Correspondence Relating to Executions in Turkey for Apostacy from Islamism Part 4

(Signed) STRATFORD CANNING.

No. 9.

_Sir Stratford Canning to Mr. Addington_.--(_Received November_ 23.)

Sir, _Buyukdere, 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.

I have, &c.,

(Signed) STRATFORD CANNING.

Inclosure in No. 9.

_M. Pisani to Sir Stratford Canning_.

Excellence, _Pera, ce_ 3 _Novembre_, 1843.

J'ai conformement a vos ordres remis a Rifaat Pacha la traduction en Turc des instructions du Comte d'Aberdeen et de la lettre de votre Excellence, avec une copie de votre lettre.

Rifaat Pacha a lu la traduction des deux pieces qu'il a trouvees tres-importantes. Il m'a dit qu'il mettra les instructions de Lord Aberdeen sous les yeux du Grand Vizir et du Sultan.

Rifaat Pacha m'a dit confidentiellement que les mesures qu'il est question de prendre sont, d'ordonner a toutes les autorites a Constantinople et dans les provinces, d'avoir desormais soin, lorsqu'un Turc qui etait Chretien, se fait Chretien de nouveau, et lorsqu'un Turc dit des injures contre Mahomet ou contre les Prophetes, ou vomit d'autres blasphemes, de ne pas permettre qu'il soit traduit et juge devant un Mehkeme quelconque; mais si le cas arrive a Constantinople, d'envoyer l'accuse a la Porte, et s'il arrive dans un pays hors de Constantinople, de l'envoyer au Pacha de la province, sans aucune espece de jugement prealable. De cette maniere-ci, dit Rifaat Pacha, la Porte et les Pachas au-dehors songeront aux moyens de terminer ces sortes d'affaires sans eclat, et (j'ose inferer des paroles de son Excellence) sans recourir a la peine capitale.

Rifaat Pacha a ajoute que la Porte ne peut faire aucune reponse par ecrit sur cette affaire sans se compromettre, soit vis-a-vis des Puissances Chretiennes, en disant qu'elle est obligee de mettre a execution la loi qui regarde les Chretiens qui, apres avoir embra.s.se l'Islamisme de leur propre gre, y renoncent et redeviennent Chretiens, et qui encourent par la la peine de mort,--soit vis-a-vis de la loi, en declarant qu'elle ne sera pas executee a l'avenir dans un cas semblable a celui de l'Armenien.

Mais Rifaat Pacha m'a paru convaincu qu'apres le bruit que l'Europe a fait, une scene semblable a celle de l'Armenien ne se renouvellera point. Les mesures que le Gouvernement se propose de prendre ont pour but d'eviter un jugement; et sans jugement on ne peut cond.a.m.ner personne a mort. L'Armenien avait ete juge au Mehkeme dit du Stambol Effendi, avant d'etre envoye a la Porte. Le Kiatib qui est en prison pour avoir dit des injures contre Mahomet, a ete juge au Mehkeme de Salonique, avant d'etre envoye a Constantinople; et le Conseil supreme l'a declare digne de mort, quoiqu'il n'ait pas ete juridiquement et formellement cond.a.m.ne ici encore. La circonstance que le Kiatib a ete juge deja et convaincu d'avoir blaspheme le nom de Mahomet, expose ses jours au plus grand danger.

J'ai l'honneur, &c.,

(Signe) FREDERIC PISANI.

(Translation.)

Excellency, _Pera, November_ 3, 1843.

In conformity with your orders, I placed in the hands of Rifaat Pasha the Turkish translation of Lord Aberdeen's instructions and of your Excellency's letter, with a copy of your letter.

Rifaat Pasha read the translation of the two doc.u.ments which he considered to be of great importance. He told me that he will lay Lord Aberdeen's instructions before the Grand Vizier and the Sultan.

Rifaat Pasha told me confidentially that the measures which it is proposed to take, are to order all the authorities at Constantinople and and [sic] in the provinces henceforth to take care that when a Turk who was a Christian, becomes again a Christian, and when a Turk speaks insultingly of Mahomet or the Prophets, or utters other blasphemies, he shall not be allowed to be given up to, and judged by, any Mehkeme whatever; but if the case occurs at Constantinople, the accused shall be sent to the Porte, or if it occurs in a district beyond Constantinople, he shall be sent to the Pasha of the province without any previous judgment. In this manner, said Rifaat Pasha, the Porte and the provincial Pashas will devise means for terminating affairs of this kind without noise, and (I venture to infer from his Excellency's words) without having recourse to capital punishment.

Rifaat Pasha added, that the Porte can give no written answer respecting this affair without compromising itself either as regards the Christian Powers, by stating that it is forced to execute the law regarding Christians who, after having of their own accord embraced Islamism, renounce it and become Christians again, and thus incur capital punishment,--or as regards the law, by declaring that it will not for the future be executed in cases similar to that of the Armenian.

Rifaat Pasha, however, seemed to me convinced that after the noise which has been made in Europe, a scene similar to that of the Armenian cannot be renewed. The measures which the Government are about to adopt have for their object to avoid a trial, and without a trial no one can be condemned to death. The Armenian was tried at the Mehkeme called that of the Stambol Effendi, before being sent to the Porte. The Kiatib who is in prison for having uttered blasphemies against Mahomet, was judged at the Mehkeme of Salonica, before he was sent to Constantinople; and the Supreme Council has declared him worthy of death, although he has not yet been judicially and formally condemned here. The circ.u.mstance of the Kiatib having already been tried and convicted of uttering blasphemy against the name of Mahomet puts his life in the most imminent danger.

I have, &c.,

(Signed) FREDERICK PISANI.

No. 10.

_Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen.--(Received December 5_.)

(Extract.) _Buyukdere, November_ 17, 1843.

I am happy to state that a serious and salutary impression has been made upon the Turkish Government by the communication of your Lords.h.i.+p's instruction respecting the Armenian decapitated in the streets of Constantinople. Preceded as that communication was by the delivery of M. Guizot's impressive note, and followed, as I believe it to have been, by the presentation of Baron Bulow's instruction to M. de Le Coq, the Porte has felt, even in the absence of any similar declaration from the Austrian and Russian Legations, that she cannot with prudence or safety repeat an atrocity tending so directly to excite the indignant feelings of Christendom against her. I have not received, nor indeed have I yet demanded, an official answer to my remonstrance. M. de Bourqueney, though, like myself, without instructions on that point, has made the demand, but, at my request, he has abstained from pressing it, agreeing, on reflection, with me, that it would be advisable at all events to afford time for M. de t.i.tow to hear from his Government, and to take a step more or less in harmony with ours. It remains indeed to be considered whether it would be prudent, even with that advantage, to insist upon receiving a formal answer. I have already forwarded to your Lords.h.i.+p's office the substance of Rifaat Pasha's remarks, and they convey an a.s.surance that the Porte will in future find means to avoid the application of the law in cases like that which proved fatal to the unfortunate Armenian.

The apparent consequences of what has been done in this matter are, a Ministerial understanding that occasions of calling the law into action as to religious offences involving a capital punishment are for the future to be avoided, and a proclamation addressed to the Turkish authorities in Roumelia for the better treatment and protection of the Sultan's Christian subjects.

I venture to believe that your Lords.h.i.+p will derive the same gratification which I do from this result.

No. 11.

_Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen_.--(_Received December_ 18.)

My Lord, _Buyukdere, November_ 20, 1843.

I have the satisfaction to state, that the Russian Envoy has informed me of his having received an instruction from his Court on the subject of the Armenian youth decapitated at Constantinople. His Excellency has given me to understand that the terms of this instruction are in harmony with the sentiments of Her Majesty's Government; and I presume that he will make me a more complete communication of its contents the first time we meet.

I have, &c.,

(Signed) STRATFORD CANNING.

No. 12.