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During the year only seven American vessels cleared from the port of Constantinople, as against no less than 2,134 British vessels, 1,732 of which were steamers.

On January 31st the Russian Government issued a circular note to its representatives at the courts of the other guaranteeing Powers. After recapitulating the diplomatic efforts at pacification, extending from the outbreak of the insurrection in 1875 to the convening of the Constantinople Conference, the note continues:

This conference in its preliminary deliberations arrived at a complete understanding, both respecting the conditions of peace, and the reforms to be introduced. It communicated the result to the Porte as the firm and unanimous wish of Europe, but met with an obstinate refusal. Thus, after more than a year of diplomatic efforts, demonstrating the value the Great Powers attach to the pacification of the East, and the right they possess of insuring it, because of the general interests involved, and their firm desire to obtain it by means of a European understanding, the Cabinets again find themselves in the same position as at the commencement of the crisis, which is further aggravated by the blood that has been shed, the passions that have been raised, and the indefinite prolongation of the deplorable state of things which weighs upon Europe, and justly preoccupies public opinion and the Govern

ments.

In March, General Ignatieff set out on a tour to the different capitals, in order to propose a protocol to the signatory Powers. The proposal met with opposition from the British Government only, as several parts of it were considered derogatory to British interests. After considerable negotiations the Protocol was finally signed on March 31st.

Previous to the signing of the Protocol a meeting of the different embassadors was held in the British Foreign Office. The minutes of this meeting were as follows:

Count Munster, Embassador of Germany; Count Beust, Embassador of Austria-Hungary; the Marquis d'Harcourt, Embassador of France; the Earl of Derby, her Britannic Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; General Count de Menabrea, Embassador of Italy; and Count Shuvaloff, Embassador of Russia, met together this day at the Foreign Office for the purpose of signing the Protocol proposed by Russia, relative to the affairs of the

East.

Count Shuvaloff made the following declaration, placing at the same time a pro-memoria of it in the hands of her Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State:

"If peace with Montenegro is concluded, and the Porte accepts the advice of Europe, and shows itself ready to replace its forces on a peace footing, and seriously to undertake the reforms mentioned in the Protocol, let it send to St. Petersburg a Special Envoy to treat of disarmament, to which his Majesty the Emperor would also on his part consent. "If massacres similar to those which have stained Bulgaria with blood take place, this would necessarily put a stop to the measures of demobilization."

The Earl of Derby read and delivered to each of which is annexed to the present procès-verbal. the other Plenipotentiaries a declaration, copy of

General Count de Menabrea declared that Italy is only bound by the signature of the Protocol of this day's date, so long as the agreement happily established between all the Powers by the Protocol itself is maintained.

The signature of the Protocol was then proceeded

with.

The following declaration was made by Earl Derby:

The undersigned, her Britannic Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, makes the following declaration in regard to the Protocol signed this day by the Plenipotentiaries of Great Britain, Germany, Austria-Hungary, France, Italy, and Russia: "Inasmuch as it is solely in the interests of European peace that her Britannic Majesty's Government have consented to sign the Protocol proposed by that of Russia, it is understood beforehand that, in the event of the object proposed not being attained-namely, reciprocal disarmament on the part of Russia and Turkey, and peace between them-the Protocol in question shall be regarded as null and void.

"LONDON, March 31, 1877. (Signed) DERBY."

The Porte pays no regard to its former engagements, to its duties as a member of the European It was manifest that a peaceful solution of concert, or to the unanimous wishes of the Great the Eastern troubles was still far from being Powers, Far from having made a step toward a realized. satisfactory solution of the Eastern question, the Russia, by massing large bodies of Ottoman Empire has been and remains a permanent troops on the Roumanian border, was apmenace to the peace of Europe, as well as to the sen-parently threatening Turkey, so that in the timents of humanity and the conscience of Christian peoples.

The conference became a failure, and the embassadors departed, leaving the embassies in care of chargés d'affaires.

latter country a strong feeling existed against disarmament. The Protocol was fully discussed in the Council of Ministers, and on April 10th the Porte sent its reply to the Powers, declining to receive it.

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