Chapter XLVI: Appendix: V

STABBING UNDER THE GUISE OF FRIENDSHIP.

RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ENCOURAGING THE INSURGENTS
AGAINST THE PORTE, WHILST GENERAL IGNATIEFF WAS THE RUSSIAN
AMBASSADOR AT CONSTANTINOPLE, AND TURKEY AND RUSSIA WERE AT
PEACE TOGETHER.

The following is a despatch from Sir H. ELLIOTT to the Earl
of DERBY on this subject:—

Constantinople, February 14th, 1876.

MY LORD,—The account of the encouragement and countenance given to the insurgents at Ragusa greatly exceeds all that I was prepared for.

THE RUSSIAN CONSULATE IS THE OPEN RESORT OF THE INSURGENT CHIEFS. Their correspondence is sent to the CONSUL, who is a PARTY to all their PROJECTS, and ASSOCIATES HIMSELF INTIMATELY WITH THEM.

He does not appear to make an attempt to conceal the part he is playing, for on the occasion of the death of the Chief Maxime, in one of the late encounters, the Russian flag at the consulate was hoisted at half mast, and M. Jonine himself joined the funeral procession.

With such acts as these it is not surprising that the insurgents should suppose their attempt to be fully APPROVED BY THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT, for they can hardly be expected to believe that an ACCREDITED AGENT would venture upon them without knowing that it meets with the APPROVAL OF HIS SUPERIOR AUTHORITIES.

Some of the wounded, when asked why they continue to struggle when the Porte is ready to grant all their demands, have answered plainly that THEY ARE BOUND TO GO ON AS LONG AS THEY ARE TOLD BY RUSSIA TO DO SO.

The assurances given at St. Petersburg of the wish of the Imperial Government that the insurgents would lay down their arms must naturally go for nothing as long as its OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE, with whom they are in communication, ENCOURAGES THEM TO GO ON.

I have, &c.,
(Signed) HENRY ELLIOTT.