Arthur Arnold

“ As to the army, the Sultan Abd-ul-Medjid declared in that solemn promise to his subjects and to Europe, that—
"Christian subjects and those of other non-Mussulman sects shall, as well as Mussulmans, be subject to the law of recruitment. ... A complete law shall be published, with as little delay as possible, respecting the admission into and service in the army, of Christian and other non-Mussulman subjects."
This promise was prefaced with a virtuous flourish, proclaiming that—
"The equality of taxes entails equality of burdens, as equality duties entail that of rights." ”

“ But cruel facts could not be kept hidden even from men who were quite ready to frown upon those of the consular body who were resolved to tell the truth. To make the Peace of Paris without consideration for those who were degraded and suffering because of the non-fulfilment of the promises of Gulhané, would have been an outrage upon common humanity. And thus it came to pass in 1856, that Sultan Abd-ul-Medjid was invited to give pledges, which should be guarantees, for the better government of his subjects. ”

“ They know that, by their acceptance of pledges at the close of the war which they waged to preserve Turkey from Russian conquest, they are not free from definite and real obligation with reference to those most unhappy people, some of whom were victims of the Bulgarian horrors, and they are profoundly conscious that, whatsoever may be their duty in regard to those people, they would be guilty of hypocrisy if, when liberty, and life, and honour, are at stake, they bade all men be content with the promises of Turkey. ”

“ In December, 1875, the Sultan issued a Firman, proclaiming and promising that in future the tax should not be levied upon two categories of male persons who, by reason of their religion, were not eligible for service in the army. The Sultan pledged himself that the tax should be no longer levied upon male infants from their birth till the serviceable age, nor upon "old men long past service." ”

“ The Porte will not put into the hands of non-Mussulman subjects the strength which might ensure the fulfilment of its promises. The Trade I have referred to is the only concession which the Sultan's government will offer, and that is nothing but a bulwark of Mussulman power—the admission of clever non-Mussulman boys to be trained as officers of a purely Mussulman army. ”

“ Everything that can impede commerce or agriculture shall be abolished. To accomplish these objects, means shall be sought to profit by the science, the art, and the funds of Europe, and thus gradually to execute them. ”

“ They and those who sympathised with them have been beguiled by the promises of Turkey. Was there ever a more grotesque piece of fooling than that played by Midhat Pasha upon the Special Correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, who on February 2nd flashed to London intelligence that Midhat, "personally conversed" with, had stated that "twenty-one shorthand writers were being collected to report the speeches" in the new Turkish Parliament! There is a disposition to credulity which blinds the judgment of men, but that is not the condition of the people of this country. ”

“ The guarantees promised on our part by the Hatti-Houmaïoun of Gulhanế, and in conformity with the Tanzimat, to all the subjects of my Empire, without distinction of classes or of religion, for the security of their persons and property, and for the preservation of their honour, are to-day confirmed and consolidated, and efficacious measures shall be taken in order that they may have their full and entire effect. ”

“ He admits, in regard to the administration of justice, that the promises of Turkey have been "translated into mock courts, unpaid judges, arbitrary procedure, and corrupt decisions." As to the introduction of "a sounder fiscal system," he says, "nothing of the kind has been done;" as to corruption, "at present the whole administration is corrupt;" as to banks, "nothing of the sort has been thought of." Instead of performance of the promises relative to better means of communication,
"The absence of roads and canals has prevented the relief of a famished population ”

“ These promises were made to be broken. "Qui est-ce qu'on trompe?" as Prince Gortschakoff said to Lord Augustus Loftus. These reforms were promised with the knowledge that they would not, could not, be put in operation. The Turkish Power is, in spite of Midhat's Constitution, a Mahommedan theocracy. No law is accepted as valid unless it has religious sanction. The statute book must run with the Koran. The neglect on the part of the Turkish Power to fulfil the pledges of 1839 and of 1856 does not vex the mind of a genuine Turk. ”