The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-10-18 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN D.

by the Western Powers ; the other from France isaid to have
contained the positive, declaration that any attack, made by
Russia on Turkey would be forcibly repelled by France and
England. It is even whispered that a very intelligible hint
was also given to this government. A day or two since a
measure was resolved on which cannot fail to produce as
favourable animpression abroad as at home when it becomes
known. It was generally felt that the position of Austria
might become extremely critical if the suspicion that she
had pledged herself at Olmutz to assist Russia in her un-
justifiable attack on Turkey, was not speedily and entirely
removed, and it was, therefore, resolved to give a public and
unmistakable manifestation of the resolve of this government
to observe the strictest neutrality. Accordingly, on Sun-
day last his Majesty signed an order for the reduction of
each company in the regiments of the line to 60 men."
The Vienna Wanderer has news of the 4th from
Bucharest. The activity of the Russians is re-
presented to be greater than ever. Government
messengers come and go in hot haste, troops ad-
vance, and reviews are held in various parts of the
Principalities.

MANIFESTO OF THE SUBLIME PORTE.

The: llowing is a translation of the Manifesto issued by
the Ottoman Government, announcing the declaration of
war in ease the Principalities be not immediately evacu-
ated :

In the present state of circumstances, it would be super-
fluous to take up from its very commencement the, explana-
tion of the difference which has arisen between the. Sublime
Porte and Russia, to enter anew into the detail of the
diverse phases which this difference has gone through, or
to reproduce the opinions and judgments of the government
of his Majesty the Sultan, which have been made public by
the official documents promulgated from time to time.
In spite of the desire not to restate the urgent reasons
which determined the modifications introduced by the Sub-
lime Porte into the draft of the note prepared at Vienna
(motives exposed previously in a note explanatory of the
modifications), yet new solicitations having been made for
the adoption, pure and simple, of the said note, in conse-
quence of the non-adhesion of Russia to these same modifi-
cations, the Ottoman Government, finding itself at present
compelled and . forced to undertake war, thinks it a duty to
give an exposition of the imperious reasons for that impor-
tant' determination, as well as for those which have obliged
it not to regulate this time its conduct according to the
counsels of the Great Powers its allies, although it has
never ceased to appreciate the benevolent nature of their
suggestions.

The principal points to which the government of his
Majesty the Sultan desires to 'give prominence are these :
That from the very beginning his conduct has furnished no
motive of quarrel, and that, animated with the desire of pre-
serving peace, he has acted with a remarkable spirit of
moderation and conciliation, from the commencement of the
difference unto the present time. It is easy to prove these
facts to all who do not wander from the path of justice and
equity. _ _ _ _ _ - - -

Even supposing that Russia had a subject of complaint
in relation to the Holy Places, she ought to have circum-
scribed her actions and solicitations within the limits of this
question alone, and might not to have raised pretensions
which the object of her complaints conld not sustain.. She
ought not, moreover, to have taken measures of intimidation,
such as sending her troops to the frontiers, and making naval
preparations at Sebastopol, on the subject of a question
which might have been settled amicably between the two
Powers. But it is evident that what has taken place is
totally contrary to an intention of amicable settlement.

The vestion of the Holy Places had been settled to the
satisfaction of all parties ; and the government of his Majesty
the Sultan hadtestified favourable dispositions on theguaran-
tees demanded. In short, Russia had no longer any ground
for raising any protest.
Is it not seeking a pretext for quarrel, then, to insist as
Russia has done upon the question of the privileges of the
Greek Church granted by the Ottoman government ; privi-
leges which the government believes its honour, its dignity,
and its sovereign power are concerned. in maintaining, and
on the subject of which, it can neither admit the interference
nor the surveillance of any government ? Is it not Russia
which', has occupied, with considerable forces, the princi-
palities of Moldavia and Wallachia, declaring at the same
time that these provinces should serve as a guarantee, until
she had obtained what she desired ? Has not this act been
considered justly by the Sublime Porte as a violation of
treaties, and..consequently a causus belli ? Have the other
Powers themselves been able to come to any other decision ?
Who, then, will doubt that Russia has been the aggressor?
Could the Sublime Porte, which has always observed all
her treaties, with a fidelity known to all, by infringing them
in any, way, do more than determine Russia to a proceeding
so violent as that of herself infringing all these treaties ?
Again, has there arisen, contrary to the promise explicitly
given in the treaty of Xainardji, such facts in the Ottoman
empire as the demolition of Christian churches, or obstacles
opposed to the exercise of the Christian religion ?

- The Ottoman Cabinet, without desiring7tOenier into too
long details on those points, doubts not that the high "'ewers,
its allies, will judge with perfect truth and justice o n the
statement just exhibited.

As to We non-adoption of the Vienna note in its pure and
mple forniby the Sublime Porte, it is to be remarked that
sthis project, although not in every point comformed to the
note of Prince Menschikoff, and while containing, it is true,
in its composition some of the paragraphs of the draught
note of the Sublime Porte, is not as a whole, whether in
letter or spirit, essentially different from that of Prince
Menschikoff.

The assurances recently given by the representatives of
the Great Powers respecting the apprehended danger from
hurtful interpretations of the draught note in question, are
a new, proof of the kind intentions of their respective govern-
ments towards the Sublime Porte. They have,consequently
produced a lively satisfaction on the part of the government
of his Majesty the Sultan. It must be remarked,
however, that while we have still before our eyes a
strife of religious privileges raised by Russia, which
seeks to base its claims on a paragraph so clear
and so precise in the treaty of Kainardji ; which
wishes to insert in a diplomatic document the paragraph
concerning the active solicitude of the Emperor of Rus-
sia for the maintenance in the states of the Sublime Porte of
religious immunities and privileges which were granted
(octrws) to the Greek rite by the Ottoman Emperors be-
fore Russia so much as existed as an Empire, to leave in a
dark and doubtful state the absence of all relation between
these privileges and the
in treaty of Kutschuk Kainardji to em-
ploy favour of a great community of subjects of the Sub-
lime Porte 'professing the Greek religion expressions which
might make allusions to treaties concluded with France and
Austria, relative to the French and Latin religions, this
would be to incur the risk of placing in the hands of Russia
vague and obscure paragraphs, some of which are contrary to
the reality of facts, and would offer to Russia a solid pre-
text for her pretensions to a religious surveillance and pro-
tectorate—pretensions which that Power would attempt to
produce affirming that they are not derogatory to the
sovereignty sand independence of the Sublime Porte.
r.„

The -very language of the employes and agents of Russia,
who have declared that the intention of the government was
no other than to fulfil the office of an advocate with the
Sublime Porte whenever acts contrary to existing privileges
might be done, is a patent proof of the justice of the opinion
of the Ottoman government.

If the government of his Majesty the Sultan has judge d
it necessary to require that assurances should be given, even
if the modifications which it introduced by it into the
Vienna note were adopted, how in conscience could it be
tranquil if the note were to be retained in its integrity and
without modification ? The Sublime Porte, in accepting
that which it has declared to all the world it could not
admit without being compelled thereto, would compromise
its dignity in view of the other Powers, would sacrifice its
honour in the eyes of its own subjects, and would commit a
mental and moral suicide.

Although the refusal of Russia to accord the modifications
required by the Sublime Porte has been based on a question
of honour, it cannot be denied that the ground of that
refusal was simply and solely its desire not to allow explicit
terms to replace vague expressions, which might at some
future time furnish it with a pretext for intermeddling.
Such conduct, therefore, compels the Sublime Porte to per-
sist on its part in witholding its adhesion.
The, reasons which have determined the Ottoman.gOvern-
ment to make its modifications having been appreciated by
the representatives of the Four Powers, it proved that the
Sublime Porte was right in not purely and simply adopting
the Vienna note. It is not with a view of criticising a pro-
ject which obtained the assent of the great Powers that we
enter upon a discussion of the inconveniences which the
Vienna note presents. Their efforts have always tended to
the preservation of peace, while defending the rights and
independence, of the Imperial government. The endeavours
made to attain these objects having been as laudable as can
be conceived, the Sublime Porte cannot sufficiently acknow-
ledge them' But, as evidently each government must
possess, in consequence of its peculiar knowledge and its
local experience, more facilities than any other government
for judging of the points which concern its own rights, the
examination which the Ottoman government makes, is
prompted entirely •by its desire to justify the obligatory
situation) in which, to its great regret, it finds itself placed,
desiring, as it has done, to continue following the benevolent
counsels offered to it by its allies ever since the commence-
ment of the differences, and which until now it has followed.
If it is alleged that the haste with which the Viennft note
was drawn up, results from the backwardness of the Sublime
Porte to propose an arrangement, the government of his
Majesty the Sultan must justify itself by stating the follow-
ing facts :

"before the entrance of the Russian troops into the two
Principalities, some of the representatives of the Powers,
actuated by the sincere intention of preventing the occupa-
tion of those provinces, urged upon the Sublime Porte the
necessity of framing a draft note occupying a middle place
between the draft note of the Sublime Porte and that of
Prince Menschikoff. More lately the representatives of the
Powers confidently communicated different schemes of ar-
rangement.to the Sublime Porte. None of these latter
responded to the views of the Imperial government ; and the
Ottoman Cabinet was on the point of entering into negocia-
tions with the representatives of the Powers on the basis of
a project drawn up by itself in conformity with these sug-
gestions. It was at this moment that news of the passage
of the Fruth by the Russians arriyed—a fact which changed