The Express.
London, England, 1853-07-29 00:00:00

PROTEST OF THE SUBLIME PORTE.

The following is a translation of the protest made by the
Sublime Porte against the occupation of the Principalities
by Russia :
The Sublime Porte has just learned officially that the
Russian army has passed the Pruth, and that it has entered
Moldavia, with the intention of likewise occupying Wal-
lachia. This movement, made without its concurrence,
upon an integral part of its empire, hu necessarily caused it
as much pain as surprise. It is painful to it to see the in-
habitants of its loyal and tranquil provinces exposed to all
the chances of military occupation. It is difficult fur it to
reconcile such an aggression with the pacific declarations
' and friendly assurances which the Cabinet of St. Petersburg
has so often reiterated. It is still more difficult for it not
I to be astonished at an operation which strikes at the prin-
ciples established by the Treaty of 1841.
The Sublime Porte, in expressing the sentiments which
this event has excited, cannot avoid placing in a clear light
some circumstances to which the ministers of his Imperial
Majesty have in vain attempted to give • conclusion such
as their love of justice and of peace would make them
idesirs.
The negotiations which were opened by agreement with
Prince bienchikoif were confined at first to points connected
with the difficulties relative to the question of the Holy
Places ; and the differences which were the principal ob-
jects of these negotiations received without delay a solution
proper to satisfy all the parties interested.
We consented besides to the construction of a church and
• hospital at Jerusalem for the special service of the Rus-
sians ; so that the concessions demanded in favour of the
riests and pilgrims of the same nation have not been re-
After the happy conclusion of the part of the negecia-
doss which was the sole ostensible object of the extraor-
dinary mission of Prince Menehikoff, that ambassador
addressed himself with the most pressing instances to have
another demand accepted, of which the consequences, if it
had been admitted by the government of his Majesty the
Sultan, could not have failed to strike a grievous blow at
the later/Ma of the empire, and to compromise those
sovereign rights which are its ornaments and supporters.
It is seen by the official communications which the Stabiles
Porte has made to the great powers, that she does not hesi-
tate togivesuffieiget assurances, capable to dispel the doubts
which have led to the discussions relative to the rights, to
the spiritual privileges, and to the other immunities which
thereunto belong, and in the pnesessioa of which the Greek
*arches and the Greek priests are placed by his Majesty the
Sultan. Far from thinking of withdrawing any part whatever
of these privileges, or even of restricting their enjoyment
oessecrated by use, his imperial Majesty glorifies himself
is confirming them publicly, and, faithful to the maxims of
justice and clemency, places in • position of safety
from all prejudice by means of a solemn act confirmed by
his hattbeherif, and which hu been communicated to all
friendly governments. Such being the cue, it would be
useless to encumber the question with a mass of details. It
will suffice here to state that, on one ride, the demand of the
Russian ambassador, notwithstanding certain modifications, I
whether as to terms or whether as to form, remained at the
end inadmissible, fur the reasons just now explained ;
while, on the other side, it became without any real
object, on account of the solemn guarantees spontaneous!
given by the Sovereign himself in face of the whole world.
These incontestable facts suffice to absolve the Sublime
Porte from all obligation to explain further on the
subject of the religious privileges. It is incontestably
evident that the independence of a sovereign state is null if
among its attributions is not preserved that of refusing
without offence a demand which is unauthorised by trea-
ties, and whose acceptance would be at the same time super-
fluous as to the ostensible object, and not less humiliating
than injurious to the high party which declines it.
Nevertheless, the Sublime l'orte dues not in any way re-
, tire from its friendly and profoundly sincere desire not only
so fulfil all its engagements towards Russia with the most
scrupulous e ...ctitude, but further to give it such entirely
new proof of its earths' dispositions as is compatible with the
sacred rights of its sovereignty and with the honour and
the fundamental interests of is empire.
The Sublime Porte is eves prepared to reiterate the
assuraeces promised in the letter of the 4th (16th) June,
written in reply to that of his Becellency Count Nessel-
nu, bearing date the 16,h May (G. S.) ; and it is
still disposed, if an arrangement of a nature to satisfy
Mania can be arrived at without prejudice to the sacred
rights of the Sultan, to send an ambassador extraordinary
to St. Petersburg to seek so concert with the Russian cabi-
net the means of arriving at that end.
As regards the passage in the lett, r of his Excellency
Coast Nesselrode relative to the eventual invasion of the
Ottoman territory, the Sublime Porte has already declared
that it cannot ectirpt it.; and as that letter, as well es
the reply of the, Ottoman ministry, was at once commu-
nicated to the Powers that signed the treaty of 1841, it

evidently becomes needles' to enter into details o so pain-
ful a question.
In consequence of these circumstancee, and in virtue
of these considerations, the govsrnment of his Majesty
had reason to hope that the founded motives which
he never ceased to allege to justify the refusal of hie
consent, the impossibility in which be finds himself
of according it, and the sincere desire which at dif-
ferent times he has expressed to see a renewal of the
cordial relations between the t•o High Parties, would be,
finally appreciated, and that the court of Russia would !
return to more equitable sentiments towards it. The Sub-
lime forte feels the more sorrow in finding itself deceived
in this hope, as the eminent qualities of the Emperor of I
Russia, his known justice and moderation, did not allow it
to 'impose that his Majesty would be capab'e of wishing to
ground his demands upon other bases than those of reason
and common right, as he had but recently given both to
the Sultan himself and to the European powers, positive
assurances of his desire to respect the dignity and maintain
the independence of the O:tnmsn empire.
And it is in this state of things that the Sublime Porte
has just received the official notice that the Russian troops
have crossed the frontier. _ _ _

If the Court of Russia persists in founding the demand I
to consecrate, by a document obligatory towards it, the
religious privileges of which it is in question on the treaty of
Kainardje-, it must be observed that the promise contained
in the first part of Art. 7 of that treaty, relative to the pro-
tection of the Christian religion and its churcher, is a gene
rality ; and that degree of importance attributed to it by
Russia can scatcely he found in it, still less a speciality in
favour of the Greek religion.
However this may be, it' the Sublime Porte omitted to
protect the Christian religiou and churches, it is then
only that it would be time to remind it of its promise by
quoting that. treaty ; and it is no lets clear that this new
proposition cannot be founded upon that treaty, in
3.4nuch es the privileges and immunities of the
Greek religion have been granted (octroyi,) by the
Sublime Porte without the demand or intervention of
any one whomsoever. It is, in fact, a point of honour
for it to maintain them et present and in the future, and a
duty imposed upon it by its system, full of solicitude for
its subjects. The firmans which have recently been pro-
mulgated, and which confirm the privileges ard the immu-
nities of all religions, publicly testify to the firm intentions
of the Sublime Porte in this respect, in such manner
that without the slightest doubt a foreign intervention
is not at all required for the purpose. Only, whereas
the court of Russia, whatever may be the motive, has
conceived suspicions with regard to those religious pri-
vileges, and as the Greek religion is that of the august
Emperor, and cf a great portion of his subjects, the
Sublime Porte, moved by these considerations, and
also front deference to the amicable relations which
still exist between the two powers, does not retire be-
fore the resolution of giving sufficient assurances to his
subjects. But, if a government contracts, on the rights
and privileges which from its own movement it has ac-
corded to the churches and priests of a nation of so many
millions of souls submitted to its authority, exclusive obli-
gations with another government, it would be to share its
authority with that government; it would be nothing less
than the annihilation of its awn independence.
The treaties concluded between the Sublime Porte sod
the court of Russia, concerning the two principalities, do
not authorise in any manner the sending of troops by Russia
into these two countries; and the article relating thereto,
which is in the Sened of Bulta-Liman, is subordinate to the
cases of the breskiag out of internal disturbances, which is
by no means the case in the present instance.
The fact is, that this aggressive proceeding on the part
of Russia cannot in principle be considered in any other
light than a declaration of war, giving to the Sublime
forte the incontestable right of employing military force in
return. But the Sublime Porte is far from 'spiting to
push its right to the extreme. Strong in the justice which
reg :fates its policy towards the Powers, it prefers reserv-
ing them in the expectation of a spontaneous return of
Russia to a line of action more conformable to its declara-
tions. It is with a view to remove every obstacle to that
return that it restricts itself at present to protest against
the aggression of which it lies such just right to complain.
It thinks thereby to offer to the whole world an additional
proof of the moderation of the latent it has adopted since
the commeacement of this affair. It abstains from any
hostile act, but it declares that it in no manner cements to
the entrance, from time to time, of troops into the pro-
vinces of Moldavia and Wallachia, which are integral parts
of the Ottoman empire, regarding them as a house without
a muter.

_
It protests' therefore, formally and openly, against that
let ; and, in the conviction that tho powers that signed the
treaty of 1841 would not give their consent to such an
aggression, it has given them an explanation of the eh-
cumstancer, and meantime maintains in armed attidude for
its defence.

In conclusion, it repents that his Majesty the Sultan is
always desirous of meeting any founded reclamation of the
Court of Russia, of which lie bas already given proof more
than once, and is ready to redress any grievance concerning
the religions alleles of which his Greek subjects might have
cause to complain ; that that reparation has been made as
regards the holy plac. s ; that that question has been soloed
to the satisfaction of Russia; and that the Sublime Porte
does not hesitete to offer more explicit assurances to con-
firm the arrangement which has been made to the 'etiolata
tion of all 'vibes.
Constantinople 2 (14 July), 1833 (8 Chem], 1269).