In it he pointed out that the efforts of the powers to localize the revolt seemed in danger of failure, that the rebels were still holding their own, and that the Ottoman promises of reform, embodied in various firmans, were no more than vague statements of principle which had never had, and were probably not intended to have, any local application. In order to avert the risk of a general conflagration, therefore, he urged that the time had come for concerted action of the powers for the purpose of pressing the Porte to fulfil its promises. A sketch of the more essential reforms followed: the recognition rather than the toleration of the Christian religion; the abolition of the system of farming the taxes; and, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the religious was complicated by an agrarian question, the conversion of the Christian peasants into free proprietors, to rescue them from their double subjection to the Muslim Ottoman landowners. In Bosnia and Herzegovina elected provincial councils were to be established, life-term judges appointed and individual liberties guaranteed. Finally, a mixed commission of Muslims and Christians was to be empowered to watch over the carrying out of these reforms.
in it he pointed out that the efforts of the powers to localize the revolt seemed in danger of failure that the rebels were still holding their own and that the ottoman promises of reform embodied in various firmans were no more than vague statements of principle which had never had and were probably not intended to have any local application in order to avert the risk of a general conflagration therefore he urged that the time had come for concerted action of the powers for the purpose of pressing the porte to fulfil its promises a sketch of the more essential reforms followed the recognition rather than the toleration of the christian religion; the abolition of the system of farming the taxes; and in bosnia and herzegovina where the religious was complicated by an agrarian question the conversion of the christian peasants into free proprietors to rescue them from their double subjection to the muslim ottoman landowners in bosnia and herzegovina elected provincial councils were to be established life-term judges appointed and individual liberties guaranteed finally a mixed commission of muslims and christians was to be empowered to watch over the carrying out of these reforms