The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-07-13 00:00:00

THE OCCUPATION OF CYPRUS.

The correspondence relative to the Treaty between
England and Turkey was presented on Monday night. .
to both Houses of Parliament. The principal paper
is a dispatch from Lord S.disbnry to Sir A. Layard,
dated May 30th, in which the foreign secretary points
out that Russia would not recede from the stipula-
tions of the Treaty of an :•tefano as regards the
clauses concerning Turkey in Asia It was impos-
sible,' he said, that the English Government could
look with indifference on the changes that would
be thereby produced, and he pointed out that
the retentitm. of Batonin, Ardahan, and Kars
IbyFaissi% would produce an influence in dis-
ihtegraling the Asiatic dominions of the Porte.
,He suggested that some Power, which was strong
'enough to.fulfil it, should give to the.PoTte.an-eogage-
lineut thattatirfuttlier Vlioroachinent by Russia upon
.T.,grkjsh,territory in Asia would be prevented by force
Of arms, but he added" that this could only be given
upon certain conditions to which the Porte must sub-
scribe. For the English Government, he added, effi-
ciently to execute such an engagement it would be
necessary that they should occupy a position near the
coast of Asia Minor and Syria, and he suggested that
Cyprus would be the most available for that object.
He therefore proposed an assignment of the island to
England, the territory to continue a part of the Otto-
man Empire, and thu excess of revenue over expendi-
ture to be repaid to the Treasury of the Sultan. The
following are the concluding clauses of the Convention:
'lnasmuch as the whole of this proposal is due to the
annexations which Russia has made in Asiatic Turkey and
the consequences which it is apprehended will flow there-
from, it must be fully understood that it the cause of the
danger should cease, the precautionary agreement will cease
at the same time. If toe Government of Rassia should at
any time surrender to the Porte the territory it lras acquired
In Asia by the recent war, the stipulations in the proposed
agreements will cease to operate and the island will be im-
mediately evacuated.
"I request, therefore, your Excellency to propose to the
Porte to agree to a Convention to the following effect, and I
have to convey to you fail authority to conclude the same
on behalf of the Queen and of Her Majesty's Government :
"' If Batoum, Ardahan, Kars, or any of them, shall be
retained by Russia, and if any attempt shall be made at any
future time by Russia to take possession of any further
portion of the Asiatic territories of the Suitan, as fixed by
the definitive Treaty of Peace, England engages to joiu the
Sultan In defending them by force of arms. In return the
Sultan promises to England to introduce necessary reforms
(to be agreed upon later between the two Powers) into the
government of toe Christian and other subjects of the Porte
in these territories, and, in order to enable England to make
necessary provision for executing her engagement, the Sultan
further consents to assign the island of Cyprus to be
occupied and administered by England. "1 am..&e.,
"SALISBURY."

Kby ,
titegniti

The result of this communication was that a Con-
vention was concluded between Sir A. Layard, ani
Safvet Pasha on the 4th of June.

The following is the English text of the Annex to the Con-
vention of Defensive Alliance between Great Britain and
Turkey, signed June 4, 1878 :

"The Right Honourable Sir A. H. Layard, G.C.8., and his
Highness Safvet Paella, now the Grand Vizter of his Majesty
the Sultan, have agreed to the following Annex to the Con-
vention signed by them as Plenipotentiaries of their respec-
tive Governments on the 4th June, 1878 :

" ANNEXE.
"It is understood between the two high contracting par-
ties that England agrees to the following conditions relating
to her occupation and administration of the Island of
Cyprus :

"I. That a Mussulman religious tribunal (Mehkemei Sheri)
shall continue to exist in the island, which will take exclusive
cognisance of religious m itters. and of no others, concerning
the Mussulman population of the island.
"li. That a Mossulman resident in the island shall be
named by the Board of Pious Foundations in Turkey
(Evitraf) to superintend, in conjunction with a delegate to
he appointed by the British authorities, the administration
of the property, funds, and lands belonging to mosques,
cemeteries, Mussulman schools, and other religious esta-
blishments existing in Cyprus.
"111. That England will pay to the Porte whatever is
the present excess of revenue over expenditure in the
island; this excess to be calculated upon and determined
by the average of the last five years stated to be 22,936
purses, to be duly verified hereafter, and to the exclusion
of the produce of State and Crown lands let or sold during
that period.
"IV. That the Sublime Porte may freely sell and lease
lands and other property in Cyprus belanging to the Ottoman
Crown and State (Arazzti Miriy 6 v 6 Emlaki liounuayoun) the
produce of which does not torus part of the revenue of the
island referred tomn Article 111.

"V. That the English Government, through their com-
petent authorities, may purchase compulsorily, at a fair
price, laud required for public improvements, or for other
public purposes, and land which is not cultivated.
"VI. That if Russia restores to Turkey Bars and the other
coLquests made by her in Armenia during the last war the
Island of Cyprus will be evacuated by England, and the
Convention of the 4th of June, 1878, will be at an end.
"Done at Constantinople the let day of July, 1878.
("A. 11 LAYARD.
(Signed) "SAFVET.

The Berlin Correspondent of The Times, writing on
Tuesday, says :—" The grand surprise, as it is termed, still
forms the chief subject of conversation in the diplo-
matic world here. When it was first announced yes-
tercloy it was confirmed by unquestionable authorities,
and one heard on all sides the exclamation—" Quel
jive coup de theatre ! " For some hours Englisn diplomacy
enjoyed a prestige such as it has not enjoyed for a long time.
In the evening a few dissentient voices began to be heard.
The coup, said some, is undoubtedly clever, but it is
rather too much a la Beaconsfield, and it may be
questioned whether in the long run it will redound
to the honour and interest of England. It is a
daring stroke, said others, and we must wait to see
how the other Powers will accept it. A protecto-
rate, said a third party, has doubtless its advantages, but it,
at the same time, entails grave responsibility. To-day this
spirit of doubt still prevails. Some spe.ik of the event with
unqualified admiration and a few condemn it in equally
strong terms ; but the great majority, even of those who
may be called well versed in the Eastern Question, hesitate
about pronouncing a decided opinion. Ordinary minds
require a certain time to realize the meaning and forecast
the consequences of what has been executed. It is
unquestionably grandiose in ccnception and has been exe-
cuted with great ability; but is it politically wise in the
higher sense of the term? That is a question which prudent
people, who think more of prosaic, practical consequences
than of brilliant diplomatic triumphs, . cannot be ex-
pected to answer at such very short notice. The rumour
that the Russian Plenipotentiaries are greatly incensed and
mean to protest formaily has no real foundation. If they
are displeased, they conceal their displeasure with con-
summate art, and the cordial personal relations which have
recently sprang up between Prince Gortchakoff and Lord
Beaconsfield have not been at all disturbed by the dis-
closures. A British protectorate in Asia Minor will, it is
said, insure good administration, and thereby facilitate the
task of keeping order in the neighbouring Russian Pro-
vinces. So long as Russia has order and tranquility on her
borders, she has no reason to extend her territory, while
as for the occupation of Cyprus, a naval station more or leas
in the Mediterranean can hardly be said to affect Russian
nterests.

The Vienna Correspondent of The Times writes :—" The
Anglo-Turkish alliance and the occupation of the island of
Cyprus by England is still the almost exclusive topic of con-
versation in the political world here. The Vienna news-
papers criticize the event favourably as a rule. The Press&
after alluding to the victory of England, whose military and
maritime position in the East by the occupation of Cyprus
will acquire the character of invincibility, goes on as
follows :

As for us and our point of view, we cannot but hail with
sincere satisfaction this victory, won without bloodshed by
English policy, over the Eastern Question; for it may be
said that in the near future this question will assume an-
other and a better aspect. The existence of Turkey, so
tioubtful and as frail, when she herself is her sole support,
will, under the energetic protection of England, be able to
be maintained for long years.'
"The Nate Preie Presse, referring to the same subject,
says:—

'English policy used to be a riddle, but the solution of it
has now been found. In the Congress England yielded to
Russia on essential points: she sacrificed to her Turkey in
Europe, because she reserved to herself the protectorate
over the Asiatic half of the Ottoman Empire, for that is the
meaning of the Treaty England is said to have concluded
with the Porte. In point of fact, that Treaty is a stroke
directed against the Congress and against Russia.'
"As for the annexation of the island of Cyprus the
Wiener Blatt does not believe the measure will meet' with
any opp sition. According to a statement from Berlin in
the Politische Correspondenz, Russia was not at all surprised
by the arrangement concerning Cyprus. It is even said
that Count Schwuvatiff nearly three weeks ago was
apprised of the Anglo-Turkish understanding, and that the
Cabinet of St. Petersburg was for more than a year
previously aware of the intentions of England with
regard to the acquisition of a maritime station of
this kind. Others are of opinion that Turkey, thus guaran-
teed secure by England in Asia, will have her hands com-
pletely free in Europe, and that she may possibly take ad-
vantage of this liberty to defend the integrity of her pro-
vinces in the west of the Balkan Peninsula. This, however,
Is little likely to happen, since the Porte, by submitting in
this matter to the unanimous vote of ' the Congress,
agreed to its execution while reserving the right
to come to a previous understanding with Austria-
Hungary. Nevertheless, the greate.st- advantages from
this Anglo - Turkish alliance will be reaped by the
provinces of Asia Minor. for which, in point of fact
a golden age is about to dawn. Here will be a fresh and
fertile field of enterprise for English industry and commerce.
Now that the British flag, floating side by side with the
Turkish crescent, guarantees the peace of these regions from
without and a certain stability for the institutions within, it
cannot be doubted that English capital will be there in-
vested, as much to the profit of the new field 02 enterprise as ,
to that of the workers in it themselves."

In a leader on the subject of the Convention, The Times
of Tuesday remarks
If it were possible for this country to witness without dis-
satisfaction or disturbance the gradual acquisition by Russia
of supremscy in the Asiatic dominions of the Porte, there
would be no sufficient reason for undertaking a grave re-
sponsibility in order to obviate it. But the course of public
feeling in England during the last few months seems to show
beyond a doubt what is the settled opinion of the English
people upon this subject. So long as the questions raised by the
late war concerned simply the re-organization of certain Euro-
pean possessions of the Porte and the improvement of the
condition of the Christian populations, the sympathy of the
country was, with due reserve as to the course adopted by
Russia, in favour of the general object in view. But the
moment it became evident that Russia was disposed to use
her successes in the war for the purpose of acquiring a pre-
ponderant influence at Constantinople and in Asia, the
country cordially supported the resolution of the Ministry to
avert, such a result. such a test of the feeling of the country
may be regarded as a erne al one. An instiect dictated to
the English people a prompt resolution to resist any
real danger of the acquisition by the Czar of &position which
would menace the Asiatic dominions of the Porte and the
road to India The judgment of the country on such a point
is the final authority upon it. It is in itself by no means an
easy question whether it be worth our while to undertake a
vast responsibility for the purpose of excluding Russia
from Asia Minor and the Euphrates Valley. It must
be decided on the balance of conflicting considerations,
and of this balance the best practicable test is the settled
opinion of the country at large. But of that there
can be little doubt, and the inevitable conclusion is that,
if Russia should be allowed further opportunity to encroach
upon the Ottoman power in Asia, we should feel it an im-
perative necessity to interfere. But, this being the case, it
is certainly common prudence to adopt at once measures
which will render such encroachments obviouely imprac-
tioable. If we mean to stay the advance of Russia in the
end, we shall act with but common prudence in checking
her at the outset. But this can only be done by guarantee-
ing on our own authority the integrity of the dominions of
the Sultan in Asia as they are left by the Treats of Berlin.
lilt be prudent on our part, from a regard to our own in-
terests, to adopt such a °course, there can be no question that
it will be in every way to the advantage not merely of the
Sultan, but of the populations of the East. This, in fact, is
the great moral justification for the measure. No reasonable
hope can be entertained that the Porte will by virtue of its
own authority and energy introduce satistactory administra-
tion into its provinces. If some of. the finest regions
of the earth's surface' including many promising Christian
populations, are to be rescued from slow decay. some
stronger and more healthy inilueuce must be hlliised into
the Turkish Government. If that Influence be net supplied
by one Christian Power, it will be suppiie,i by anothPr. It
it be not afforded by England, it will be obtruded by Russia;
and the question has, in fact, been definitely raised by Mei
results at the late war which of these two Powers shall exert
this influence. It is for the English people to decide whether,
with the great inheritance of responsibility they have already

accepted in the East, they can honourably or safely shrink
from the task to which the course of events has thus invited
them. The gravity c.f the guarantee involved in this con-
vention is undoubtedly very great. It is, indeeo, in the
highest degree improbable that Russia would venture to
Cutest by force a decision which we have thus solemnly
anromiced The most anxious part of the responsibility
we shall incur will he that of assisting the Porte to
introduce real reforms into its Government. But the
task must be done, and the great question is whether
it is fJr us to allow it to fall into other hands.
If we are to accept it, the acquisition of some such
station as Cyprus is indispensable. Much, indeed, might
have been said in favour of the comparative claims of
Mytilene. But Cyprus is an admirable position in itself,
and no serious difficulty will be felt on points of detail.
The only important question will be that of principle, and
this must be decided on the grounds we have explained.

The following is an extract from the letter.ot the Berlin
orrespoacktustrstkhwacrtidgrd!-- '

- . "The importance of the station to England needs not
to be indicated. It commands Antioch where the Euphrates
Valley Railway must debouch, and it brings our forces into
a position enabling them to defend the Suez Canal at a short
.notice without offending the susceptibilities of France. It
Is no longer concealed that England means to undertake a
control of Asia Minor, which may not, perhaps, be called a
Protectorate, but which will amount to that. For such an
object we must have a central post within striking distance
of the interests trusted to our charge, and Cyprus fulfils
every necessary condition, while the Porte will only be too
glad to buy English protection at that cost. . . .

'Those who have watched the current of events will not
question that if England had accepted Egypt when it was
offered again and again, she could never have stopped the
Russian armies; her mouth wonld have been closed by the
plunaeled Morsel, and the Suez Canal is not the only nor the
most important route to India which we have to guard. In
no long time the Euphrates Valley Railroad must have be-
come a foremost consideration with English statesmen, even
if Russian progress to the North had not given it the value
it has now acquired. Soule kind of interference, therefore,
in the affairs of Asia Minor was an imperative duty laid on
English statesmen.
Malta is too far away to give us effective control even In
Egypt. A fitting place for a settlement on the mainland
would be hard to discover, and would probably have caused
disagreeab:e complications. Fortunately the island of
Cyprus offers all we could possibly wih, and our occupation
of it gives offence to none Russia, indeed, may be angry:
hut rile has no ground for complaint. The Porte will be
overjoyed to pay a price so small for the certainty of Eng-
114h protection, and the islanders themselves may with con-
fidence be expected to welcome a Government which gives
them freedom and prosperity without reward.

The island is immensely rich in minerals and natural pro
ducts, which have not been turned to use since the
Mahometan conquest. It is expected that it will more than
pay the expense of its occupation and development from
the outset. From this spot our administrators will watch
the progress of events and reiorms in Asia Minor, and
anchored thus, as it were, off Antioch, they will guard the
Suez Canal and the mouth of that great railway which must
be built. The Congress has nothing officially to say about
this project, nor will it, according to present intentions, be
fficially brought under its consideration.