No. 318.
Mr. Maynard to Mr. Fish.
Constantinople , Dec. 26, 1876. (Received Jan. 29, 1877.)
Sir: The last few days have developed events of great political interest, and likely more or less to influence the future of the East.
In my dispatch No. 108, dated November 27, 1876, it was announced that a conference was about to be held at this capital, composed of delegates from the Ottoman Empire and from the six guaranteeing powers, so-called. The following-named persons are the delegates:
- From Russia, the ambassador, General Ignatieff;
- From Germany, the ambassador, Baron Werther;
- From Italy, the envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, “Count Corti;
- From Great Britain, the ambassador, Sir Henry Elliot, and a special ambassador, the Marquis of Salisbury;
- From France, the ambassador, the Count de Bourgoing, and a special ambassador, the Count de Chaudordy;
- From Austria-Hungary, the ambassador. Count Zichy, and a special envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, the Baron de Calice;
On the part of the Ottoman Empire, his excellency the minister of foreign affairs, Safvet Pasha, and his excellency Edhem Pasha, the Ottoman ambassador at Berlin.
It was determined by the delegates of the foreign powers to consult informally prior to the meeting of the conference and as preliminary thereto. These consultations were private, in the cabinet of General Ignatieff, the dean of the diplomatic body, and were understood to be confidential. Yet the Sublime Porte appears to have been kept fully advised of all that was done. At least ten of these preliminary meetings are said to have been held, and it has transpired that, with the possible exception of Sir Henry Elliot, the delegates of all the six powers are unanimous in their conclusions. Of the several propositions agreed upon, the three of most importance are: first, autonomy for the provinces; second, disarmament of the population; and third, military occupation for the enforcement of promised reforms.
The preliminary consultations ended, a full meeting of the conference was announced for Saturday, the 23d instant.
Meantime, on Monday, the 18th, the day of the sixth preliminary meeting, there was another change in the high office of grand vizier. His highness Mehemet Ruchdi Pasha, who had held the office since the 12th of May last (see dispatch No. 66 of that date), has retired, and is succeeded by his highness Midhat Pasha, president of the council of state, and, since the death of the late Hussein Avni Pasha (see dispatch No. 72 of June 17, 1876), the controlling genius of the government. He had previously held the office of grand vizier from July 31, 1872, to October 18, 1872, as appears from Mr. Boker’s dispatches, No. 3 August 1, 1872, and No. 58, October 20, 1872. Upon the latter dispatch, by the way, the events of the last few months are a curious commentary.
The reason assigned for the retirement of the late grand vizier appears in the imperial haat, proclaimed on the occasion, which, with some newspaper extracts, is inclosed.
Another reason has found credence with the public. As already stated, the Porte was constantly advised of everything done by the plenipotentiaries of the six powers in their preliminary consultations. For several months past, and even before the dethronement of the Sultan Abdul Aziz, much had been said about ordaining a constitution for Turkey. And it was reported during the summer and autumn that the ministers were engaged in the preparation of such an instrument, which it seems they at last brought to a period. A question is said to have arisen among the ministers, whether the constitution should be promulgated before or after the conference. The former policy, so the story goes, was urged by Midhat Pasha, and the latter by the late grand vizier, Mehemet Ruchdi Pasha. When the latter found himself defeated in the council of ministers he retired, whether willingly or not is uncertain.
However this may be, the constitution was solemnly promulgated at the Porte on Saturday last, the 23d instant, by an imperial hatt (decree), of which I inclose an English translation. A copy of the constitution itself, as published by the evening papers, is appended, with a translation into English. Several official copies in pamphlet, of the constitution, [Page 551] with the introductory hatt, have been furnished the legation, some of which will be sent in a separate package to the Department of State.
The same day, Saturday, the 23d instant, but at a late hour of the day, was held the first meeting of the full conference, at which little seems to have been done beyond organizing, with his excellency Safvet Pasha as president, and a corps of secretaries.
Speculation is rife and the public mind much agitated. But all discussion turns upon the one great underlying, overshadowing question of peace or war, and every event is canvassed as tending to preserve the one or to precipitate the other.
I have, &c.,