St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-05-11
Derby's Answer to Gortschakoff's
Circular.
DATED AT LONDON MAY FIRST.


forwarded your excellency British
Ambassador Lotus on the oath ultimo
Il copy of Prince GOrtschakoff's circu-
lar announcing that the emperor had
given orders to cross the frontiers of
Turkey. Her maiesty's government
have received this communication with
deep regret. They cannot accept the
statements and conclusion with which
Prince GOrIschakoff has accompanied it
as justifying the resolution thus taken.
The protocol to which her majesty's
government, at the instance of Russia,
recently became party, required from
the sultan no fresh guarantees for re-
form of his administration, with view
of enabling Russia better to abstain
from isolated action. 1t affirmed the
interest taken i'll common by the pow
ers in the condition of the Christian
population of Turkey. 1t went on to
declare that the powers would watch
carefully the manner i'll which the
promises of the Ottoman government
were carried into effect, and that,
should these hopes once more be dis
appointed, they reserved the right to
consider in common the means they
might deem best fitted to secure the
peace and well-being of the Christians.
70 these declarations of the intentions
of the powers the consent of the porte
was not asked or required.
The porte, no doubt, has thought fit,
unfortunately, in the opinion of her
majesty's government, to protest
against the expressions in question as
implying encroachment on its indie
| i n. L II
they cannot consider the protocol as
having any binding character on Turk
ey, the Turkish government has again
| affirmed the intention of carrying into
execution the reforms. Her majesty's
government cannot, therefore, admit,
us contended by Prince Gortschakoff,
that the answer of the porte removed
all hopes of Difference to the wishes and
advice of Europe, and all security for
the application of the reforms, nor
necessarily precluded the possibility of
Il conclusion of peace with Montenegro,
or of an arrangement for mutual dis
armament. Her majesty's government
still believe that, with patience and
moderation on both sides, these objects
might not improbably have been at
tanned. Prince GortschakOff, however,
asserts that all opening is now closed
for attempts at Cancellation. The en-
peror resolved to undertake the task of
obtaining by coercion that which the
unanimous efforts of the powers failed
to obtain by persuasion, and he ex-
presses his majesty's conviction that
this step is in accordance with the SEN
timents and interests of Europe.
| 1t cannot be expected that her mai
esty's government should agree to this
view. They have not concealed their
feeling that the presence of large Rus
sian forces on the frontiers of Turkey,
menacing its safety, rendering disarm-
ament impossible, and awakening feel
ings of apprehension and fanaticism,
constitutes a material obstacle to paci-
tication and reform. They cannot be-
lieve that the entrance of these armies
upon Turkish soil will alleviate the
difficulty or improve the condition of
the Christian population. But the course
on which the Russian government has
entered involves graver, more serious
considerations. 1t is i'll cOntravention
of the stipulation of the treaty of Paris,
by which Russia and the other powers
engaged to respect the independence
and territorial integrity of the Ottoman
empire. In the conferences of London
in 1871, at the close of which the above
stipulation with others was again con-
firmed, the Russian plenipOtentiary, in
common with those of other powers,
signed declaration affirming it to be
an essential principle of the law of ma
tions that no power can liberate itself
from the engagement of treaty nor
modify the stipulations thereof, unless
with the consent of the contracting par
ties by means of an amicable arrange
ment. In taking action against Turkey
on his own part, and having recourse
to arms without further consultation
with his allies, the emperor of Russia
has separated himself from European
concert, and has at the same time de-