Annex to the Cyprus Convention

The Right Hon. Sir A. H. Layard, G. C. B., and His Highness Safvet Pasha, now the Grand Vizier of His Majesty the Sultan, have agreed to the following annex to the convention signed by them as plenipotentiaries of their respective governments on June 4, 1878:

It is understood between the two high contracting parties that England agrees to the following conditions relating to the occupation and administration of the island of Cyprus:

That a Mussulman religious tribunal (Mehkéméi Shéri) shall continue to exist in the island, which will take exclusive cognizance of religious matters, and of no others, concerning the Mussulman population of the island.

That a Mussulman resident in the island shall be named by the Board of Pious Foundations in Turkey (Evkaf) to superintend, in conjunction with a delegate to be appointed by the British authorities, the administration of the property, funds, and lands belonging to mosques, cemeteries, Mussulman schools, and other religious establishments existing in Cyprus.

That England will pay to the Porte whatever is the present excess of revenue over expenditure in the island; this excess to be calculated upon and determined by the average of the last five years, stated to be 22,936 purses, to be duly verified hereafter, and to the exclusion of the produce of state and crown lands let or sold during that period.

That the Sublime Porte may freely sell and lease lands and other property in Cyprus belonging to the Ottoman crown and state (Arazii Miriyé vé Emslaki Houmayoun), the produce of which does not form part of the revenue of the island referred to in Article III.

That the English Government, through their competent authorities, may purchase compulsorily, at a fair price, land required for public improvements, or for other public purposes, and land which is not cultivated.

That if Russia restores to Turkey Kars and the other conquests made by her in Armenia during the last war, the island of Cyprus will be evacuated by England, and the convention of the 4th of June, 1878, will be at an end.

Done at Constantinople the 1st day of July, 1878. A. H. LAYARD. SAFVET.