[Footnote 175:  For the Protocols, see Parl.  Papers, Turkey (1878), No. 39.  For the Treaty see ibid.  No. 44; also The European Concert in the Eastern Question, by T.E.  Holland, pp. 277-307.]

Another important departure from the San Stefano terms was the creation of the Province of Eastern Roumelia, with boundaries shown in the accompanying map.  While having a Christian governor, and enjoying the rights of local self-government, it was to remain under “the direct political and military authority of the Sultan, under conditions of administrative autonomy.”  The Sultan retained the right of keeping garrisons there, though a local militia was to preserve internal order.  As will be shown in the next chapter, this anomalous state of things passed away in 1885, when the province threw off Turkish control and joined Bulgaria.

The other Christian States of the Balkans underwent changes of the highest importance.  Montenegro lost half of her expected gains, but secured access to the sea at Antivari.  The acquisitions of Servia were now effected at the expense of Bulgaria.  These decisions were greatly in favour of Austria.  To that Power the occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was now entrusted for an indefinite period in the interest of the peace of Europe, and she proceeded forthwith to drive a wedge between the Serbs of Servia and Montenegro.  It is needless to say that, in spite of the armed opposition of the Mohammedan people of those provinces—­which led to severe fighting in July to September of that year—­Austria’s occupation has been permanent, though nominally they still form part of the Turkish Empire.

[Illustration:  MAP OF THE TREATIES OF BERLIN AND SAN STEFANO.]

Roumania and Servia gained complete independence and ceased to pay tribute to the Sultan, but both States complained of the lack of support accorded to them by Russia, considering the magnitude of their efforts for the Slavonic cause.  Roumania certainly fared very badly at the hands of the Power for which it had done yeoman service in the war.  The pride of the Roumanian people brooked no thought of accepting the Dobrudscha, a district in great part marshy and thinly populated, as an exchange for a fertile district peopled by their kith and kin.  They let the world know that Russia appropriated their Bessarabian district by force, and that they accepted the Dobrudscha as a war indemnity.  By dint of pressure exerted at the Congress their envoys secured a southern extension of its borders at the expense of Bulgaria, a proceeding which aroused the resentment of Russia.

The conduct of the Czar’s Government in this whole matter was most impolitic.  It embittered the relations between the two States and drove the Government of Prince Charles to rely on Austria and the Triple Alliance.  That is to say, Russia herself closed the door which had been so readily opened for her into the heart of the Sultan’s dominions in 1828, 1854, and 1877[176].  We may here remark that, on the motion of the French plenipotentiaries at the Congress, that body insisted that Jews must be admitted to the franchise in Roumania.  This behest of the Powers aroused violent opposition in that State, but was finally, though by no means fully, carried out.