Hajnal István: A Kossuth-emigráció Törökországban, I. kötet (Budapest, 1927)

IRATOK

the Sultan and treated here as such through four weeks, waiting for further orders from Constantinople as to the continuation of our sorrowfull journey to distant shores. Even the Ambassadors of England and France to whom I wentured in the name of humanity to apply, were so kind as to ascertaine me of the full sympathy of theirs. His Majesty the Sultan was also so gracious to give a decided negative to the inhuman pretention of our extradition to Russia and Austria. But a new letter of his M. the Czar came to Constantinople and the consequence was the menace and the suggestion sent expressily to us by a messenger of the Turkish Government, that we will be surrendered, the Poles to Russia and the Hungarians, especielly I myself, the Count Casimir Batthyányi, Minister of foreign affaires of Hungaiy under my Government and the generals Mészáros and Perczel all present here, to Austria, — except we would abjure our inherited christian religion and become Musuhnans. And so are 5000 christians set in the dreadfull alternative to be sent to the scaffold, or to buy their life by abandonning their religion. So deep is already fallen the once mighty Turkey, that she knows no other measure to answer the commands of Russia. I find no words, to qualify these astonishing proceedings. Never was yet made a like suggestion to a fallen chief of a generous nation — and could scarcely be expected in the XIX century to see 5000 christians in Europe put to such a martyrising situation. As for myselfs I could be very ready in answering. Placed between the death and the shame, the choise can be neither dubious nor difficult. Governeur of Hungary chosen to the high place by the full confidence of 15 millions of my country-men, I know very well, what I am owing to the honour of my nation, even when an exile. Yea, even as a private individual, though I have finished my political carrier, still I have open before me honours duties and honours way. Once Gouverneur of a generous country, I leave no heritage to my children. They shall have at least my unsullied name. I am ready to dy. The will of God may be fullfilled. But as I think to be this measure extremely dishonoring and compromising to the Turkey, to whose interests I am sincerely bound and as I feel also the duty to save my unfortunate compagnions if possible from a degradating necessity, I answered the Grand-Vizier in a suspending manner, apt to give way to a better conseil; and took also the liberty to apply to Sir Stratford Canning and the general Aupick for their generous aid and protection against this tyrannical act. •