No. 331.
Mr. Maynard to Mr. Evarts.
Constantinople, July 19, 1877. (Received September 3.)
Sir: I have the honor to announce a change in the imperial ministry of foreign affairs. A note of this date from his excellency Aarifi Pasha informs me that His Imperial Majesty the Sultan has been pleased to appoint him to that high office.
His excellency Safvet Pasha has been the minister of foreign affairs since the catastrophe of June 16, 1876 (see my dispatch No. 72, dated June 17, 1876), an uncommonly long period of official tenure. It is understood he has been tendered the ministry of public works, but that he declines to accept it, preferring to remain for the present en disponibilité.
This is the second time his excellency Aarifi Pasha has filled the same office. He held it from May, 1874, to January 16, 1875, eight months, and was succeeded by his. excellency Safvet Pasha. (See dispatches of Mr. Goodenow No. 26, dated May 18, 1874, and of Mr. Boker, No. 258, dated January 18, 1875.)
This change is stated, on what appears to be good authority, to be the result of a grave misunderstanding between his highness Edhem Pasha, the grand vizier, and the late minister, in matters pertaining to the war. The latter is believed to favor a policy looking to the restoration of peace. Nothing but decided military success will prevent other important ministerial changes.
I am, &c.,