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[War with Russia.]

from England to Her Majesty's Admiral to proceed to the neighbourhood of the Dardanelles, was dated the 2nd of June.

The determination to occupy the Principalities was therefore taken before the orders for the advance of the combined squadrons were given.

The Sultan's Minister was informed, that unless he signed within a week, and without the change of a word, the note proposed to the Porte by Prince Menchikoff, on the eve of his departure from Constantinople, the Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia would be occupied by Russian troops. The Sultan could not accede to so insulting a demand; but when the actual occupation of the Principalities took place, the Sultan did not, as he might have done in the exercise of his undoubted right, declare War, but addressed a Protest to his Allies.

Her Majesty, in conjunction with the Sovereigns of Austria, France, and Prussia, has made various attempts to meet any just demands of the Emperor of Russia without affecting the dignity and independence of the Sultan; and had it been the sole object of Russia to obtain security for the enjoyment by the Christian subjects of the Porte of their privileges and immunities, she would have found it in the offers that have been made by the Sultan. But as that security was not offered in the shape of a special and separate stipulation with Russia, it was rejected. Twice has this offer been made by the Sultan, and recommended by the 4 Powers, once by a note originally prepared at Vienna, and subsequently modified by the Porte, once by the proposal of bases of negotiation agreed upon at Constantinople on the 31st of December, and approved at Vienna on the 13th of January, as offering to the two parties the means of arriving at an understanding in a becoming and honourable manner.

It is thus manifest that a right for Russia to interfere in the ordinary relations of Turkish subjects to their Sovereign, and not the happiness of Christian communities in Turkey, was the object sought for by the Russian Government; to such a demand the Sultan would not submit, and His Highness, in self-defence, declared War upon Russia (No. 234); but Her Majesty nevertheless, in conjunction with her Allies, has not ceased her endeavours to restore Peace between the contending parties.

The time has, however, now arrived when the advice and remonstrances of the 4 Powers having proved wholly ineffectual, and the military preparations of Russia becoming daily more

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34. FORNA

[War with Russia.]

extended, it is but too obvious that the Emperor of Russia has entered upon a course of policy which, if unchecked, must lead to the destruction of the Ottoman Empire.

In this conjuncture, Her Majesty feels called upon by regard for an Ally, the Integrity and Independence of whose Empire have been recognised as essential to the Peace of Europe, by the sympathies of her people with right against wrong, by a desire to avert from her dominions most injurious consequences, and to save Europe from the preponderance of a Power which has violated the faith of Treaties, and defies the opinion of the civilised world, to take up Arms, in conjunction with the Emperor of the French, for the defence of the Sultan.

Her Majesty is persuaded that in so acting she will have the cordial support of her people; and that the pretext of zeal for the Christian Religion will be used in vain to cover an aggression undertaken in disregard of its Holy precepts and of its pure and beneficent spirit.

Her Majesty humbly trusts that her efforts may be successful, and that, by the blessing of Providence, Peace may be re-established on safe and solid foundations.

Westminster, 28th March, 1854.

[Integrity of Turkey.]

No. 241.-PROTOCOL of Conference between Great Britain, Austria, France, and Prussia, for the Maintenance of the Integrity of the Ottoman Empire.* Vienna, 9th April, 1854.

(Translation as laid before Parliament.†) Present: The Representatives of Austria, France, Great Britain, and Prussia.

(Extract.)

Ar the request of the Plenipotentiaries of France and of Great Britain, the Conference met to hear the documents read which establish that the invitation addressed to the Cabinet of St. Petersburgh to evacuate the Moldo-Wallachian Provinces within a fixed time having remained unanswered, the state of War already declared between Russia and the Sublime Porte is in actual existence equally between Russia, on the one side, and France and Great Britain, on the other.

This change which has taken place in the attitude of two of the Powers represented at the Conference of Vienna, in consequence of a step taken directly by France and England, supported by Austria and Prussia as being founded in right, has been considered by the Representatives of Austria and Prussia as involving the necessity of a fresh Declaration of the Union of the 4 Powers upon the ground of the principles laid down in the Protocols of the 5th December, 1853, and the 13th January, 1854.

In consequence, the Undersigned have at this solemn moment declared that their Governments remain united in the double object of maintaining the Territorial Integrity of the Ottoman Empire, of which the fact of the Evacuation of the Danubian Principalities is and will remain one of the essential conditions; and of consolidating in an interest so much in conformity with the sentiments of the Sultan, and by every means compatible with his Independence and Sovereignty, the Civil and Religious Rights of the Christian subjects of the Porte.

* Referred to in Treaty of 2nd December, 1854.

For French version, see "State Papers," vol. xliv, p. 82.

The British Note was delivered to Count Nesselrode by the British Consul at St. Petersburgh, on the 14th March, 1854; and on the 19th of the same month Count Nesselrode informed him that "the Emperor did not think it becoming in him to give any reply to Lord Clarendon."

[Integrity of Turkey.]

The Territorial Integrity of the Ottoman Empire is and remains the sine quâ non condition of every transaction having for its object the re-establishment of Peace between the Belligerent Powers; and the Governments represented by the Undersigned engage to endeavour in common to discover the Guarantees most likely to attach the existence of that Empire to the general equilibrium of Europe; as they also declare themselves ready to deliberate and to come to an understanding as to the employment of the means calculated to accomplish the object of their agreement.

Whatever event may arise in consequence of this Agreement, founded solely upon the general interests of Europe, and of which the object can only be attained by the return of a firm and lasting Peace, the Governments represented by the Undersigned reciprocally engage not to enter into any Definitive Arrangement with the Imperial Court of Russia, or with any other Power, which would be at variance with the principles above enunciated, without previously deliberating thereon in common.

BUOL-SCHAUENSTEIN.
BOURQUENEY.
WESTMORLAND.

ARNIM.

[War with Russia.]

No. 242.-CONVENTION between Great Britain and France, relative to Military Aid to be given to Turkey. Signed at London, 10th April, 1854.*

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1. Measures for the Re-establishment of Peace.

2. Naval and Military Assistance to Turkey.

3. Contracting Parties not to enter into Arrangements with Russia without previous deliberation.

4. Contracting Parties Benounce the Acquisition of any Advantages. 5. Admittance of European Powers into Alliance.

6. Ratifications.

(English Version.†)

THEIR Majesties the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Emperor of the French, having determined to afford their support to His Majesty the Sultan Abdul Medjid, Emperor of the Ottomans, in the War in which he is engaged against the Aggressions of Russia; and being, moreover, compelled, notwithstanding their sincere and persevering efforts for the maintenance of Peace, to become themselves belligerent parties in a War which, without their active intervention, would have threatened the existing Balance of Power in Europe, and the interests of their own dominions; have, in consequence, resolved to conclude a Convention in order to determine the object of their Alliance, as well as the means to be employed in common for fulfilling that object; and have for that purpose named as their Plenipotentiaries :

Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Right Honourable George William Frederick, Earl of Clarendon, Baron Hyde of Hindon, a Peer of the United Kingdom, a Member of Her Britannic Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, Her Britannic Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, &c.;

And His Majesty the Emperor of the French, the Sieur Alexander Colonna, Count Walewski, his Ambassador to Her Britannic Majesty, &c.:

* Acceded to by Sardinia, on the 26th January, 1855.

+ For French Version, see "State Papers," vol. xliv, p. 8.

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