to me that its language, with the exception of some subsidized papers, was sufficiently correct with regard to us. My Lord, No. 43. Mr. Layard to the Earl of Derby.(Received September 14.) Therapia, September 7, 1877. I HAVE the honour to inclose extract from a despatch from Acting Consul Barker, dated the 1st instant, relating to arms and ammunition abandoned by the band of armed men who recently crossed the Greek frontier into Thessaly, and whom the Greek Government declare to have been ordinary brigands. It is scarcely probable that they were so, as they appear to have been provided with 419 United States' Springfield muskets, with bayonets, I HAVE the honour to report to your Excellency that Mr. Suter writes to me from Larissa, under date the 29th August, that "the Ottoman authorities have handed over the arms which were lately brought thither from Constantinople to such of the respectable Mahommedans of Larissa and other parts of the country as they have thought advisable, with portions of ammunition for each." This has been done after that the incident which induced them to do so (the attempt of the filibusters) had altogether failed. And so great is the fear entertained of this real or pretended danger that "domiciliary visits have been made in Christian houses, search for arms effected, and, when found, forcibly seized." The following is the amount of military stores abandoned in their flight across the frontier by the filibusters : 419 (United States' Springfield) muskets with bayonets. 65 cases cartridges. 30 cases gunpowder. 6 cases percussion-caps. Some thousand okes of pig lead. Last week the Ottoman steam-transport "Malakoff" landed at Volo:165 cases, containing 3,300 muskets. 240 boxes cartridges. My Lord, No. 44. Mr. Wyndham to the Earl of Derby.-(Received September 15.) Athens, September 8, 1877. I HAVE the honour to report to your Lordship that M. Tricoupi, whom I saw yesterday, referred to the instructions which I had received from your Lordship to inquire of the Greek Government whether Her Majesty's Government might assure Turkey that Greece had no intention of making war upon her, and that she would not attempt to create insurrectionary movements in the provinces of Turkey inhabited by Greeks. M. Tricoupi stated that, on bringing the matter to the notice of the Council of Ministers, it had been considered by them as an unfriendly act on the part of Her Majesty's Government, and he asked my opinion on the matter, and then inquired how the question had arisen. I replied that I could not express an opinion as to the course adopted by Her Majesty's Government, that I had received certain instructions which I had fulfilled, that as far as I could recollect I was certain that the question had emanated from the Turkish Government and not from Mr. Layard, and that the Porte had already, through Musurus Pasha, called your Lordship's attention to the attitude of Greece, that I thought that perhaps the Turkish Government had now adopted this course as less likely to be offensive to Greece than if they had addressed the Greek Government directly, but that I would refer to the telegram and write to him so as to remove all misapprehension on the point. I accordingly addressed a private note to-day to M. Tricoupi, of which I have the honour to inclose a copy. As I have already reported to your Lordship in my despatch of the 4th instant, that I had communicated to M. Tricoupi the substance of your Lordship's telegram to I am rather at a loss why M. Tricoupi should have thought that the question had arisen with Her Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople, unless it was owing to my having opened the conversation by stating that, judging from information recently received by Her Majesty's Government from Mr. Layard, there appeared to be a great deal of irritation at the Porte at the present attitude of Greece. M. Tricoupi is addressing a despatch to M. Gennadius on this question, and he told me that, with reference to the armaments of Greece he was laying particular stress upon the Protocol of the Conference of London of the 30th August, 1832, as to Greece having the right to maintain land and sea forces without any limit being placed upon their number, and also as to her right to take part in a war. The question, however, does not appear to be one regarding the number of troops Greece may think fit to keep under arms, but as to how she intends to employ them. I have, &c. Dear M. Tricoupi, Athens, September 8, 1877. WITH reference to our conversation of yesterday, I have referred to Lord Derby's telegram and I find that the Porte asked Her Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople whether the Hellenic Government had given the English Government any distinct assurances that Greece will not attack Turkey or try to create insurrections, and that, if such was the case, whether Her Majesty's Government would allow Mr. Layard to make a declaration in that sense to the Turkish Government. Lord Derby, referring to Mr. Stuart's despatches which I had the pleasure of reading to you on the 4th instant, desired me to ask if your Government would authorize the English Government to make such a declaration in their name to Turkey. Trusting that this explanation will be found clear and satisfactory, believe me, &c. HUGH WYNDHAM. (Signed) No. 45. Sir, The Earl of Derby to Mr. Wyndham. Foreign Office, September 17, 1877. I HAVE received your despatch of the 4th instant, reporting a conversation which you had with M. Tricoupi on the subject of the present attitude and policy of Greece as regards Turkey; and I have to convey to you the approval by Her Majesty's Government of your proceedings, as reported in your despatch above mentioned, in pursuance of the instructions conveyed to you in my telegram of the 3rd instant. September 18.) M. Tricoupi to M. Gennadius.-(Communicated to the Earl of Derby by M. Gennadius, Monsieur, 4 Septembre Athènes, le 23 Août 1877. J'AI eu aujourd'hui la visite du Chargé d'Affaires du Gouvernement Britannique, qui m'a fait part du contenu d'un télégramme de Lord Derby, destiné à m'être communiqué. Par ce télégramme le Principal Secrétaire d'Etat de Sa Majesté Britannique faisant allusion aux inquiétudes que l'attitude de la Grèce inspirerait, d'après les rapports de Mr. Layard à la Porte, demande si le Gouvernement Hellénique autorise celui de la Grande Bretagne de donner à la Porte l'assurance que la Grèce ne lui fera pas la guerre et qu'elle ne se rendra pas complice d'actes ayant pour but de provoquer des mouvements insurrectionnels dans les provinces limitrophes. : Mr. Wyndham est invité par ce même télégramme à me donner lecture de deux rapports de Mr. Stuart à son Gouvernement, où le Ministre de Sa Majesté Britannique rendait compte des conversations qu'il avait eues avec moi, au sujet de la politique que le Gouvernement Hellénique comptait suivre à l'égard de la Turquie. Ayant pris connaissance de ces pièces, je me suis empressé de rendre justice à l'exactitude avec laquelle Mr. Stuart avait rapporté le sens de mes paroles. J'avais dit, en effet, à Mr. Stuart, ainsi qu'il le disait dans sa dépêche, que la Grèce actuellement ne se proposait pas de déclarer la guerre à la Turquie et je répétai à Mr. Wyndham que c'était là tout ce que la Porte, ou tout autre en son nom, était en droit de nous demander. Aucun Etat indépendant n'était tenu d'engager l'avenir relativement à la faculté de déclarer la guerre. La déclaration de La déclaration de guerre était pour les Etats souverains la conséquence de certaines circonstances et le Gouvernement Hellénique, dans la crise actuelle plus que jamais, manquerait à ses devoirs envers l'indépendance du pays et les intérêts de l'Hellénisme en se privant de sa liberté d'action à cet égard, ou en la limitant soit absolument, soit par rapport à des circonstances éventuelles. La Porte avait cru pouvoir élever des prétentions de cette nature, lors de la Constitution du Royaume Hellénique. Ainsi qu'il est constaté dans un Protocole signé à Constantinople le Juillet, 1832, elle demanda "que le Gouvernement Grec et les particuliers Grecs ne rendissent aucune espèce de service et ne donassent aucune assistance aux Puissances, Gouvernements, peuples et nations, avec lesquels la Sublime Porte pourrait être en guerre, mais qu'ils observassent strictement le principe de la neutralité." Cette prétention fut sommairement et catégoriquement rejetée par le Gouvernement Anglais agissant de concert avec les Gouvernements de France et de Russie, par la raison, développée dans le Protocole de la Conférence, tenue au Foreign Office le 30 Août, 1832, que "le droit de prendre parti dans toute guerre qui éclate entre Puissances tierces est un des droits inhérents à l'indépendance d'un Etat, à moins que cet Etat n'ait été constitué et déclaré perpétuellement neutre." Certes, le Gouvernement Hellénique ne se retirera pas aujourd'hui de la position internationale que la Grèce se fit reconnaître, il y a quarante-cinq ans. En conséquence, tout en déclarant au Chargé d'Affaires Britannique que dans les circonstances actuelles la Grèce n'avait pas l'intention de faire la guerre, je fis observer à Mr. Wyndham que cette déclaration ne diminuerait en rien le droit inhérent à l'indépendance d'un Etat souverain de régler sa conduite dans l'avenir sur les circonstances et sur les devoirs que ces circonstances pourraient lui imposer, afin de sauvegarder sa dignité, ou ses intérêts légitimes. Mr. Stuart rapportait aussi dans sa dépêche que je lui avais dit que le Gouvernement Hellénique usait de son influence pour prévenir, quant à présent, des mouvements insurrectionnels dans les provinces limitrophes de la Turquie. Je fis observer à ce sujet à Mr. Wyndham que Mr. Stuart avait textuellement écrit ce qu'il avait entendu de moi, mais que je tenais à expliquer que c'est à titre de simple information que je fis cette communication au Ministre de Sa Majesté Britannique. Le Gouvernement Hellénique était obligé par ses devoirs internationaux à ne pas susciter des troubles dans les provinces d'un Etat, avec lequel il entretenait des relations de paix; mais la Porte n'avait nullement le droit de lui demander de co-opérer à prévenir ou à réprimer des insurrections dans ces mêmes provinces et le Gouvernement Hellénique ne prendrait pas un tel engagement. S'il était vrai, ainsi que je l'avis dit à Mr. Stuart, que la Grèce usait de l'influence qu'elle possédait dans ces provinces pour empêcher une insurrection, elle le faisait pour des raisons qui ne regardaient qu'elle; mais le Gouvernement Hellénique ne se croyait nullement tenu envers des Puissances étrangères à agir ainsi et il ne persévérerait dans cette voie que tant qu'il continuerait à la considérer comme favorable aux intérêts de l'Hellénisme, qui sont ses propres intérêts. Ayant ainsi dégagé le sens de la déclaration demandée, je n'hésitai pas à dire à Mr. Wyndham qu'il pouvait informer Lord Derby que le Gouvernement Hellénique observait et continuerait à observer le devoir qu'il avait de ne pas provoquer des mouvements insurrectionnels dans les provinces limitrophes. L'engagement à cet égard s'entendait de soi. puisqu'il constituait une obligation internationale des Etats envers ceux avec lesquels ils étaient en paix, et que la Grèce connaissait ses obligations internationales et ne pouvait se proposer de les enfreindre. Mr. Wyndham me demanda alors si je pensais que ces explications auraient pour effet d'apaiser les inquiétudes de la Porte et de la satisfaire. Je lui répondis que mes explications devaient satisfaire la Porte, puisqu'elles étaient les seules qu'elle pouvait attendre d'un Etat soucieux de son indépendance, de sa dignité et de ses devoirs envers d'autres qui ont des droits sur lui; mais qu'en tout cas, j'étais sûr qu'elle satisferaient le Gouvernement de Sa Majesté Britannique, puisque je ne pouvais douter que l'Angleterre respectait les droits et les devoirs du Gouvernement Hellénique qui me dictaient ces explications, Mr. Wyndham, pour expliquer les appréhensions de la Porte, fit aussi allusion à nos armements, et aux concentrations de nos troupes; mais il ne fit pas de difficulté pour reconnaître que jugeant de nos forces militaires sur la mesure du système de recrutement et d'organisation des armées, introduit depuis quelques années dans presque tous les Etats de l'Europe, l'armée que nous préparons n'était nullement hors de proportion avec la population de l'Etat. D'ailleurs, les Protocoles que j'ai déjà invoqués ont prévenu la possibilité de toute contestation à cet égard. La Porte avait demandé, lors des négociations pour la reconnaissance du Royaume de Grèce, que les forces de terre et de mer de l'Etat Grec fussent limités au nombre suffisant à la police et au bon ordre du pays; à cette réclamation Lord Palmerston, comme Plénipotentiaire d'Angleterre, ainsi que les Plénipotentiaires de France et de Russie, répondirent "qu'il suffit d'observer que le droit d'entretenir des forces de terre et de mer, sans en limiter le nombre, est un droit inhérent à l'indépendance d'un Etat; que l'indépendance de la Grèce, et tous les droits qui y sont inhérents, ont été consacrés par le Protocole du 3 Février, 1830, que la Porte Ottomane a pleinement accédé à ce Protocole, et qu'en conséquence, ni les Cours qui l'ont signé, ni la Porte Ottomane qui y a accédé, ne sauraient aujourd'hui, sans violer leurs engagements, restreindre un des droits que ce même Protocole accorde à la Grèce dans toute leur plénitude." Je me plais à reconnaître que dans ses communications directes avec le Gouvernement Hellénique la Porte n'a jamais fait entendre qu'elle mit en question l'autorisé de ces décisions internationales. Mr. Wyndham a rendu compte sur le champ à son Gouvernement de sa démarche auprès de moi et des explications et observations qu'elle a provoquées de ma part. Il a bien voulu me donner connaissance de son rapport et de son télégramme y relatifs, et je trouvai que ma pensée y était correctement traduite. Néanmoins j'ai cru nécessaire de consigner moi-même dans cette dépêche les réflexions que m'avait suggérées la communication de Lord Derby, et je vous prie de vouloir bien en donner lecture à M. le Principal Secrétaire d'Etat de Sa Majesté Britannique, et de lui en laisser une copie, s'il vous la demande. Veuillez, &c. (Signé) CH. TRICOUPI. (Translation.) Sir, Athens, 1877. August THE Chargé d'Affaires of the British Government called upon me this morning, and communicated to me the contents of a telegram: which he had received for that purpose from Lord Derby. In this telegram Her Britannic Majesty's Minister for Foreign Affairs, mentioning the anxiety which, according to Mr. Layard's despatches, the conduct of Greece causes to the Porte, asks if the Greek Government authorizes that of Great Britain to give to the Porte the assurance that Greece will not declare war against her, and will not become the accomplice of acts having for object to incite insurrectionary movements in the neighbouring provinces. Mr. Wyndham was requested by the same telegram to read to me two despatches of Mr. Stuart to his Government, in which the Minister of Her Britannic Majesty related conversations with myself on the subject of the policy which the Greek Government intended to follow as regards Turkey. Having read these documents, I hastened to acknowledge the exactitude with which Mr. Stuart had rendered the sense of my words. I had in truth told Mr. Stuart, as he reports in his despatches, that Grecce did not intend for the present to declare war against Turkey; and I repeated to Mr. Wyndham that this was all that the Porte or any other Power in her name had any right to ask, for no independent State is under the obligation to fetter beforehand its future as regards the liberty of declaring war. For independent States the declaration of war follows as a consequence of certain circumstances, and the Greek Government, in the present crisis more than ever, would forget its duty to the independence of the country and to the interests of Hellenism, if it deprived itself of this liberty, or restricted it, either absolutely or with reference to future contingencies. The Porte put forth the same pretensions at the time of the formation of the Greek Kingdom. As mentioned in a Protocol signed July 21, 1832, at Constantinople, it asked "that it might be forbidden to the Greek Government and to Greeks in general to give any sort of assistance whatever to the Governments, Powers, people, or nations with which the Porte might happen to be in a state of war, and that they should be bound to observe a strict neutrality." This pretension was summarily and categorically rejected by the English Government, acting in concert with the Governments of France and Russia, by the Protocol of the Conference assembled the 30th August, 1832, in the London Foreign Office, according to which "the right of participation in whatsoever war which may break out between third Powers is inseparable from independence, except in the case of those States that have been for ever constituted neutral." The Greek Government will not, I need scarcely say, abandon now the international position it succeeded in obtaining the recognition of forty-five years ago. Consequently, although I declared to the English Chargé d'Affaires that Greece does not intend to declare war under present circumstances, I remarked to Mr. Wyndham that this declaration did not in the least lessen the right, co-existing with the independence of all autonomous States, to regulate our future conduct according to circumstances and in view of duties that events may impose on us with a view to protect our dignity or legitimate national interests. Mr. Stuart remarked also in his despatch that I told him that the Greek Government is exercising at present its influence to prevent the outbreak of insurrectionary movements in the neighbouring Turkish provinces. I remarked to Mr. Wyndham that Mr. Stuart had reported very accurately what he had heard from me, but that I thought it right to explain that I had made that announcement as mere information. The Greek Government, by its international obligations, is bound not to cause trouble in the provinces of a State with which it continues in friendly relations, but the Porte has not the right to ask it to help to prevent or put down revolts in the said provinces, and Greece does not consider itself bound to undertake such an obligation. As I said to Mr. Stuart, if she uses the influence she possesses in those provinces to stop insurrection, she does it for reasons which only concern herself, but the Greek Government considers herself in no way bound towards foreign Powers to act thus, and she intends to continue this policy only as long as she thinks it beneficial for the interests of Hellenism, which are at the same time her own interests. After I had thus explained the meaning of the declaration required, I did not hesitate to tell Mr. Wyndham that he could inform Lord Derby that the Greek Government is fulfilling, and will continue to fulfil, its duty by not exciting insurrectionary movements in the neighbouring provinces. This obligation is taken for granted between countries remaining at peace with each other. Greece, recognizing her international obligations, does not intend to violate them. Mr. Wyndham then asked me whether I thought that these explanations would tranquillize and satisfy the Porte. I answered that my explanations ought to satisfy the Porte, for they were the only ones she could expect from a State mindful of its independence, of its dignity, and of the duties which it owes to others. But, however, I said, I am sure that they will satisfy the English Government; for I cannot doubt that that Government respects the rights and the obligations of the Greek Government which dictate these explanations. Mr. Wyndham, in explanation of the anxiety of the Porte, mentioned our armaments and military concentrations; but he did not hesitate to acknowledge that, if the military and recruiting organizations everywhere introduced during these last few years were taken as a standard, our army was not disproportioned to the population of the Kingdom. Besides, the Protocols i have already referred to preclude the possibility of discussion on this point. During the negotiations for the recognition of the Kingdom of Greece, the Porte asked that its military and naval forces should be limited to a number sufficient to keep order in the interior. But the English Plenipotentiary (Lord Palmerston), as well as the Plenipotentiaries of France and Russia, answered that it was sufficient to point out that the right to keep up military and naval forces without limitation as to number was a right appertaining to every independent State; that the independence of Greece and all the consequent rights had been confirmed by the Protocol of the 3rd February, 1330; that the Ottoman Porte had fully accepted that Protocol; and that, consequently, neither the Signatory Powers nor the Porte could now, without violating their engagements, curtail one of the rights which the said Protocol secures to Greece. I recognize with pleasure that the Porte, in its direct relations with the Greek Government, has never hinted that it disputed those international decisions. Mr. Wyndham immediately reported to his Government the step he had taken and the explanations I had given him. He communicated to me his despatch and telegram reporting on the subject, and I found that my ideas had been faithfully rendered. Nevertheless, I thought it necessary to sum up here the remarks that Lord Derby's note has suggested to me. I request you to subunit this note to Her Britannic Majesty's Minister for Foreign Affairs, and to leave him a copy of this despatch if he asks for one. I have, &c. (Signed) CH. TRICOUPI. |