CHAPTER II

THE BALKAN PROVINCES UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE EUROPEAN CONCERT—1856-1870

WELL MIGHT THE TREATY OF Paris (1856) have seemed to inaugurate a new régime in relation to the affairs of the Ottoman empire. For the first time in its history that empire was now recognized as forming a component part of the great European system, and the Sublime Porte was formally “admitted to participate in the advantages of the Public Law and System (Concert) of Europe.”

In the famous Hatti-Humayoun (famous though futile) of February 18, 1856, the Sultan confirmed all the privileges and immunities heretofore granted to his non-Mussulman communities, and promised equal rights to all subjects, irrespective of race, religion or language. Provision was also made in this imperial decree for needed reforms along various other lines; and we may discern in the firman the expression, at least, of a feeling that the empire had now been raised to a higher dignity, and had entered upon a new era.

The formulation and the promulgation of this definite and comprehensive Imperial edict was largely due to the untiring efforts of Stratford Canning (Viscount Stratford de Radcliffe). For sixteen years (1842-58), as England’s ambassador at Constantinople, he kept up “active and friendly intervention” with the Porte, in order to bring about from within the reform of the Ottoman empire.

Mr. Canning felt very keenly, however, that unless some “force from without” should “keep up a steady animating pressure” on the Turkish authorities, this great Charter of Reforms would be merely “a lifeless paper, valuable only as a record of sound principles.” He tried to induce the London government to protest against placing in the treaty any promises or guarantees that would lead to the conclusion among Ottoman authorities that the Sultan was thereby rendered unquestionably secure in the possession of his dominions and in the exercise of absolute sovereignty. All his efforts in that direction, however, were unavailing. The powers that had conquered Russia were already committed to that policy; and s