RUSSIA, TURKEY, AND BULGARIA. 07 



the restoration of peace, and this proposal was finally accepted by 

 the Sultan, and by the Great European Powers. 



Early in November, 1876, a Conference in Constantinople, was 

 finally determined upon, and Russia showed her pacific intentions 

 by the mobilisation of her army, and the issue of a Russian loan for 

 100 million roubles. 



The invitations to the Conference at Constantinople were issued by 

 the English Government, and the Marquis of Salisbury (who had 

 succeeded Lord Derby as Foreign Minister) was appointed Pleni^ 

 potentiary for England, and, on his way to Constantinople, he visited 

 Paris, Berlin, Vienna, and Rome, in order to sound, perhaps to 

 influence^ the Governments of France, Germany, Austria, and Italy 

 in favour of a settlement which should maintain the integrity of the 

 Ottoman Empire, subject to the adoption of reforms for the Christian 

 subjects of the Porte. 



The Conference assembled on the 23rd November, 1876, under 

 the presidency of Safvet Pasha, the Turkish Minister for Foreign 

 Affairs, and the Great Powers of Europe were represented by Germany, 

 Austria, France, Great Britain, Italy, and Russia, who declared 

 they were actuated by a sincere, wish to arrive at a solution of the 

 great Eastern Question satisfactory to Europe, and to the disaffected 

 Provinces of Turkey. 



After much deUberation and negotiation, the result of which 

 showed considerable harmony on the part of the representatives of 

 the Great Powers, it was resolved by the Conference that Turkey 

 should be advised to carry out great concessions in the direction of 

 internal reforms throughout the whole of her Empire, as the only 

 means whereby its dismemberment could be averted, and the general 

 peace of Europe maintained. 



Unfortunately lor Turkey these wise recommendations of the 

 Conference were received by the Ministers of the Sultan with dis- 

 favour and resistance ; and unfortunately, too, for the peace of Europe, 

 the Governments of Great Britain, Germany, France and Austria, 

 and others represented at the Conference, failed in their endeavours 

 to induce Turkey to carry out the recommendations of the Con- 

 stantinople Conference. 



In consequence of this refusal'by Turkey to adopt these measures 

 of reform, and in consequence of the widespread disturbance and 

 atrocious outrages perpetrated in many of the Turkish Provinces, 

 Russia was not slow in taking advantage of her opportunity, and 

 under the cloak of freedom and reform on behalf of the Slav 



