Treaty Between Great Britain, Austria-Hungary, France,
Germany, Italy, Russia and Turkey. (Berlin). July 13, 1878.
Article I. Bulgaria is constituted an autonomous and
tributary Principality under the suzerainty of His Imperial Majesty the
Sultan. It will have a Christian government and a national militia.
Article XXIII. The Sublime Porte undertakes
scrupulously to apply in the Island of Crete the Organic Law of 1868
with such modifications as may be considered equitable. Similar laws
adapted to local requirements, excepting as regards the exemption from
taxation granted to Crete, shall also be introduced into the other
parts of Turkey in Europe for which no special organization has been
provided by the present treaty. The Sublime Porte shall depute special
commissions, in which the native element shall be largely represented,
to settle the details of the new laws in each province. The schemes of
organization resulting from these labors shall be submitted for
examination to the Sublime Porte, which, before promulgating the Acts
for putting them into force, shall consult the European Commission
instituted for Easter Roumelia.
Article XXV. The provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina
shall be occupied and administered by Austria-Hungary. The government
of Austria-Hungary, not desiring to undertake the administration of the
Sanjak of Novi-Pazar [modern Kosovo Province], which extends between
Serbia and Montenegro in a South-Easterly direction to the other side
of Mitrovitza, the Ottoman administration will continue to exercise its
functions there. Nevertheless, in order to assure the maintenance of
the new political state of affairs, as well as freedom and security of
communications, Austria-Hungary reserves the right of keeping garrisons
and having military and commercial roads in the whole of this part of
the ancient vilayet of Bosnia. To this end the governments of
Austria-Hungary and Turkey reserve to themselves to come to an
understanding on the details.
Article XXVI. The independence of Montenegro is
recognized by the Sublime Porte and by all those of the High
Contracting Parties who had not hitherto admitted it.
Article XXXIV. The High Contracting Parties
recognize the independence of the Principality of Serbia, subject to
the conditions set forth in the following Article.
Article XXXV. In Serbia the difference of religious
creeds and confessions shall not be alleged against any person as a
ground for exclusion or incapacity in matters relating to the enjoyment
of civil or political rights, admission to public employments,
functions, and honors, or the exercise of the various professions and
industries, in any locality whatsoever. The freedom and outward
exercise of all forms of worship shall be assured to all persons
belonging to Serbia, as well as to foreigners, and no hindrance shall
be offered either to the hierarchical organization of the different
communions, or to their relations with their spiritual chiefs.
Article XLIII. The High Contracting Parties
recognize the independence of Romania, subject to the conditions set
forth in the two following Articles.
Article XLIV. In Romania the difference of religious
creeds and confessions shall not be alleged against any person as a
ground for exclusion or incapacity in matters relating to the enjoyment
of civil or political rights, admission to public employments,
functions, and honors, or the exercise of the various professions and
industries, in any locality whatsoever. The freedom and outward
exercise of all forms of worship shall be assured to all persons
belonging to Romania, as well as to foreigners, and no hindrance shall
be offered either to the hierarchical organization of the different
communions, or to their relations with their spiritual chiefs. The
subjects and citizens of all the Powers, traders or others, shall be
treated in Romania without distinction of creed, on a footing of
perfect equality.
Article XLV. The Principality of Romania restores to
His Majesty the Emperor of Russia that portion of the Bessarabian
territory detached from Russia by the Treaty of Paris of 1856, bounded
on the West by the mid-channel of the Pruth [River], and on the South
by the mid-channel of the Kilia Branch and the Stary-Stamboul mouth
[now the modern state of Moldova].
Article LVIII. The Sublime Porte cedes to the
Russian Empire in Asia the territories of Ardahan, Kars, and Batum
[modern Armenia and Georgia, with a bit of Northeastern Turkey],
together with the latter port.
Article LIX. His Majesty the Emperor of Russia
declares that it is his intention to constitute Batum a free port,
essentially commercial.
Article LXII. The Sublime Porte having expressed the
intention to maintain the principle of religious liberty, and give it
the widest scope, the Contracting Parties take note of this spontaneous
declaration. In no part of the Ottoman Empire shall difference of
religion be alleged against any person as a ground for exclusion or
incapacity in matters relating to the enjoyment of civil or political
rights, admission to public employments, functions, and honors, or the
exercise of the various professions and industries, in any locality
whatsoever. The freedom and outward exercise of all forms of worship
shall be assured to all, and no hindrance shall be offered either to
the hierarchical organization of the different communions, or to their
relations with their spiritual chiefs.
Ecclesiastics, pilgrims, and monks of all nationalities
traveling in Turkey in Europe, or in Turkey in Asia, shall enjoy the
same rights, advantages, and privileges.
The right of official protection by the Diplomatic and
Consular Agents of the Powers in Turkey is recognized both as regards
the above-mentioned persons and their religious, charitable, and other
establishments in the Holy Places and elsewhere. The rights possessed
by France are expressly reserved, and it is well understood that no
alterations can be made in the status quo in the Holy Places.
The monks of Mount Athos, of whatever country they may be natives,
shall be maintained in their former possessions and advantages, and
shall enjoy, without any exception, complete equality of rights and
prerogatives.
