27§ THk kARlflME CAnaL oP SUeZ. 



was evidence that the Porte was disposed to be conciliatory, for on 

 24th April, the French Ambassador in London, M. Waddington, 

 informed the Marquis of Salisbui-y, that the Sultan was disposed to 

 yield on the question of the Presidency of the Consular Body, when 

 summoned in Egypt, " in case of any event threatening the security 

 or the free passage of the Canal," provided the Powers were dis- 

 posed to concede to the Imperial Ottoman Government the right to 

 defend by its own forces, its possessions on the Eastern coast of the 

 Red Sea. 



CONVENTION FOR ITS NEUTRALITY. 



To this reasonable compromise, both France and England readily 

 agreed, and this decision being communicated to the Ambassador 

 at Constantinople, the Sultan issued, on. May 26th, his Irade, accepting 

 the Diraft Convention, for final submission and acceptance by the 

 whole of the European Powers ; and, on June 25th, the Porte, by the 

 hand of Said Pasha, the Grand Vizier, addressed the Ottoman 

 Representatives at Vienna, Berlin, Rome, St. Petersburg, Madrid, 

 and The Hague, the following Despatch, enclosing the Suez Canal 

 Draft Convention: — 



' ' The draft Convention relative to the International Regulation for the free 

 navigation of the Suez Canal has formed the subject, on the part of the Imperial 

 Government, of some observations bearing on a small number of points. 



" After an exchange of views on this subject, the Government of the French 

 Republic, and the Government of the Queen, have adhered to our amendments. 

 The most complete agreement has, in consequence, been established between the 

 three Governments with regard to the new draft Convention, the text of which is 

 herewith enclosed, and which we submit with confidence to the Government, 

 persuaded that it will be found in conformity with the principles, which have 

 already obtained the aiihesion of the Powers, as being of a nature to secure at all 

 times the free navigation of the Suez Canal. " 



This Despatch of Turkey to its representatives abroad, with a 

 copy of the Convention, was favourably received by the accredited 

 Governments, but it was not until the 29th of October, after much 

 hesitation and procrastination, that the Ottoman Porte gave its final 

 approval, and that the representatives of the Nine Powers at Con- 

 stantinople were enabled to sign the Suez Canal Convention. The 

 following is the full text of this remarkable State Document : — 



The Convention between Great Britain, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Spain, 



