A. G. DANIELLS by A. G. Daniells

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 23, 1914

A. G. DANIELLS

By A. G. Daniells

Does the History of Turkey and Egypt Since 1798 Fulfill the Prophecy of Dan. 11: 40-44?—No. 24

A. G. DANIELLS

THE preceding article contained the most important parts of the Treaty of London, July 15, 1840, by which Turkey voluntarily surrendered her independence to the European powers. The preamble of the treaty states plainly the cause and the purpose of the treaty.

The cause was the difficulties existing between the sultan of Turkey and the pasha of Egypt,—"difficulties," says the preamble, "which threaten with danger the integrity of the Ottoman Empire and the independence of the sultan's throne."

The purpose of the treaty as given in the preamble was that of "maintaining the integrity and independence of the Ottoman Empire, as a security of the peace of Europe."

The sultan acknowledged his helplessness, and the dependence of Turkey upon the powers for a continuation of its existence. The powers responded to Turkey's appeal for support, and by formal treaty took her affairs into their own hands and brought her conqueror to submission. The responsibility of maintaining the integrity and independence of Turkey assumed by the powers at that time and in that way has never been laid down.

The conditions of the treaty, briefly stated, were these:—

1. The administration or governorship of Egypt was to be given to Mehmet Ali, and to his descendants in a direct line for an indefinite period of time.

2. The governorship of Saint-Jean d'Acre and southern Syria was to be given to Mehmet Ali during his lifetime only.

3. These offers in their entirety, with the conditions 'attached, were to be accepted by Mehmet Ali within ten days after he received the treaty.

4. Should Mehmet Ali fail to accept these offers within ten days, all pertaining to Syria was to be withdrawn.

5. Ten days more were to be given Mehmet Ali in which to accept the hereditary rule of Egypt.

6. If at the end of this second period of ten days he had refused to accept that part of the treaty, all was to be withdrawn, and immediate steps were to be taken by the powers to deprive him of everything.

7. As soon as Turkey had signified her acceptance of the treaty, the naval fleets of England and Austria stationed in the Mediterranean were to be given orders to blockade all the ports on the Syrian coast, and thus prevent any further transport of Egyptian troops and arms.

Referring to this treaty, the Morning Chronicle (London) of Sept. 2, 1840, in a leading editorial clearly states the situation then existing, and the purpose of the treaty:—

"The English government has no selfish objects in view in agreeing with Russia, Austria, and Prussia to preserve the integrity of the Turkish Empire. Its policy was plain and obvious. Turkey must fall to pieces if Mehmet Ali be suffered to retain Syria as well as Egypt; and the dismemberment of Turkey must lead to a general war."

The Execution of the Treaty

In view of the importance which we place upon the results that followed the making and the execution of this treaty, we ought clearly to understand its history. This we may trace in the daily press of the time. Of its conveyance to Turkey the London Times of Aug. 27, 1840, says:—

"The Marseilles journals of the 22d mention that the treaty of the 15th of July was brought to Constantinople by Mr. Moore, who reached that capital on the 3d inst., after delivering dispatches to Admiral Stopford on the way. They add that the admiral had been instructed to commence forthwith the operation of the blockade of the coasts of Egypt and Syria without waiting for the ratification of the treaty by the powers."

Note the fact that Admiral Stopford, in charge of the English fleet, was given instructions to begin operations without delay.

The acceptance of the treaty by the Turkish cabinet is reported as follows:—

"CONSTANTINOPLE, Aug. 6, 1840.—The Ottoman ministry received on the 4th inst., by a courier, the official notice of a convention concluded on the 15th July, between the ministers of Austria, Russia, Great Britain, and Prussia, and the minister of the Porte, relating to the affairs of Egypt.

"In consequence of this communication, a great council was held on the morning of the 6th inst., and the late ambassador to Austria, Rifat Bey, received orders to proceed immediately to Alexandria, in order to notify, in the name of the sultan, to the pasha of Egypt, the conditions under which, in conjunction with the four courts, the sultan has resolved to grant an amicable arrangement of the points now in dispute.

"Rifat Bey made immediate preparations to start to the place of his destination in a Turkish steamboat."—Austrian Observer, quoted by the Morning Chronicle (London), Sept. 1, 1840.

Of the arrival of Rifat Bey with the treaty at Alexandria the London Times of Aug. 27, 1840, says:—

"Our intelligence from Constantinople brought by this conveyance comes down to the 7th inst. On that day Rifat Bey, mousther of the department of foreign affairs, sailed for Alexandria in the 'Tahiri Bahri' steamer, accompanied by a secretary, a dragoman, and a numerous suite, for the purpose of notifying to Mehmet Ali the ultimatum of the conditions adopted by the representatives of the four powers in London relative to the solution of the Eastern Question. The mission of this envoy had been officially announced to the ambassadors of the five great powers on the 5th."

"ALEXANDRIA, Aug. 16, 1840.—The arrival of Rifat Bey and Mr. Alison in the 'Bair Tahir' steamer from Constantinople, on the 11th inst., with the ultimatum of the four powers, produced a great sensation here. The pasha was absent at Damietta (it is believed on purpose to be out of the way at the moment when all eyes would naturally be turned on his, to read the fate of Egypt in their expression), and speculation was left to indulge itself at leisure; for all other occupation amongst the commercial portion of the inhabitants was virtually at an end."—Id., Sept. 4, 1840.

From this correspondence it will be seen that the treaty, or ultimatum, of the powers reached Alexandria August 11. But it was not presented to Mehmet Ali that day. He was absent from the city for the purpose, it appears, of avoiding the representatives of the various powers on their arrival. Rifat Bey and the consuls who accompanied him were placed in quarantine until Mehmet Ali's return. The history continues as follows:—

"We have received from our correspondent at Alexandria, via Toulon, letters dated the 16th and 17th ult. [August]. They contain intelligence of considerable importance.

"On the 11th [August] Rifat Bey and M. Alison arrived in the 'Bair Tahir' steamer from Constantinople."

"On the 16th Rifat Bey obtained free pratique, and the next day was admitted to an audience of the pasha. The exact nature of Mehemet Ali's reply had not

transpired, but he was understood to have told Rifat Bey that his answer had long since gone to Constantinople, and that he had no intention of altering the resolution he had previously formed."—The Times (London), Sept. 4, 1840.

"ALEXANDRIA, Aug. 17, 1840.—This communication was made to Mehemet Ali in the following manner:—

"The consuls representing England, Russia, Austria, and Prussia, attired in the richest costumes and preceded and followed by a numerous cortège, waited on the pasha to apprise him of the wishes of their respective courts. The latter, they said, enjoined them to demand the immediate submission of the pasha to the order of the sultan. The following is the substance of their speech:—

"Your Highness is allowed eleven days to consider whether it behooves you or not to accept Egypt and the pashalic of Saint-Jean d'Acre, the former as an hereditary possession, and the latter merely for life. If, after that period, you do not make known your decision, eleven days more shall be allowed to you to return an answer respecting Egypt, the pashalic of Acre being placed at the disposal of the Sublime Porte. Thus you will have to consider in the second period of eleven days, whether you wish or not to remain pasha of Egypt. If you come to no decision before the expiration of this delay, the powers, parties to the treaty, will take such measures as will secure the full rights of the sultan."—Id., Sept. 5, 1840.

These dispatches sent from Alexandria by the correspondents of the European papers give us information of value in this study. They show that the Turkish secretary and the consuls of the four powers arrived at Alexandria with the treaty Aug. 11, 1840; that Mehemet Ali was in Damietta at the time of their arrival, having left Alexandria, it was believed, to avoid meeting these representatives on their arrival; that they were all sent into quarantine until the 16th, the day Mehemet Ali returned to Alexandria; and that on the 17th of August these representatives had an audience with Mehemet Ali and placed the treaty in his hands, at the same time giving him such explanations and suggestions as they deemed necessary.