Mr. Morris to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of despatches Nos. 108 and 109.
In view of war in central Europe, and the complications incident to the question [Page 242] of the Danubian principalities, the Turkish government is preparing all its military and naval forces for immediate action. One hundred thousand men are already concentrated in European Turkey from the Danubian frontier to the Adriatic, and measures have been taken to double this force in case of necessity in a few weeks. These troops are all armed with rifled cannon. Including the reserves and the contingents from the vassal states, the disposable force of the empire amounts to five hundred thousand men.
The Ottoman navy afloat, including ships of the line, frigates and corvettes, all steam vessels, mounts twelve hundred cannon. Three iron-clad first-class frigates are the most formidable vessels of the navy. Three other iron-clad frigates are under construction and nearly finished in England. The Turkish navy, while it is admirable for the quality and construction of the vessels composing it, is much inferior to the navies of the great maritime states of Europe in the discipline and efficiency of its crews. The dock yards are night and day employed in putting the whole navy in the most efficient condition, and the transport ships are already in a state of readiness.
Beyond the apprehension of war in central Europe, the unsettled state of affairs in the Danubian principalities gives the Porte most anxious concern. The election of a foreign prince to the throne of Romania, his acceptance of the proffered crown, and the confirmation of his election and proclamation as reigning prince by the provincial parliament, are regarded by the Porte as acts of direct hostility against its prerogatives. The union of the two provinces of Moldavia and Wallachia under one government never received its assent as a permanent organization. Since the revolution against Prince Couza, and which was undoubtedly instigated by foreign influences, the Porte has insisted on separate government for Moldavia and Wallachia, with native hospodars in each, elected for life. Should the election of Prince Hohenzollern be adhered to, the Porte will advance its troops into the principalities and take possession of them. It is to be apprehended that such a proceeding would be followed by a similar advance by the Russians, and by armed resistance on the part of the Romanians. Out of such a conflict would grow troubles that would set the whole empire in a flame.
The division of the principalities is the more especially desired by the Porte as it is well aware that a longer continuance of their union will lead to independence. Their independence would be a train of power that would involve all Turkey in Europe in a conflagration, and would probably detach from the Ottoman empire all the territory comprised between the Black sea, the Archipelago, Greece, and the Adriatic.
While this dangerous question is pending, troubles of such a serious nature have broken out in Crete that a division of the fleet, with a large military force, has been despatched thither. All these troubles unfortunately arrive at a time when the credit of the empire is greatly impaired and its finances in a sad state of confusion.
With great respect, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.