MONTENEGRO. 



543 



sent to the spot to make a searching inquiry, 

 conceding, as an unequivocal proof of its sin- 

 cerity, to the powers the care of determining 

 the form and the conditions of the execution 

 of the investigation. As soon as the affair was 

 made clear, it would, after consulting the pow- 

 ers, u consider the measures to be taken for the 

 smoothing down of present difficulties without 

 giving rise to fresh conflicts and new blood- 

 shed." The reply was not considered acceptable 

 by the ambassadors. An identical note of the 

 powers, respecting all the stipulations of the 

 Treaty of Berlin which remained unsettled, 

 was presented to the Porte on the 12th of 

 June. Concerning Montenegro, it stated that 

 the convention of the 12th of April for an ex- 

 change of territory was sanctioned by Europe, 

 but the Albanians, by occupying the points 

 ceded to the principality, had jeopardized the 

 situation and rendered a collision possible. 

 The question required a prompt solution, and 

 the powers consequently called upon the Porte 

 to communicate to them within a brief space 

 of time and in explicit terms, its intentions in 

 regard to the rights acquired by Montenegro. If 

 this was not acceded to, the responsibility for the 

 grave consequences which might ensue would 

 fall upon the Porte. The Porte replied to this 

 note, expressing a wish to carry out the con- 

 vention, but urging that a certain time must 

 be allowed for that purpose. The ambassadors 

 replied that their powers were opposed to the 

 further delay asked for ; and, taking into con- 

 sideration an offer which the Porte had made 

 to accept any other proposal to settle the diffi- 

 culty, suggested the cession to Montenegro of 

 the territory of Dulcigno. The report of this 

 proposition was received with great indigna- 

 tion by the Albanians. The Turkish Governor 

 of Scutari, when asked by a deputation from 

 Dulcigno for explanations with regard to it, 

 replied that he had no official information on 

 the subject, and advised them to take measures 

 for the defense of their city. Men were sent 

 by the Albanian League to occupy the heights 

 around the place, and were even allowed by 

 the Turks to enter it, the Ottoman garrison 

 retiring to Scutari. The Porte replied to the 

 last proposition of the powers that it was 

 most anxious that the matter should be settled, 

 but, in view of the resistance offered by the 

 Albanians, it would be impossible to surrender 

 Dulcigno and the Bojana district to the prin- 

 cipality. The Montenegrin representative at 

 Constantinople, having received a proposal to 

 accept a money compensation instead of terri- 

 tory, was ordered to break off relations with the 

 Porte ; but the Turkish Government suggested 

 afterward that it could surrender to the Mon- 

 tenegrins the territory around Scutari, and the 

 charge was instructed to postpone his depart- 

 ure. The Albanians, having learned that the 

 Turks had promised to execute the convention 

 for a surrender of territory, made an attack 

 on the Montenegrin advanced posts, July 13th. 

 Prince Nicholas ordered his troops to keep on 



the defensive, as he was desirous of acting only 

 by diplomatic means. A collective note was 

 presented to the Porte, August 3d, in which 

 the powers invited Turkey to execute the con- 

 vention of the 12th of April within three 

 weeks, or, as an alternative, to surrender Dul- 

 cigno to Montenegro. The Ottoman Govern- 

 ment replied to this demand that it had de- 

 cided to send a member of the Ministry to 

 Dulcigno with troops to put into execution the 

 convention of April. In the event, however, 

 of its being unable to execute the convention 

 within the time fixed by the powers, it asked 

 for an extension of the time for a period of a 

 week or a fortnight, within which interval the 

 town and district of Dulcigno would be handed 

 over to Montenegro. Failing such an exten- 

 sion of time, it would decline all responsibility. 

 Before the three weeks granted by the powers 

 had expired, the Albanians still refusing to give 

 up Tusi and Dinosh, the Turkish Government 

 again put forward the plan of surrendering 

 Dulcigno, which it suggested the Albanians 

 might be induced to accept if it were so modi- 

 fied as to leave Dinosh in their possession. A 

 proposition was also talked of to cede Dulcigno 

 without the Bojana district. The surrender 

 of Dulcigno not having been accomplished at 

 the end of August, the powers resolved to 

 make a naval demonstration, which they had 

 contemplated for several weeks, in case Tur- 

 key should continue to delay the execution 

 of the provisions of the Treaty of Berlin. 

 The Porte made strenuous exertions to avoid 

 the demonstration, and the Council of Minis- 

 ters, September 8th, decided to issue a circular 

 informing the different governments that Tur- 

 key was firmly resolved to hand over Dulcigno 

 to the Montenegrins without more delay, and 

 the display of force would not be necessary. 

 Instructions were sent to the commanders of 

 the troops in Albania to take the most efficient 

 measures to execute the decision of the Gov- 

 ernment, and use their utmost endeavors to ob- 

 tain a pacific submission of the Albanians. The 

 authorities of Dulcigno were notified that the 

 transfer of the territory would take place on 

 the 12th. The preparations for the naval dem- 

 onstration went on notwithstanding these move- 

 ments of the Turks ; the vessels of the six great 

 powers were assembled in the harbor of Gra- 

 vosa ; and it was decided that, in case the demon- 

 stration took effect, the fleet should be under 

 the command of Vice- Admiral Seymour, as the 

 senior officer of highest rank among all the 

 commanders. A joint note of the powers was 

 presented to the Porte September 16th, de- 

 manding the surrender by Turkey of the terri- 

 tory mentioned in the note of August 3d, with 

 the exception of the districts of Dinosh and 

 Gruda. On the 17th the Porte issued a cir- 

 cular of protest against the employment of 

 force, asking the powers to await the equitable 

 and moderate execution of the decision to sur- 

 render Dulcigno, and pleading : " Shall not the 

 inhabitants of the ceded town enjoy the privi- 



