as far as the Porte is concerned, may still add +to the impression produced by the other documents in their hands. As +we must not doubt the good intentions of the Powers, we trust that +the Representatives of England and France, in their profound wisdom, +and with the spirit of equity by which they are animated, will not +refuse to take into consideration the serious difficulties which +exist, and that they will lend themselves to bring about a solution +which would preserve us from the two evils which I have pointed out +to you. That is the object which we must strive to attain. + +It was in order to acquaint you with the progress of this matter +that I requested you to call upon me this morning. + +Inclosure 3 in No. 30. + +_Answer of Rifaat Pasha to M. Pisani, February_ 20, 1844. + +Nous connaissons toute l'importance de la question dont il s'agit. +Mais il faut considérer que cette question n'est ni politique ni +administrative, et qu'elle regarde la religion. Il faut donc que +nous consultions préalablement les docteurs de la loi, et la mission +d'examiner cette affaire leur a été donnée de la part du Conseil; +cette affaire reviendra ensuite au Divan. + +J'accomplis ma mission, qui est celle de porter exactement à la +connaissance des Ministres de la Sublime Porte tout ce que les deux +Représentans me disent, et je ne manquerai pas de leur faire savoir +la réponse du Conseil. Ainsi, non seulement je ne suis pas à même de +répondre aujourd'hui, mais il m'est encore impossible de vous dire +avec précision quel jour je pourrais vous la donner. Je ferai savoir +au Conseil le message dont vous vous êtes acquitté aujourd'hui. + +(Translation.) + +We know all the importance of the case in question. But it is +necessary to consider that this question is neither one of policy +nor of administration, and that it concerns religion. We must +therefore first consult the doctors of the law, and the charge of +inquiring into this matter has been entrusted to them by the +Council; the matter will then come back to the Divan. + +I discharge my duty, which is to represent exactly to the Ministers +of the Sublime Porte what the two Representatives say to me, and I +shall not fail to let the latter know the answer of the Council. For +this reason, not only is it not in my power to give you an answer +to-day, but it is also impossible for me to say to you precisely on +what day I can give it to you. I will let the Council know the +message which you have communicated to-day. + + + + + + +No. 31. + + +_Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen_.--(_Received March_ +24.) + +(Extract.) _Constantinople, March_ 3, 1844. + +I have this moment received important information, and I rely so +much upon its correctness that I send off an express to overtake the +messenger. The Turkish Government has virtually decided on complying +with your Lordship's requisition. + +Rifaat Pasha has written to propose in rather urgent terms a private +interview with me. I have assented to this proposal, repeating at +the same time my opinion that no advantage is likely to result from +it. The French Minister will be present, and we shall probably meet +on the 5th. + +In reply to our renewed demand for the Porte's official answer, +Rifaat Pasha has pressed for an additional delay of eight or ten +days, alleging that the deliberations of the Council are not yet +closed. + +On the expiration of that term, or shortly afterwards, I trust it +will be in my power to forward the official confirmation of what I +now submit to your Lordship with confidence. + + + + + + +No. 32. + + +_Lord Cowley to the Earl of Aberdeen_.--(_Received March_ 27.) + +My Lord, _Paris, March_ 25, 1844. + +With reference to your Lordship's despatch of the 22nd instant +inclosing a copy of your instructions to Sir Stratford Canning under +date the 19th instant, I have the honour to state that upon +communicating those instructions to the Minister for Foreign +Affairs, he assured me that he would without loss of time send +instructions of a similar tenour to M. de Bourqueney, although that +Minister was already in possession of the sentiments of his +Government relative to those barbarous executions; which are, that +the Government of France had no intention of requiring of the +Ottoman Government that they should abrogate any law, but they +expect a satisfactory assurance in writing should be given to the +Allies that the practice complained of should cease. + +I have, &c., + +(Signed) COWLEY. + + + + + + +No. 33. + + +_Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen_.--(_Received March_ +30.) + +My Lord, _Constantinople, March_ 6, 1844. + +The confidential interview to which I was invited by Rifaat Pasha, +took place yesterday, and the French Minister was also present. In +order to mark more emphatically the private character of this +meeting we trusted entirely to Foad Effendi, who accompanied Rifaat +Pasha at my request, for the interpretation of what passed between +us. I am happy to say that although the Pasha repeated all the +arguments stated in M. Pisani's report, of which a copy has been +already transmitted to your Lordship, nothing occurred to shake my +confidence in the information previously conveyed to me and recorded +in my preceding despatch. The French Minister participated fully in +this impression, and gave me his support in a most frank and +effectual manner. + +The Pasha's main position was this: if we refuse, we lose the +friendship of Europe; if we consent, we hazard the peace of the +empire; you come as friends, and therefore we reckon upon your +helping us to find some course by which we may satisfy you without +injuring ourselves. + +In answer we confirmed his persuasion that our intentions were +friendly; but we added that our course was prescribed by the +instructions; that we could not admit the supposition of our +Governments having acted without a full consideration of the +consequences; and that although we were not called upon to require +an express and formal repeal of the law which they termed religious, +we must, at the very least, require an official declaration that +effectual measures would be taken to prevent the recurrence of +executions for apostacy, and a disclaimer of every idea involving +insult to Christianity, or the persecution of its followers, on +account of their faith. + +This explanation appeared to produce a good effect on the Pasha's +mind, and I observed with particular satisfaction, that he admitted +that the Mufti had expressed to the Porte a personal opinion, which +drew a very desirable distinction between the strict language of the +law and the discretion warranted by State necessity. + +Upon the whole, my Lord, it was sufficiently apparent that the +objections entertained by the Porte are far from insuperable; that +much of the remaining difficulty arises from the reference unwisely +made to the Ulemah; and that, with every wish to escape from our +demand, and every determination to give us the least acceptable +degree of satisfaction, there is no intention ultimately to refuse, +although it is possible that we shall not be able to obtain as +complete a declaration as we could desire without a reference to +London and Paris. + +I have, &c., + +(Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. + + + + + + +No. 34. + + +_Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen_.--(_Received April_ +4.) + +(Extract.) _Constantinople, March_ 14, 1844. + +Since I had last the honour of addressing your Lordship the Turkish +Ministers have been almost exclusively occupied with the great +question which formed the subject matter of your Lordship's +instruction of 16th January. The deferred settlement of this +question is, indeed, a source of much inconvenience to all who have +business to transact with the Porte. The affairs of Her Majesty's +Embassy, and those of the French and even of the Austrian Legation, +are almost suspended. I have, therefore, been doubly anxious to +obtain the Porte's definitive answer; but notwithstanding every +exertion consistent with the consideration due to an independent and +friendly Government, I have only this moment succeeded in obtaining +it; and I lament to say that it is so unsatisfactory as to induce me +to reject it without a moment's hesitation. + +In this decision the French Minister concurs with equal promptitude +and completeness. I inclose herewith the terms of the answer, as +reported to us by our respective interpreters. It was given +verbally, but with some additional authority derived from the +presence of the Grand Vizier and the President of the Council. + +The 16th instant had been previously fixed for the delivery of the +Porte's answer, and we were content to wait. This morning, however, +I received through several channels a confirmation of intelligence +which had reached me imperfectly the evening before, to the effect +that an unfavourable resolution had already been adopted by the +Council, and that the Turkish Ministers deferred the communication +of it for the sole purpose of engaging the Sultan's word, and +frustrating any eventual appeal to His Majesty. At the same time, +therefore, that, in concurrence with the French Minister, I directed +M. Pisani to demand an audience, if an immediate and satisfactory +answer were not delivered at the Porte, I sent to the Grand Marshal +of the Palace and called upon him to apprize the Sultan forthwith of +my intention to seek a formal audience of His Majesty, and to +entreat that the Royal decision might be withheld until I had an +opportunity of executing your Lordship's instruction in that +respect. + +Meanwhile in spite of adverse appearances, I still retain the +opinion expressed in a former part of my correspondence. The Porte, +I am satisfied, is prepared to give way in the end, though with much +reluctance. Nothing whatever has occurred to warrant the alarming +rumours of popular excitement and insurrection diligently +circulated, and even countenanced by Rifaat Pasha, some days ago. If +my information be correct, there is reason, on the contrary, to +believe that not only the Mussulman inhabitants of the capital are +sufficiently indifferent to the question at issue, but that many of +the upper classes, some of the most distinguished Turkish statesmen, +and a few even of the Ulemah are favourable to our view of the +subject. + +Inclosure in No. 34. + +_Answer of Rifaat Pasha to M. Frederic Pisani, March_ 14, 1844. + +La réponse de son Excellence Rifaat Pacha, dite verbalement et +officiellement, se trouve dans une pièce qui nous a été présentée. +Cette pièce était un extrait d'une dépêche à Aali Effendi et à +Réchid Pacha. Nous avons refusé de la prendre parcequ'elle n'est pas +satisfaisante. Elle est conçue ainsi: "Comme la loi ne permet +nullement de changer les dispositions à l'égard de la punition des +apostats, la Sublime Porte prendra des mesures efficaces, les +mesures possibles, pour que l'exécution des Chrétiens qui, devenus +Musulmans, retournent au Christianisme, n'ait pas lieu." + +(Translation.) + +The answer of his Excellency Rifaat Pasha, verbally and officially +pronounced, is contained in a document which was presented to us. +This document was an extract from a despatch to Aali Effendi and to +Reshid Pasha. We refused to take it, because it is not satisfactory. +It is couched in these terms: "As the law does not admit of any +change being made in the enactments regarding the punishment of +apostates, the Sublime Porte will take efficacious measures, the +measures which are possible, in order that the execution of +Christians who, having become Mussulmans, return to Christianity, +shall not take place." + + + + + + +No. 35. + + +_The Earl of Aberdeen to Sir Stratford Canning_. + +(Extract.) _Foreign Office, April_ 6, 1844. + +The latest account which I have received from your Excellency of +your proceedings with regard to the question pending with the Porte, +arising out of the execution of the Greek near Brussa on the charge +of apostacy from Islamism, is contained in your despatch of the 14th +of March. From that despatch it appears that, in conjunction with +your French colleague, you had rejected as unsatisfactory the +communication made to your dragomans on that day by the Ministers of +the Porte, and that you were taking measures to secure an audience +of the Sultan, in the event of your failing to obtain from the Porte +without further delay, a more satisfactory reply. + +On the statements in that despatch I have to acquaint your +Excellency that Her Majesty's Government concur with you in +considering that the communication made to you through your dragoman +on the 14th of March, was not of that absolute and unequivocal +character which you were instructed in my despatch of the 16th of +January to require from the Porte; and that you consequently acted +rightly in refusing to receive it, and in taking steps to obtain +either a more satisfactory communication from the Ministers of the +Porte, or admission to the presence of the Sultan for the purpose of +addressing to His Highness in person that appeal which you were +directed in case of necessity to make to him. + +With regard, however, to the nature of the communication which Her +Majesty's Government would consider satisfactory, I have to state to +your Excellency that Her Majesty's Government are content to abide +by the terms which, it appears from your despatch of the 6th of +March, were suggested to Rifaat Pasha on the preceding day by your +Excellency and M. de Bourqueney, namely, that the Porte should make +"an official declaration that effectual measures would be taken to +prevent the recurrence of executions for apostacy," or, as the +proposition has been reported by M. de Bourqueney to his Government, +"that the Porte will take effectual measures to prevent the renewal +of executions similar to those which have recently taken place at +Constantinople and Biligik." + +With such a declaration, officially made, Her Majesty's Government +would be perfectly satisfied, even without the additional clause +reported by your Excellency, which appears to them to be +unnecessary. + +I need scarcely inform your Excellency that Her Majesty's Government +look with much anxiety to an early solution of this question. They +are sensible of the many inconveniences which the continued +agitation of it may involve, although it is with no small +satisfaction that they perceive from your Excellency's despatch that +there is no present appearance of the difficulties necessarily +attached to the question being increased by any insurrectionary or +fanatical movement on the part of the Mussulman inhabitants of the +Capital. + +I have not yet received from the Turkish Ambassador in this country +any communication of the despatch from which the answer given to +your Excellency, through M. Pisani, appears to be an extract. + +It is greatly to be desired that the Porte should act with +promptitude. Much of the embarrassment to which the agitation of +this question has given rise, may be traced to the attempt of the +Porte to invest it exclusively with a religious character. + + + + + + +No. 36. + + +_Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen_.--(_Received April_ +10.) + +(Extract.) _Constantinople, March_ 23, 1844. + +I have the honour and satisfaction to inform your Lordship that the +question of religious executions is happily and, to all appearance, +conclusively settled. The concession has been obtained with great +difficulty; and, even to the last moment, it required the firmness +of resolution inspired by your Lordship's instruction to overcome +the obstacles which were raised against us, and to keep the Turkish +Ministers steady to their professions. I felt it to be my duty to +accept nothing short of your Lordship's requisition in its full +extent. But this obligation did not preclude me either from adopting +such means of success as were best calculated to hasten a favourable +result, or from accepting that result in a conciliatory though +effective shape. By availing myself of an overture to communicate +directly with the Sultan, I succeeded in obtaining all that was +necessary, and in receiving His Highness' acknowledgments for the +consideration I had shewn to his wishes. + +These transactions have so little interest now, that it would be a +waste of your Lordship's time to enter upon a narration of them. It +may suffice for me to state that, after several unacceptable +propositions, the Porte's definitive reply was communicated to me +and to the French Minister in suitable terms, and also in writing, +which had been long refused; that to leave no doubt of what I +understand to be the meaning of the Porte, I sent in an +acknowledgment, of which a copy is herewith inclosed, together with +a translated copy of the Porte's declaration; and that to-day, at my +audience of the Sultan, His Highness not only confirmed what the +Porte had declared, but added, in frank and explicit language, the +assurances which I had previously required as to the general good +treatment of the Christians throughout his dominions. He, in fact, +gave me his royal word that, henceforward, neither should +Christianity be insulted in his dominions, nor should Christians be +in any way persecuted for their religion. Important as it was to +obtain this assurance from the lips of the Sovereign himself, I +should have thought it right to demand an audience for the mere +purpose of removing false impressions from His Highness' mind +respecting the motives and objects of Her Majesty's Government. In +this respect, also, I had every reason to be satisfied. The Sultan +expressed the strongest reliance on the friendly intentions of Great +Britain; he fully appreciated the motives which had actuated her on +the present occasion; he acknowledged more than once the signal and +frequent services rendered to his empire by British arms and +counsels; he declared that the great concession which he had now +confirmed, though entirely consonant with his own feelings, had been +made to his sense of obligation towards the British Government; he +called upon me to convey his thanks to Her Majesty for the good +treatment experienced by the millions of Mussulman subjects living +under British sway in India, and his anxious desire that the +engagements which he had taken to protect from violent and undue +interference the Christians established in his empire, should be +appreciated by Her Majesty's Government, and prove a source of +increased good-will between the two nations, and an occasion of +eliciting fresh proofs of friendly interest on the part of Great +Britain towards his dominions. + +What passed at this audience is the more important and binding, as +it was one of a formal character, applied for on public grounds; +and, to give it still greater value, the Sultan, after I had retired +from his presence, called back the dragoman of the Porte, and +desired him to assure me that what he had said in public proceeded +from his real conviction, and was, in fact, the sincere expression +of his personal sentiments. + +Inclosure 1 in No. 36. + +_Official Declaration of the Sublime Porte, relinquishing the +practice of Executions for Apostacy_. + +(Translation.) + +It is the special and constant intention of His Highness the Sultan +that his cordial relations with the High Powers be preserved, and +that a perfect reciprocal friendship be maintained, and increased. + +The Sublime Porte engages to take effectual measures to prevent +henceforward the execution and putting to death of the Christian who +is an apostate. + +_March_ 21, 1844. + +Inclosure 2 in No. 36. + +_Acknowledgment of the Sublime Porte's Official Declaration +respecting Executions for Apostacy. March_ 22, 1844. + +The official declaration communicated by his Excellency the Minister +for Foreign Affairs shall be transmitted to the British Government, +who will understand with satisfaction that the Sublime Porte, in +taking effectual measures to prevent henceforward the execution and +putting to death of any Christian, an apostate from Islamism, +relinquishes for ever a principle inconsistent with its friendly +professions; and the further assurances to be given at the +Ambassador's audience of the Sultan, in the sense of the instruction +presented in copy to the Porte on the 9th ultimo, will fully satisfy +the British Government that Christianity is not to be insulted in +His Highness' empire, nor any one professing it to be treated as a +criminal, or persecuted on that account. + + +(Signed) STRATFORD CANN1NG. + + + + + + +No. 37. + + +_Earl of Westmorland to the Earl of Aberdeen_.--(_Received April_ +12.) + +My Lord, _Berlin, April_ 7, 1844. + +I received a private letter From Sir Stratford Canning, dated +Constantinople, March 23, announcing the termination of his +negotiation with the Turkish Government as to its future conduct in +the cases of Christians who have renounced the Mahomedan religion, +and bearing witness to the cordial manner in which M. de Le Coq, the +Prussian Minister, under Baron Bülow's instruction, had assisted his +exertions. + +I thought it my duty to communicate this feeling to Baron Bülow, who +has expressed himself obliged by the expressions of Sir Stratford +Canning, and most happy to have contributed to so good a work as the +attainment of a written pledge from the Turkish Government that it +will take effectual means to prevent henceforward the execution of +the Christian who is an apostate. + +I have, &c., + +(Signed) WESTMORLAND. + + + + + + +No. 38. + + +_Lord Cowley to the Earl of Aberdeen_.--(_Received April_ 17.) + +My Lord, _Paris, April_ 15, 1844. + +At the desire of Her Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople I have +the honour to forward to your Lordship copies of a despatch and of +its inclosures which his Excellency has addressed to me in +consequence of the acquiescence of the Porte in the representations +of Great Britain and France on the subject of the execution of +apostates from Islamism. + +M. Guizot read to me yesterday Baron de Bourqueney's report +announcing the successful termination of these negotiations, and +expressing his entire satisfaction at the assurances afforded him by +the Sultan, at the audience to which His Majesty has been graciously +pleased to invite him, of his determination to adhere strictly to +the engagements he had entered into with the two Powers. + +I have, &c., + +(Signed) COWLEY. + +Inclosure 1 in No. 38. + +_Sir Stratford Canning to Lord Cowley_. + +My Lord, _Constantinople, March_ 27, 1844. + +As the question relating to the execution of apostates from Islamism +is now successfully terminated, it will be satisfactory for your +Lordship to learn that the entire approbation expressed by M. Guizot +of the instructions addressed to me on the 16th of January by the +Earl of Aberdeen, procured me the active support of Baron de +Bourqueney throughout the late negotiations with the Porte, and that +by acting separately, according to M. Guizot's suggestion, I was +enabled to give the fullest effect to my instructions, marked and +decisive as they were, without losing any part of the advantage +derived from the French Minister's concurrence. + +Together we rejected the unsatisfactory answer at first and more +than once proposed by the Porte; together we accepted what appeared +to offer a sufficient guarantee for the accomplishment of our common +object. + +The terms in which the final declaration of the Porte was conveyed +to us on the 21st instant, are recorded in the accompanying paper +translated exactly from the Turkish original. + +I thought it advisable to acknowledge this communication, and as I +was entitled to expect some additional assurances from the Sultan at +the public audience which I had demanded of His Majesty according to +my instructions, I avoided embarrassing the French Minister by +proposing to him to take part in a step which related exclusively to +my position. A copy of this acknowledgment is inclosed herewith; and +in order to give your Lordship a complete view of the transaction in +its full extent, I add the very terms, as translated to me, in which +the Sultan was pleased to confirm and to enlarge the engagement of +his Government. + +I may venture to add that His Majesty's assurances were given in the +most gracious form, accompanied with an expression of thanks for the +liberal manner in which the millions of Mahomedan subjects in India +are treated by the British authorities, and followed by a message, +after I had left his presence, to the effect that the sentiments +which he had declared to me were not only those of the Monarch but +of the individual. + +In short, my Lord, I am sanguine enough to hope that Her Majesty's +Government have laid the foundation of a more real improvement in +the temper and policy of this State than was to have been previously +expected; and it is a subject of just congratulation that the +counsels of two great nations have united successfully for the +attainment of so beneficent an object. + +The invitation to Baron de Bourqueney to wait upon the Sultan the +day after my audience, and to receive, for the information of his +Court, a repetition of the assurances addressed to me, affords +another proof of His Majesty's sincerity. + +I have, &c., + +(Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. + +P.S.--I request that a copy of this despatch and its inclosures may +be forwarded immediately to Her Majesty's Government. + +S. C. + +Inclosure 2 in No. 38. + +_Official Declaration of the Sublime Porte, relinquishing the +practice of Executions for Apostacy from Islamism_. + +[See Inclosure l in No. 36.] + +Inclosure 3 in No. 38. + +_Acknowledgment of the Sublime Porte's Official Declaration +respecting Executions for Apostacy_. + +[See Inclosure 2 in No. 36.] + +Inclosure 4 in No. 38. + +_Declaration of His Highness the Sultan to Sir Stratford Canning at +his Audience on the 23rd of March_, 1844. + +"Henceforward neither shall Christianity be insulted in my +dominions, nor shall Christians be in any way persecuted for their +religion." + + + + + + +No. 39. + + +_The Earl of Aberdeen to Sir Stratford Canning_. + +(Extract.) _Foreign Office, April_ 19, 1844. + +I received on the 10th of this month your Excellency's despatch of +the 23rd of March conveying the gratifying intelligence that the +Porte had given way on the question of the execution of apostates +from Islamism. The concession made by the Porte in this respect, +entirely consistent as it is with the wishes and intentions of Her +Majesty's Government, as expressed in my several instructions of the +16th of January, 19th of March, and 6th of April, has given them the +greatest satisfaction; and I have been happy to receive the Queen's +commands to signify to your Excellency Her Majesty's gracious +approbation of the manner in which you have executed your +instructions, and brought to a successful close a question of which +the importance cannot be too highly rated. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Correspondence Relating to Executions +in Turkey for Apostacy from Islamism, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO *** + +***** This file should be named 20394-8.txt or 20394-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/3/9/20394/ + +Produced by John Bechard (JaBBechard@aol.com) + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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