Christians.

At the same time, Lord Derby did not fail, when Massacres of massacres of the Christian inhabitants of Turkey were brought to his notice, to interfere, from motives of humanity, on their behalf. So early as November, 1875,* the British Ambassador at Constantinople made representations to the Turkish Government with regard to a massacre of this kind, and induced the Grand Vizier to take steps to secure the punishment of those concerned in the outrage.

In his remarks on the Andrassy Note† Lord The Andrassy Note. Derby adhered to the same policy as he had adopted from the commencement of the insurrection. The proposals in that Note,+ he said, "do not conflict with the ninth article of the Treaty of Paris;" they "are in the nature of suggestions or recommendations for adoption by the Porte in its endeavours to put an end to the insurrection, and do not involve any interference in the relations existing between the Sultan and his subjects,

*Despatch to Sir Henry Elliot of the 8th of December,

1875.

† Despatch to Sir Henry Elliot of the 25th January, 1876. + Appendix II.

nor in the internal administration of the Empire." "What appears to Her Majesty's Government to be essential," he continued, "is that the Porte should act promptly and vigorously in the execution of the reforms," and that "the officers appointed to execute" them should be "men of energy and determination, who will not be deterred by local apathy or prejudices, who will be able and willing to repress with severity such atrocities as the murders of the returning refugees at Popopovlie (reported by Consul Holmes, on the 26th October), and who will do their utmost to restore a feeling of security to the Christian population. Unless such a feeling can be produced, no effectual pacification of the insurgent districts can reasonably be expected." It will be observed here that Lord Derby does not, as is asserted by his opponents, support the Porte against the insurgents, but only strives to maintain the sovereignty of the Sultan as guaranteed by the Treaty of Paris, at the same time endeavouring to obtain such redress for the misgoverned Christian populations as is compatible with that Treaty. Knowing that the insurrection was the consequence, not so much of

Turkish oppression as of foreign agitation, Lord Derby consistently opposed any interference with the "independence and territorial integrity of the Ottoman Empire" (Treaty of Paris, Article 7), at the same time urging the Porte, through our Ambassador, to take immediate steps for depriving its Christian subjects of any just grievance that might serve as a pretext for continuing the rising.

Memo

This was the spirit of the Andrassy Note; it was The Berlin not that of the Berlin, or rather the Russian randum. Memorandum. The proposals in that Memorandum,* as Lord Derby pointed out, were not of a nature either to restore peace or to maintain the sovereignty of the Sultan. "The concentration of the Turkish troops," he said, "in certain places would be delivering up the whole country to anarchy, particularly when the insurgents are to retain their arms. The consular supervision' would reduce the authority of the Sultan to nullity, and, without force to support it, supervision would be impossible. Even if there were any prospect of the Porte being willing and able

.

* Appendix III.

served here that

BUT be engemale

Lunt Deply does 101 as is asserted by his oppowist. Biopo de Fox as DE ÎNEVIS VISUL KATH the surrey of the but a seed by the Treaty of Paris, at anne endearing biz sath redress for the misgoverned Christian populations as is compatible with that Treaty. Knowing that the www.ection was the consequence, not so much of

Turkish oppression as of foreign agitation, Lord Derby consistently opposed any interference with the "independence and territorial integrity of the Ottoman Empire" (Treaty of Paris, Article 7), at the same time urging the Porte, through our Ambassador, to take immediate steps for depriving its Christian subjects of any just grievance that might serve as a pretext for continuing the rising.

Memo

This was the spirit of the Andrassy Note; it was The Berlin not that of the Berlin, or rather the Russian randum. Memorandum. The proposals in that Memorandum,* as Lord Derby pointed out, were not of a nature either to restore peace or to maintain the sovereignty of the Sultan. "The concentration of the Turkish troops," he said, "in certain places would be delivering up the whole country to anarchy, particularly when the insurgents are to retain their arms. The consular supervision' would reduce the authority of the Sultan to nullity, and, without force to support it, supervision would be impossible. Even if there were any prospect of the Porte being willing and able

* Appendix III.