Legation of
the United States,
St.
Petersburg, April 24, 1877.
(Received May 14.)
No. 162.][Inclosure.—Translation.]
[From the Journal de St. Petersbourg, 12th
(24th) April, 1877.]
proclamation of his majesty the
emperor.
St.
Petersburg, 11th (23d) April.
By the grace of God, we, Alexander II, Emperor and
Autocrat of all the Russias, &c, &c.
Be it known:
Our faithful and dear subjects know the lively interest which we have
constantly devoted to the destinies of the Christian population
oppressed by Turkey. Our desire to ameliorate and protect their lot has
been shared by the entire Russian nation, which manifests itself to-day
ready to bear new sacrifices to alleviate the position of the Christians
in the Balkan peninsula. The blood and the welfare of our faithful
subjects have ever been dear to us. Our whole reign proves our constant
solicitude to preserve to Russia the benefits of peace. This solicitude
did not cease to animate us at the time of the sad events which occurred
in Herzegovina, in Bosnia, and in Bulgaria. Above all, we aimed to
arrive at the amelioration of the existence of the Christians in the
Orient by means of peaceful negotiations and of a concert with the great
European powers, our allies and our friends.
We have made for two years incessant efforts to influence the Porte to
reforms which
[Page 471]
should shield
the Christians of Bosnia, of Herzegovina, and of Bulgaria from the
arbitrariness of the local authorities. The accomplishment of these
reforms proceeded in an absolute manner from anterior engagement,
solemnly contracted by the Porte toward all Europe. Our efforts, aided
by diplomatic urgency which the other governments made in common (with
us) have nevertheless not gained the end desired. The Porte has remained
unmoved in her categorical refusal of any effective guarantee for the
security of her Christian subjects, and she has rejected the conclusions
of the conference of Constantinople. Wishing to try all possible means
of conciliation toward persuading the Porte, we proposed to the other
cabinets to draw up a special protocol embracing the most essential
conditions of the Constantinople conference, and to invite the Turkish
Government to associate itself in this international act, which sets
forth the extreme limits of our pacific demands. But our expectation was
not realized. The Porte has not deferred to this unanimous wish of
Christian Europe, and has not accepted for herself the conclusions of
the protocol.
Having exhausted our peaceful efforts, we are compelled by the haughty
obstinacy of the Porte to proceed to more decisive actions. The
sentiment of equity and our own dignity demand it. By her refusal Turkey
puts us to the necessity of having recourse to the force of arms.
Profoundly convinced of the justice of our cause, and intrusting ourself
with humility to the grace and assistance of the Most High, we proclaim
to our faithful subjects that the moment foreseen by us when we
pronounced the words to which all Russia responded with such unanimity
is now arrived. We expressed the intention to act independently when we
should judge it necessary and that the honor of Russia required it.
To-day, in asking the blessing of God upon our brave troops, we give
them the order to cross the frontier of Turkey.
Given at Kischineff
the 12th (24th) day of the month of
April, in the year of grace 1877, and of our reign the
twenty-third.
ALEXANDER.
