The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-12-30
FOREIGN NEWS.
The Eastern Question.


The preliminary conference Of the plenipo.
tentiaries of the European powers at Constan-
tinople terminated its labors on the 10Th, and
then adjourned to meet in plenary conference
on the 23d the members meantime reporting to
their governments and awaiting instructions.
1t is understood that general good under
standing was arrived at and a decided modi-
flcation of extreme views. The question OF
occupation, guarantees and reforms were only
touched upon in general way so as not to
become obstacles in the plenary body on the
ODD inst
On the last named day the plenary confer
ence had its first meeting Savaet Pasha, the
Turkish representative, presiding. A sum
mary of the results of the preliminary confer
ence was then presented, and time given the.
pasha to examine the document. Its contents
were substantially, that the reforms asked of
Turkey shall include the division of Bulgaria
into two provinces; popular election of may.
ors of towns; the Governor-General to have
complete control OF the police force; the or
ganization Of law courts to be left in great
measure to an international commission; for
eigners to be eligible for legal appointments,
if the commission finds their appointment
necessary; only 80 per cent of the taxes to be
paid to the Porte; the militia not to exceed
per cent. OF the male population; the words
"foreign occupation" are omitted from the
project; the guaranteeing force is termed the
gendarmerle of foreign troops, and is to num-
Der only 5000 or 4OO0 and provision is
made for Christian government and cleo
tive assembly in Bulgaria, &c.
simultaneously with this submission OF
terms" to the Porte, that power solemnly
proclaims a new constitution, in which it
claims that all the reforms" here demanded,
and more too, except foreign occupation, are
solemnly enacted as the supreme law OF the
land. This new constitution, while 1t makes
Isamism the state religion, guarantees free
public worship to all creeds, grants liberty Of
the press and freedom of education, the right
of association and petition, makes all eligible
to office without regard to religion, reforms
and limits the power of taxation, establishes
representative chamber, limits the power OF
the Sultan &c, &c.
Having thrown this tub to the whale, the
Porte shows decided disposition to be stub
born as to making any further concessions to
the demands of the conference. Meantime
the powers are pressing for concessions OF
some kind, though with great show OF moder-
alton Decided concessions are made to Turk
ish sensibilitles in the matter of occupation.
According to the scheme presented corps OF
military gendarmerle will be recruited from
volunteers Of the neutral states. The corps
will be under the orders of the governors of
the provinces. 1t will wear Turkish badges,
be paid by Turkey or the reformed provinces,
and constitute reinforcement of the Turkish
police Still Turkey is stubborn and gives
no definite answer; and Lord Eliot, the Eng
fish ambassador has been compelled to warn
the Sultan that the rejection of the conference
proposals would put an end to all discussion,
and should war ensue he must not expect 8
word or act of support from the British gov
eminent.
Thus the responsibility of deciding for
peace or war is cast upon the Sultan and he
seems quite willing to hazard the latter alter
native.