(Signed) STRATFORD CANNING.
Inclosure l in No 8.
_Baron de Bourqueney to Rifaat Pasha_.
_Thérapia_, 17 _Octobre_, 1843.
Le Soussigné, Ministre Plénipotentiaire de Sa Majesté le Roi des
Français près la Porte Ottomane, a reçu de son Gouvernement l'ordre
de faire à son Excellence le Ministre des Affaires Etrangères la
communication suivante.
C'est avec un douloureux étonnement que le Gouvernement du Roi a
appris la récente exécution d'un Arménien qui, après avoir embrassé
la religion Musulmane, était revenu à la foi de ses pères, et que
pour ce seul fait on a frappé de la peine capitale, parcequ'il
refusait à racheter sa vie par une nouvelle abjuration.
En vain pour expliquer un acte aussi déplorable voudrait-on se
prévaloir des dispositions impérieuses de la législation. On devait
croire que la législation faite pour d'autres temps était tombée en
désuétude; et en tout cas il était trop facile de fermer les yeux
sur un pareil fait pour qu'on puisse considérer ce qui vient
d'arriver comme une de ces déplorables nécessités dans lesquelles la
politique trouve quelquefois non pas une justification mais une
excuse.
Lors même que l'humanité, dont le nom n'a jamais été invoqué en vain
en France, n'aurait pas été aussi cruellement blessée par le
supplice de cet Arménien, lors même que le Gouvernement du Roi, qui
a toujours protégé, et protégera toujours la religion Chrétienne en
Orient, pourrait oublier que c'est le Christianisme qui a reçu ce
sanglant outrage, l'intérêt qu'il prend à l'Empire Ottoman et à son
indépendance, lui ferait encore voir avec une profonde douleur ce
qui vient de se passer.
Cette indépendance ne peut aujourd'hui trouver une garantie efficace
que dans l'appui de l'opinion Européenne. Les efforts du
Gouvernement du Roi ont constamment tendu à lui ménager cet appui.
Cette tâche lui deviendra bien plus difficile en présence d'un acte
qui soulevera dans l'Europe entière une indignation universelle.
Le Gouvernement du Roi croit accomplir un devoir impérieux en
faisant connaître à la Porte l'impression qu'il a reçue d'un fait
malheureusement irréparable, mais qui, s'il pouvait se renouveler,
serait de nature à appeler des dangers réels sur le Gouvernement
assez faible pour faire de telles concessions à un odieux et
déplorable fanatisme.
Le Soussigné, &c.,
(Translation.)
_Therapia, October_ 17, 1843.
The Undersigned, Minister Plenipotentiary of His Majesty the King of
the French at the Ottoman Porte, has received orders from his
Government to make the following communication to the Minister for
Foreign Affairs.
It has been with a painful astonishment that the King's Government
has learnt the late execution of an Armenian who, after embracing
the Musulman religion, returned to the faith of his fathers, and
who, for this act alone, has been capitally punished, because he
refused to redeem his life by a fresh recantation.
In vain can the imperious terms of the law be appealed to for an
explanation of so lamentable an act. It might have been supposed
that a system of law formed for other times had fallen into
desuetude; and at all events it was too easy to overlook such a
circumstance to admit of that which has happened being considered as
one of those lamentable cases of necessity, in which policy
sometimes finds not so much a justification as an excuse.
Even had not humanity, whose name has never been vainly invoked
in France, been so cruelly hurt by the punishment of this
Armenian,--even could the King's Government, which has always
protected, and ever will protect, the Christian religion in the
East, forget that it is Christianity which has been thus cruelly
outraged,--the interest which it takes in the Ottoman Empire and in
its independence would still cause it to behold what has occurred
with profound regret.
That independence can in these times find a real security only in
the support of the public opinion of Europe. The efforts of the
King's Government have been constantly directed towards obtaining
for it that support. This task will become much more difficult after
an act which will excite universal indignation throughout the whole
of Europe.
The King's Government considers that it discharges an imperious duty
in making known to the Porte the impression which has been made upon
it by an event unfortunately irreparable, and which, were it to
occur again, would be likely to cause real danger to a Government
weak enough to make such concessions to a hateful and lamentable
fanaticism.
The Undersigned, &c.,
Inclosure 2 in No. 8.
_Sir Stratford Canning to M. Pisani_.
Sir, _Buyukderé, October_ 30, 1843.
In presenting to the Minister for Foreign Affairs the accompanying
translation of an instruction addressed to me by the Earl of
Aberdeen, with reference to the Armenian who was lately executed at
Constantinople, you will be careful to impress his Excellency with a
conviction of the deep and painful sentiments excited throughout
Great Britain by that deplorable act.
You will require that the instruction be forthwith submitted not
only to his Highness the Grand Vizier, but also to His Imperial
Majesty the Sultan.
A copy of this letter, with a translation in Turkish, is to be left
with Rifaat Pasha.
(Signed) STRATFORD CANNING.
No. 9.
_Sir Stratford Canning to Mr. Addington_.--(_Received November_ 23.)
Sir, _Buyukderé, November_ 3, 1843.
A delay in the departure of the messenger affords me the opportunity
of transmitting to you at once the inclosed report addressed to me
to-day by M. Pisani. Though not official, it shews the strong
impression which has been made upon the Porte by a knowledge of the
sentiments entertained throughout Europe with reference to the
Armenian lately executed. The Porte will probably seek to avoid
replying ostensibly to the remonstrances of the several leading
Courts, but means will, no doubt, be taken to prevent the necessity
of practising such atrocities in future. A degree of success so
important, though limited, might reasonably encourage the allied
Courts to enter into a more complete understanding for the removal
of other blots from the legal or political practice of the Turks, in
their intercourse with Christians.