Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-04-08
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
ENGLAND, TURKEY, AND RUSSIA.

ENGLAND, TURKEY, AND RUSSIA.
The following are the communications respecting
Turkey made to the British Government by the
Emperor of Russia, with the answers returned to
them, from January to April, 1858.
Memorandum 5y Count Nssserode delivered 10 Her Majesty
Government and founded communications from Mt
Emperor Of Russia subsequently, 10 his impial Njest
sist 10 England in Jass 1874. ...
TRANSLATION.
Russia and England mutually penetrated with the
conviction that il is for their interest that the
Ottoman Porte should maintain itself in the of indie
pendence and territorial possession which at present
sttutes that empire, that political combination is the
one which is compatible with the general interest OF
the maintenance of peace Being agreed this prnc
pc Russia and England have equal interest in uniting
their efforts in order to keep the existence OF the OF
toman Empire and to avert all the dangers which can
place in jeopardy its safety With this object. the essen
ta point is sufer the Porte to live in repose without
needlcssy dsurbngi by diplomatic chickering's and with
out interfering without absolute necessity IN its internal
affairs a.# ......
In order to carry ont slfully this system of orbear
ance with view the well-undersood interest of the
Porte two things must not be lost sight Of They are
these In the first place. the Porte has constant ten
dency to exricate itself from the engagements imposed
upon by the treaties which E has concluded with other
Powers. 1t hopes to do with impunity, because it
reckons the mutual jealousy Of the Cabinets 1t thinks
that fails IN It's engagements one Ol
the rest win espouse its quarrel and will it from
all responsibility 1t is essential not to confirm the Porte
in this delusion Every time that it fails in its obiga
tous towards of the great Powers the interest of
all the to make it sensible Of its and seriously
bert rightly towards the Cabinet which de-
mands just reparaton As soon as the Porte shall per
ceye that it is not supported by the other Cabinets it
will give way and the differences which have arisen will
be arranged in concatory manner, without any
fct resulting from them.
There is second cause of complication which is in
heren in the situation of the Porte 1t is the difficulty
which exists in reconcng the respect due to the
reign authority of the Sultan founded on the Mussu
law with the forbearance required by the interests
Of the Christian population of that Empire. This diff
Guilty is real In the present state of feeling in Europe
the Cabinets cannot with indifference the Christian
population in Turkey exposed to fragrant of oppres
sion and religious intolerance. 1t is necessary
stantly to make the Ottoman Ministers sensible Of this
truth aud to persuade them that they only reckon
the friendship and support of the great Powers
the condition that they treat the Christian subjects of the
Porte with liberation and with mildness While insist
ing on this truth it will be the duty of the foreign
presentatives on the other hand exert all their inhu-
to maintain the Christian subjects of the Porte in
submission to the sovereign authority. 1t will be the
duty of the foreign representatives guided by these
prin es to act among themselves in perfect spirit
of agreement If they address remonstrances to the
Porte those remonsrances must bear real character OF
unanimy, though dvesed of of exclusive dctation
By perseverng in this system with camness and moder
aon the Of the great Cabinets Of Europe
which they may take without giving occasion for comp-
cations which might affect the tranquility of the Otto
Empire If ell the great Powers frankly adopt this
line Of conduct they will have wefounded expecta-
ton Of preserving the existence of Turkey However
they must not conceal from themselves how many elc-
of dissolution that Empire contains within itself
Unforeseen circumstances may hasten its fall without its
being in the power Of the friendly Cabinets prevent
As it s not given to human settle beforehand
plan Of action for such such unooked-for case it
would be premature to discuss eventualities which Gy
never be realized. ....
In the uncertainty which hovers over the future,
single fundamental idea to admit of really prac
tcal application 1t is that the danger which may result
from catastrophe in Turkey will be much diminished
it, in the event of its occurring Russia and England have
to understanding to the to be taken
them in common. That understanding will be the more
beneficial nasmuch it will have the full of Aus
tria Between her and Russia there exists already an
entire conformity of principles in regard to the affairs Of
Turkey, in common interest of conservatism and Of
peace In order to render their union ehcacious
there would remain nothing to be desired but that Eng
land should be TO associate herself thereto with the
view. The reason which recommends the establish
ment of this agreement is very simple On land Russia
exercises in regard to Turkey preponderant action
England occupies the position. Isolated the
action of these two Powers might do much mischief ;
united, it produce real benefit thence the ayan-
age Of coming previous understanding before having
to action. The notion was in principle agreed
upon during the Emperors last residence in London.
The result was the eventual engagement that if any thing
unforeseen occurred in Turkey Russia and should
previously concert together to the which they
should pursue in common. 49,. -......
The object for which Russia and England will have to
come to an understanding may be expressed in the fol-
lowing !. To seek to maintain the existence
the Ottoman Power in its present state long that
political combination shall be possible 2. If toresee
that uSt erabe TO enter into precious every
thing rectng 10 the establishment Of order Of things
intended replace at hic ers and in conjunction
with each other to that tho change which may have
occurred in the internal situation of that Empire shall
not njuriousy affect either the security of their
States and the rights which the treaties them
respectively the maintenance of the balance of
in Europe For the purpose thus stated, the policy
Russia and of Austria have already said is closely
united by the principle Of perfect identity If England
the principal maritime Power acts in concert with
them, it is to be supposed that France will find herse
obliged to net in conformity with the agreed
by st. Petersburgh, London, and Vienna. Conflict be
tween the Great Powers being thus obyated it is to b
hoped that the peace Of Europe viii be maintained
in the midst of such serious circumstances 1t is
this object of common interest if the
that the Emperor agreed with her Britannia Majesty
Ministers during his residence in England, the previous
understanding which Russia and England shall establish
between themselves must be directed.
SIR G. III Seymour TO Lord John Russell.
ST. PETERsBuRah JANUARY IL, 1858.
My LoRD: On the evening of the 9th instant had thu
Duchess Heen who, it appeared had kindly requested
permission TO invite Lady Seymour and myself to NEE
TIE Imperial family.
E,n,, 4 -, 81