RUSSIA, TURKEY, AND BULGARIA. 77 



of the East, embracing among many others the defining of the 

 boundaries of Bulgaria, Roumelia, Servia, and Montenegro; the 

 administration of Bosnia and Herzegovina, by Austria ; the recogni-, 

 tion of the sovereign independence of Servia and Roumania ; the 

 granting of complete political, civil, and religious liberty to the 

 populations of every one of the Balkan States ; and the readjustment 

 of the Turkish Empire on assured foundations. 



To the honour of the eminent Statesmen assembled at that Con- 

 gress, a sincere and resolute determination was apparent to achieve a 

 peaceful issue, and complete harmony prevailed on the many difficult 

 and conflicting high matters of State policy submitted to them for 

 consideration and decision. 



By the Treaty of Berlin, Bulgaria was constituted an autonomous 

 and tributary principality under the Suzerainty of the Sultan, with a 

 Christian governor, and a National Militia. 



The Prince of Bulgaria to be freely elected by the population, and 

 confirmed in his election by the Sublime Porte, with the concurrence 

 of the Powers. 



No member of any one of the Reigning dynasties of the Great 

 European Powers shall be eligible for election to the Throne of 

 Bulgaria, and in case of a vacancy arising, the election of the new 

 Prince shall take place under the same conditions and with the same 

 forms. 



An assembly of Notables of Bulgaria were to be convoked in the first 

 instance at Tirnova, and after the election of a Prince to the Throne, 

 the Assembly was to elaborate the organic law of the Principality, and 

 pending its elaboration, Bulgaria was to be placed under the Pro- 

 visional Government of Russian Commissioners, assisted by the 

 Consuls of the Great European Powers. 



Political, Civil, and Religious liberty were to be given to Bulgaria. 



South of the Balkans a province was created under the name of 

 Eastern Roumelia, placed under the direct political and Military 

 authority of the Sultan of Turkey, but under conditions of adminis- 

 trative autonomy, and ruled by a Christian Governor General. 



The defence of the land and sea frontiers of Turkey were placed in 

 the absolute possession of the Ottoman Porte, and the maintenance 

 of internal order was to be handed over to local Militia and Native 

 gendarmerie. 



Separate protocols in the Treaty amply provided for the rectification 

 of the Turco-Greek and Montenegrin frontiers, reforms in the 

 government of Crete, and in Armenia, the occupation of Bosnia and 



