[Greece and Turkey. Crete, &c.] No. 416.-DECLARATION of the Allied Powers (Great [Inserted in Protocol No. 5 of the 20th January, 1869. (Translation as laid before Parliament.†) THE Plenipotentiaries of Austria-Hungary, France, Great Britain, Italy, Prussia and Russia affix their Signatures to the document, which is finally settled in the following terms: DECLARATION. "Justly pre-occupied with the dangers which may arise from the rupture of Relations between Turkey and Greece, the Powers, signataries of the Treaty of 1856 (No. 264), have come to an understanding to settle the dispute which has arisen between the two States, and for this purpose have authorised their Representatives at the Court of His Majesty the Emperor of the French to meet in Conference. "After an attentive study of the documents exchanged between the two Governments, the Plenipotentiaries have agreed in regretting that, yielding to impulses with regard to which she may have been led astray by her patriotism, Greece should have given occasion for the grievances specified by the Ottoman Porte in the Ultimatum transmitted on the 11th December, 1868, to the Foreign Minister of His Majesty the King of the Hellenes. It is indeed unquestionable that the principles of International Law oblige Greece, like all other Nations, not to allow that Bands should be recruited on her territory, or that Vessels should be armed in her ports to attack a neighbouring State. "Persuaded, moreover, that the Cabinet of Athens could not misunderstand the thought which suggests this view to the 3 Courts, protectors of Greece, and to all the other Powers, signataries of the Treaty of 1856 (No. 264), the Conference declares * Greece proclaimed its adhesion to the above Declaration, on the 6th February, 1869. For French version, see 66 State Papers," vol. lix, p. 837. [Greece and Turkey. Crete, &c.] that the Hellenic Government is bound to observe in its Relations with Turkey the rules of conduct common to all Governments, and thus to satisfy claims put forward by the Sublime Porte in respect to the past, by re-assuring her at the same time with regard to the future. "Greece ought, therefore, in future, to abstain from favouring or tolerating: "1. The formation on her Territory of any Band recruited with a view to an aggression against Turkey. "The Equipment in her Ports of Armed Vessels intended to succour, under any form whatever, any attempt at Insurrection in the possessions of His Majesty the Sultan. "With regard to the demands of the Porte relative to the repatriation of Cretans emigrated to Hellenic Territory, the Conference takes note of the Declarations made by the Cabinet of Athens, and is convinced that it will, as far as depends upon it, be ready to facilitate the departure of the Candiot families who may wish to return to their country. "As to the private losses sustained by Ottoman subjects, the Hellenic Government, in no way contesting the right of Turkey to endeavour to obtain by legal means the compensation which may be due, and Turkey accepting on her side the jurisdiction of the Greek Tribunals, the Plenipotentiaries do not think that they ought to enter upon an examination of the facts, and are of opinion that the Cabinet of Athens ought to neglect no legal means to enable justice to be done in due course. "The Conference cannot doubt that, in presence of the unanimous expression of the opinion of the Plenipotentiaries on the questions submitted to their examination, the Hellenic Government will hasten to conform its acts to the principles which have just been stated, and that the grievances as set forth in the ultimatum of the Porte will by the very fact be definitively removed. "This Declaration shall be made known without delay to the Cabinet of Athens, and the Plenipotentiaries are convinced that the Sublime Porte will forego carrying out the measures announced as intended to follow upon the rupture of diplomatic relations, if, in a communication notified to the Conference, the Hellenic Government defers to the opinion expressed by it. "The Plenipotentiaries appealing, then, to the same sentiments. of conciliation and peace which animate the Courts whose Representatives they are, express the hope that the two Governments [Greece and Turkey. Crete, &c.] will not hesitate to renew their Relations, and thus to efface, in the common interest of their subjects, every trace of the disagreement which led to the assembling of the Conference (No. 417)." The Turkish Plenipotentiary says that he will sign the Protocol in which the Declaration is to appear, but will abstain from signing the Document itself which is to be presented to the Cabinet of Athens. In acting thus, in conformity with the instructions which he has received, he yields to a feeling of reserve and moderation, which appears to him to coincide with the views of the Conference. The Marquis de Lavalette announces that he proposes to transmit the Declaration to the Greek Minister for Foreign Affairs, by the Messenger who will leave Paris on Friday the 22nd January. The French Plenipotentiary calls attention to an anxiety felt by the Ottoman Government, and which the Turkish Ambassador has mentioned to him. Disposed to conform to the wish expressed in the Declaration, that diplomatic relations should not any longer remain interrupted between the two countries, the Porte is in doubt what steps should be taken for the renewal of relations, and thinks it necessary that the Hellenic Government should take the initiative in this respect. The French Plenipotentiary is of opinion that it would be advantageous to arrange this difficulty in order to remove beforehand everything which might delay the reconciliation which it has been their object to bring about. As soon as Greece adheres to the Declaration, Turkey having on her side, and on this condition renounced carrying out the threatening measures indicated in the ultimatum, it might be decided that the relations of the two Cabinets should be thereby re-established. The Conference comes to a resolution in this sense. It is agreed at the same time that the letter addressed to the Greek Minister for Foreign Affairs, transmitting the Declaration signed to-day shall contain a statement of the wish unanimously expressed on this subject by the Plenipotentiaries. The French Plenipotentiary asks that the terms of this despatch may be immediately settled. He reads the draft prepared by him, in conformity with the ideas exchanged at the preceding sitting. The draft is adopted after being completed in accordance with the decision just taken. [Greece and Turkey. Crete, &c.] On the proposition of the Russian Plenipotentiary it is agreed that this document shall be annexed to the Protocol. The Marquis de Lavalette observes that his intention being to send off the day after to-morrow the communication which he is charged to address to the Cabinet of Athens, it is of pressing importance to notify the different Courts; and the Plenipotentiaries of Austria-Hungary, Great Britain, Italy, Prussia, and Russia, undertake to inform their Governments, in order that the Legations in Greece may be instructed to give their support to the proceeding of the President of the Conference. Done at Paris, the 20th January, 1869. [Here follow the Signatures.] [Greece gave its adhesion to this Declaration on the 6th February, 1869.] [Greece and Turkey. Crete, &c.] No. 417.-PROTOCOLS OF CONFERENCES between Great Britain, Austria, France, Italy, Prussia, Russia, and Turkey, relative to the Differences between Turkey and Greece. Paris, January, February, 1869. Protocol "State Papers," vol. lix, page No. 1. Assembling of Conference. Refusal of Greece to join Conferences, except on terms of equality. Greece and Turkey called upon to maintain the status quo. Paris, 9th January, 1869 No. 2. Answers relative to status quo not received from Greece and Turkey. Invitation to Greece not to persist in refusal to assist at Conferences. Paris, 12th January, 1869 Annex. M. de Lavalette to Baron Baude. Paris, 10th January, 1869 No. 3. Adhesion of Turkey to maintenance of status quo, except decision relative to closing of Ottoman Ports to Greek Vessels. Answers not received from Greece. Determination to proceed with deliberations without the assistance of Greece. Subjects for deliberation. Greek succour to an Insurgent Province of Turkey; indirect assistance given by Greece; opposition in Greece to repatriation of Candiot Families; acts of Violence on Ottoman Subjects in Hellenic Territory; and refusal of Greece to give satisfaction to the repeated complaints of Turkey. Proposal to draw up a Declaration to be addressed to Greece and signed by the Powers, agreed to. Paris, 14th January, 1869 No. 4. Instructions not received by Turkish Plenipotentiary relative to proposed Declaration. Discussion of Draft of proposed Declaration to Greece. Adhesion to proposed Draft. Period to be fixed for assent of Greece. 813 816 817 818 Paris, 15th January, 1869 827 No. 5. Greek counter-demands against Turkey. ference unchanged as to Declaration. Opinion of Con- proposed by English and Italian Plenipotentiaries and adopted. Declaration initialled. |