Ottoman Diplomats
Letters from the Imperial Legation in Brussels (1849–1914)
Synopsis
Incident de la Chambre des Représentants
Etienne Carathéodory Effendi reports about an incident in the Belgian House of Representatives, as a result of the pope’s statement on the Belgian law on civil marriage, which was seen as an attack on the Belgian Constitution. In a petition to King Leopold II, Members of the Catholic Party asked to abolish the incriminated article, but the King dismissed this demand. Even though the government consisted of Catholics, it preferred to be moderate and denounce ultramontanist tendencies. During the parliamentary debates on the budget for Foreign Affairs the liberal opposition saw the opportunity to interpellate the government. Prime Minister Jules Malou defended the government and its position well. Carathéodory Effendi notes that no government could approve of the power given to the pope by the Vatican decrees, without renouncing its own independence. Therefore, he understands the agitation caused by these doctrines amongst the liberals.
Facsimiles
| Series | HR.SYS-220-77 |
|---|---|
| Place | Brussels |
| Date | 03-12-1875 |
| Author | Etienne Carathéodory Effendi |
| Recipient | Rachid Pacha |
Names
How to cite
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Consulted online at Ottoman Diplomats: Letters From the Imperial Legation in Brussels (1849–1914) (2014 Edition), Centre for Political History (PoHis), University of Antwerp, <http://dighum.uantwerpen.be/ottomandiplomats/>.
