2-981-821 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Herzegovinian Refugees at Ragusa, from a sketch by our special artist, 1876. 'In the interview which Baron Rodich had, a fortnight ago, at Ragusa [Dubrovnik], with the principal insurgent leaders, the latter maintained their rejection of the reforms offered by the Porte. They declared, however, they would submit if Turkey withdrew forty battalions from Herzegovina and allowed the insurgents, while retaining their arms, to treat with the Beys. If this were refused, they proposed that Austria or another Power should effect an armed intervention in Herzegovina. Baron Rodich replied that it was impossible to grant these demands, and that Austria would maintain complete neutrality and strictly guard the frontier. The Austrian Government, at the end of March, would also cease to afford relief to the Herzegovina refugees'. From "Illustrated London News", 1876.