Page:The European Concert in the Eastern Question.djvu/81

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THE CONVENTION OF 24TH MAY, 1881.
65

archical organization of Mussulman religious bodies now existing, or which may hereafter be formed; nor with the management of the funds and real property belonging to them.

No obstacle shall be placed in the way of the relations of those bodies with their spiritual heads in matters of religion.

The local Courts of the Chéri shall continue to exercise their jurisdiction in matters purely religious.

Controversies.Art. IX. A Turco-Hellenic Commission shall be entrusted with the settlement, within two years, of all matters concerning the property of the State, as well as of questions relating to the interests of private individuals, who may happen to be connected with them.

This Commission will have to decide on the indemnity which Greece is to pay to Turkey from the lands which shall be admitted to belong bonâ fide to the Ottoman Government, and to fix the annual revenue to be paid on them.

Those questions on which an understanding cannot be come to shall be submitted to the decision of the Mediating Powers.

Share of Ottoman debt.Art. X. Greece shall bear a part of the Ottoman Public Debt proportionate to the revenues of the ceded territories. This portion shall be determined ultimately between the Sublime Porte and the Representatives of the Mediating Powers at Constantinople[1].

Disarmament.Art. XI. No exclusive and exceptional measure of disarmament shall be taken with regard to Mussulmans.

Brigandage.Art. XII. The Hellenic Government shall propose to the Chamber a Law for the renewal of the Convention of 1856 (1272), relating to the suppression of brigandage.

Removal.Art. XIII. The natives of the territories ceded to Greece, or persons actually domiciled in these provinces, who intend to retain Ottoman nationality, shall, for the space of three years from the exchange of the ratifications, and by a preliminary declaration made before a competent authority, enjoy the right of transferring their residence into the Ottoman Empire, and of establishing
  1. Down to the end of 1884 no steps appear to have been taken towards carrying out the provisions of Arts. IX and X.