No. 354.
Mr. Heap
to Mr. Hunter.
Tunis , July 9, 1877. (Received July 30.)
Sir: The report that some Russian vessels of war are hovering off this coast, and that a Turkish squadron is on its way to Tunis from Malta and Tripoli, has caused some alarm here, particularly as the government, contrary to friendly warning, has, in obedience to a requisition from the Porte, decided to furnish mules and horses for the Turkish army, and some hundreds have been collected and are ready for shipment as soon as transports shall be sent for them.
[Page 636]A sum stated at a million and a half of piasters (12½ cents each) has also been collected by voluntary contribution for transmission to Constantinople.
The Mussulman population of Tunis follows with great anxiety the various phases of the struggle in the East, and ardent prayers are daily offered for the triumph of the “True Faith.”
The Bey and his ministers, as well as the people, earnestly desire to aid the Sultan in his gigantic struggle 5 but what can they do for the Turkish Empire?
A letter from the grand vizier, appealing to the Bey for five thousand men, was publicly read. But there are no means to equip and arm these men 5 nor to transport them to the seat of war; nor to maintain them when there. This country can scarcely keep itself. The harvest has failed in three-fourths of the territory of the regency, and we now receive wheat and flour from France and Italy.
During several months entire tribes of the eastern and southern provinces have been emigrating to the more favored regions of the west and north, trailing after them their famished flocks, their carcasses strewing the way.
In consequence of the failure of the harvest and the cessation of exportation, the revenues conceded by the Bey to his creditors were insufficient to meet the half-yearly coupon falling due the 1st of this month.
The government, which has guaranteed the interest of the debt, was obliged to have recourse to. a loan to find two million of piasters. The salaries of all the employés of the government have been reduced since last year—everybody, from the prime minister down to the lowest officer, being subjected to the measure; and, moreover, the pay of most of them is several months in arrears.
This great penury of the government has its compensating advantage as it relieves them from the obligation to send troops and subsidies to Constantinople, and removes the temptation to embark in doubtful adventures and dangerous enterprises which might involve them in difficulties with Russia.
It is to be hoped that the insignificant contribution of animals for the Turkish Government, which will be of no appreciable value to them, will not furnish the Russians with a pretext to visit Tunis and lay it under contribution.
I am, &c.,