Star.
London, England, 1827-08-03 00:00:00

THE TURKS AND TIIE GREEKS

MANIFESTO Off THE OTTOMAN PORTZ.
tditswftg illemomme was delivered is the ads end loth of
1101.bythe naionCluto the Dragomans et the Preach,
A old Presides saledens, in the order to
repaired m . It was therefore delivered helm,
the Treaty recently punished was atigoad.l
To every ma* Endowed with intelligence and pene-
tration, it is clear and evident that, conformably to the
decrees of Drente Pitovirierce, the flourishing condi-
tion of this world is owing to the union of the hems
species in the social state ; and that, as on account of
their diversity of manners and characters, this union
could only be accomplished by the subjection of dif-
ferent nations. ALMIGHTY wisdom, in dividing the uni-
verse into different countries, has assigned to each a
Sovereign, into whose hands the reins of absolute autho-
rity over the nations subject to his dominions are placed;
and that it is in this wise manner the CRIATOR has
established and regulated the order of the universe.
If, on the one hand, the consistency and duration of
inch a state of things principally depend on Monarchs
end Sovereigns respectively abstaining from every kind
of intetfeience in each other's internal and private
affairs, it is, on the other hand, not less evident that
the essential object of treaties between empires is to
guard against the infringement of a system of order so
admirable, and thus to establish the
,security of peo-
ple and kingdoms. In this way each independent
Power, besides the obligations which its treaties and
foreign relations impose, possesses also institutions
and relations which concern only itself and its internal
state, and which are the offspring of its legislation and
form of government. It belongs, then, to itself alone
to judge of what befits itself, and to busy itself there-
with exclusively. Moreover, it is matter of public no-
toriety, that all the affairs of the Sublime. Ottoman
Poise are founded on its sacred legislation, and that
all its regulations, national and political, are strictly
connected with the precepts of religion.
Now the Greeks, who form part of the nations in-
habiting the countries conquered ages ago by the Ottaw
Haan armsi and who, from generation to generation,
have bees tributary subjects of 'the Sublime Porte,
have, like the other nations that since the origin of
Islamism remained faithfully in submission, always en-
joyed perfect repose and tranquillity ender the tgis of
our legislation. It is notorious that these Greeks bare
been treated like Mussulmans in every respect, and as
to everything which regards their property, the main-
tenance of their personal security, and the defence of
their honour; that they have been, particularly under
the glorious reign if the present SArereign, leaded with
benefits far exceeding those which their ancestors en-
joy, d; but it is precisely this great degree of favour,
this height of comfort and tranquillity, that bas been
the cause of the revolt, excited by maligtant men inca-
pable of appreciating the valise of such marks of bane-
eolence. Yielding to the delusioes of a heated imagi-
'Radon, they have dared to raise the standard of revolt,
not only against their benefactor and legitimate Sove-
I reign, but also against all the bilussulman people, by'
committing the most horrible excesses, sacrificing to
their vengeance defenceless women and innocent chit--
dren with unexampled atrocity.
As each Power has its own particular Penal Code
and political ordinances, the tenour whereof forms the,
basis for its acts of sovereignty, so the Sublime Porte,
in every thing relating to the exercise of its sovereignty,
rests exclusively upon its Holy Legislation, according
to which the rebels fail to be treated. But in inflicting
necessary punishment on slime with the sole view of
amending them, the Porte has never refused to pardon
those who implore its mercy, and to replace them as
before under the agis of its protection. In the same
manner the Sublime Porte, always resolved to conform
to the ordinances of its sacred law, notwithstanding the
attention devoted to its domestic affairs, has never ne-
glected to cultivate the relations of good understanding
with friendly Powers. The Sublime Porte has always
been ready to comply with whatever treaties and the
duties of friendship prescribe. Its most sincere prayers,
are offered up for that peace and general tranquillity
which, with the aid of the MOST Hien, will be re-
established in the same manner as the Sublime Porte
has always extended its conquests—namely, by sepa-
rating its faithful subjects from the refractory and ma-
levolent, and by terminating the existing troubles by,
its own resources, without giving occasion to discos-
sions with the Powers who are its friends, or to any de-
mands on their part.
All the efforts of the Sublime Porte have hut one
ject, which is the desire of the establishment of general
tranquillity, while foreign interference can only tend to
a prolongation of the rebellion. The firm and constant
intention of the Sublime Porte to attend to its principal
interests which spring from its sacred law, merits their
approbation and respect, while any foreign interference
must be liable to blame and animadversion. Now, it is
clear and evident that by adhering to this principle,
every thing might have been terminated long since, bet
for the ill-founded propositions which have been ad-
vanced concerning the conformity of religion, and the
fatal influence which this state of things has, perhaps,
exercised throughout the whole of Europe, and the is..
jury to which maritime commerce may have been ea.
peed. At the same time the hopes of the malevolent
have been constantly encouraged by the improper con.
diet of giving them assistance of every kind, which at
any time ought to have been reproved, conformably to
ylse law of nations. It is besides to be observed, that the
relations and treaties subsisting between the Sublime
Porte and the Powers in friendship with it, have been'
entered into with the Monarchs and Ministers of those
rowers only ; and considering the obligation of every
independent Power to govern its subjects itself, the
Sublime Porte has not. failed to address to some
friendly Courts complaints respecting the succours
afforded te the insurgents. The only answer made to
these representations has been, to give to machinations
tending to subvert laws and treaties, the signification
of liberty; and to interpret proceedings contrary to
existing engagements by the expression of neutrality,
alleging the insufficiency of means for restraining
the people.
Setting aside the want of reciprocal security,:which
'twist finally result from such a state of things to the
subjects of the respective Poem, the Sublime Pone

Icannot know such transactions to pass silently. Ac.
cordingly, the Porte has never omitted to reply to the
different pretensions advanced, by appealing to the
justice and the equity of the Powers who are its friends,
by often reiterating complaints respecting the assistants
afforded to the insurgents, and by 'living the necessary
answers in the course of communications with its friends.
In fine, a mediation has at last been proposed. The
feet, however, is, that an answer restricted to one single
object can neither be changed by the Jitocess of time,
nor by the innovation of expressions. The reply which
the Sublime Porte gave at the beginning will always be
the time—namely, that which it has reiterated in the
face of the whole world, and which is in the last result
its sentiment on the position of affairs.
Those who are informed of the circumstances and the
details of events, are not ignorant that at thi cotnniebee-
mem of the insurrection some Ministers of hien*
Courts, resident at the Sublime Porte, offered eilles
Live assistance in penishing the rebus. As, hose**,
this offer related to an affair which came *ea.
sively within the resort of the Sublime Poillb- is
pursuance of important considerations, both with
to the present and the future, the Porte confinedC:l
to replying, that though such an offer bad for its ohjegt
to give aid to the Ottoman Government, it would saw
permit foreign interference. What is more, when t
Ambassador of a friendly Power, at the. patine'
journey to the Congress of Verona, 'entered into eaPip
nations in conferences •ith the Ottoman Minister *
the proposed mediation, the Sublime Porte declared Vs
the most unequivocal manner, that such a proposition
could not be listened to: reiterating every time that
the subject was resumed, the assurance that political,
,national, and religious considerations, rendered such
refusal indispensable.
In yielding to this reasoning, and in admitting more
than once the right was on the side of the Poite, the
before mentioned Ambassador, on his return f om Vets
rona to Constantinople, again clearly and officially
declared in several conferences, by order of his Court,
and in the name of the other Powers, that the Greek
question was recognized as belonging to the internal
affairs of the Sublime Porte; that as such it ought its
be brought to a termination exclusively by the, Porte
itself; that no other Power was to interfelekin the
sequel; and that if ever any one wag. to iaterfere, all
the others would act according to the principles of the
law of nations.

The agents of one of the great Powers which has
recently consolidated itlrelatioas of friendship and !food
understanding with thetSablirae Porte, also .fficially
and explicitly declared, in their conferences with the
Ottoman agents, that there should be no interference on
this subject. That declaration having served as the
basis for the result of those conferences, there cannot
now be any question respecting this affair, which the
Sublime Porte is entitled to consider as completely sad
radically adjusted. Nevertheless, the Posse still cons'•
ders itself authorised here to Add the following ohms.
vations in support of its antecedent assertions t
The measures which the Sublime Porte has adopted
from the commencement, and which it still pursues
against the Greek insurgents, ought not to make the
war be considered a war of religion. Those measure
do not extend to all the prople in general ; for they
have for their sole object to ',press the revolt, and to
punish those subjects of the Porte who, acting .s true
chiefs of brigands, have committed atrocities equally
serious and reprehensible. The Sublime Porte has
never refused pardon to those who submit. The sates
of clemency and mercy have always been open.-rs
This the Sublime Porte has proved by facts, and still
proves it, by granting protection to those who :awn
to their duty.
The real cause of the continuance of this revolt is to
be found in the different propositions made to the Bohr
lime Porte. The injury arising from the war, too, has
only been felt by the Porte ; for it is known to all the
world that European navigation has never been inter-
rnpted by this state of things, which, far howl preje.
dicing European merchants, has afforded. them consi.
derable advantages.
Moreover, the troubles and the revolt exist only in
one single country of the Ottoman empire, and among
'the portions of malevolence; for, thanks be to Gorr,
the other provinces of this vast empire have no watt
suffered, and with all their inhabitants enjoy the most
perfect repose. It is not easy, therefore, to understand
how these troubles are to be communicated to other
European countries. Suppose, however, that this were
the case, as each Power is irtramount within itself, it
ought to know such of its subjects-en its own territory
as manifest seditious dispositions, and it ought to punish
them according to its own laws, and in pursuance of
the duties inherent in its own sovereignty. It may be
superfluous to add, that the Sublime Porte will never
interfere in such transactions.

Considering the points above set forth with reference
to justice and equity, every one must be easily coo-
winced that there remains no ground foe discussion upon
these affairs. Howe►er, though it is & that all ulterior
interference should cease, an offer of a mediation h*..
I been in the last result made.

Now, in political language, it is understood by this
expression, that if there mkt differences on hostilities
between two independent Powers, a reconciliation may
be brought about by the interference of a third friendly
Power. It is the same with respect to armistices and
treaties of peace, which cannot be concluded but be.
tween recognised Powers. Bat the Sublime Porte being
engaged In punishing on its own territory, and in con-
formity with its sacred law, such of its turbulent sub-
jects as have revolted. how can this case ever be made
applicable to its situation? and must not the Ottoman
Government attribute to those who advance such pro.
positions views tending to give consequence to a troop
of brigands? A Greek Government is spoken of which,
is to be recognised in case the Sublime Porte does not
consent to some arrangentent; and it has even been
proposed to conclude a treaty with the rebels. Has not
the Sublime Porte great reason to be struck with asto-
nishment at bearing such language from friendly
Powers, for history presents no example of a conduct
in all respects so opposed to the principles and duties of
Governments?
The goblime Porte, therefore, can never listen to ouch
Prerriklepos-.40 repositions which is wgl neither-bear