[Mediation.] Count Buol says that Count Cavour, in speaking in another sitting of the occupation of the Legations by Austrian Troops, forgot that other Foreign Troops have been invited into the Roman States. To-day, while speaking of the Occupation by Austria of the Kingdom of Naples in 1821, he forgets that that occupation was the result of an understanding between the 5 Great Powers assembled at the Congress of Laybach. In both cases he attributes to Austria the merit of an initiative and of a spontaneous action, which the Austrian Plenipotentiaries are far from claiming for her. The Intervention, adverted to by the Plenipotentiary of Sardinia, took place, he adds, in consequence of the discussions of the Congress of Laybach; it therefore comes within the scope of the ideas expressed by Lord Clarendon. Similar cases might perhaps recur, and Count Buol does not allow that an Intervention carried into effect in consequence of an agreement come to between the 5 Great Powers, can become the object of remonstrances of a State of the second order. Count Buol approves the proposition in the shape that Lord Clarendon has presented it, as having a humane object; but he could not assent to it if it were wished to give to it too great an extension, or to deduce from it consequences favourable to de facto Governments, and to doctrines which he cannot admit. He desires besides that the Conference, at the moment of terminating its labours, should not find itself compelled to discuss irritating questions, calculated to disturb the perfect harmony which has not ceased to prevail among the Plenipotentiaries. Count Cavour declares that he is fully satisfied with the explanations which he has elicited, and he accedes to the proposition submitted to the Congress. Whereupon the Plenipotentiaries do not hesitate to express, in the name of their Governments, the wish that States between which any serious misunderstanding may arise, should, before appealing to Arms, have recourse, as far as circumstances might allow, to the Good Offices of a friendly Power. The Plenipotentiaries hope that the Governments not represented at the Congress will unite in the sentiment which has inspired the wish recorded in the present Protocol.* (The Signatures follow.) For List of Accessions, see page 1284. [Integrity of the Ottoman Empire.] No. 270.-TREATY between Great Britain, Austria, and France, guaranteeing the Independence and Integrity of the Ottoman Empire. Signed at Paris, 15th April, 1856. Preamble. Reference to Treaty of 30th March, 1856. 1. Guarantee of Independence and Integrity of the Ottoman Empire. 2. Any Infraction of Treaty of 30th March, 1856, to be considered as a casus belli. 3. Ratifications. (Translation as laid before Parliament.*) Reference to Treaty of 30th March, 1856. HER Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, His Majesty the Emperor of Austria, and His Majesty the Emperor of the French, wishing to settle between themselves the combined action which any infraction of the stipulations of the Peace of Paris (No. 264) would involve on their part, have named for that purpose as their Plenipotentiaries, that is to say: Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Right Honourable George William Frederick Earl of Clarendon, Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, &c.; and the Right Honourable Henry Richard Charles Baron Cowley, Her Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to His Majesty the Emperor of the French, &c.; His Majesty the Emperor of Austria, the Sieur Charles Ferdinand Count de Buol-Schauenstein, President of the Conference of Ministers, &c.; and the Sieur Joseph Alexander Baron de Hübner, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of France, &c.; And His Majesty the Emperor of the French, the Sieur Alexander Count Colonna Walewski, his Minister and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, &c.; and the Sieur Francis Adolphus Baron de Bourqueney, his Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to His Imperial and Royal Apostolic Majesty, &c.; *For French Version, see "State Papers," vol. xlvi, p. 25. [Integrity of the Ottoman Empire.] Who, after having exchanged their Full Powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon the following Articles : Guarantee of Independence and Integrity of the Ottoman Empire. ART. I. The High Contracting Parties Guarantee, jointly and severally, the Independence and the Integrity of the Ottoman Empire, recorded in the Treaty concluded at Paris on the 30th of March, 1856 (No. 264). Any Infraction of Treaty of 30th March, 1856, to be considered as a casus belli. ART. II. Any infraction of the stipulations of the said Treaty will be considered by the Powers signing the present Treaty as a casus belli. They will come to an understanding with the Sublime Porte as to the measures which have become necessary, and will without delay determine among themselves as to the employment of their Military and Naval Forces. Ratifications. ART. III. The present Treaty shall be ratified, and the Ratifications shall be exchanged in a fortnight, or sooner if possible. In witness whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the same, and have affixed thereto the Seal of their Arms. Done at Paris, the 15th day of the month of April, in the year 1856. * Ratifications exchanged at Paris, 29th April, 1856. [Maritime Law.] No. 271.-DECLARATION signed by the Plenipotentiaries of Great Britain, Austria, France, Prussia, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey, respecting Maritime Law. Paris, 16th April, 1856.* TABLE. Neutral Goods. Blockades. (Translation as laid before Parliament.†) THE Plenipotentiaries who signed the Treaty of Paris of the 30th of March, 1856 (No. 264), assembled in Conference,— Considering: That Maritime Law, in time of War, has long been the subject of deplorable disputes; That the uncertainty of the law and of the duties in such a matter, gives rise to differences of opinion between Neutrals and Belligerents which may occasion serious difficulties, and even conflicts; That it is consequently advantageous to establish a uniform doctrine on so important a point; That the Plenipotentiaries assembled in Congress at Paris cannot better respond to the intentions by which their Governments are animated, than by seeking to introduce into international relations fixed principles in this respect; The above-mentioned Plenipotentiaries, being duly authorised, resolved to concert among themselves as to the means of attaining this object; and, having come to an agreement, have adopted the following solemn Declaration : Privateering. 1. Privateering is, and remains abolished; Neutral Flag. 2. The Neutral Flag covers Enemy's Goods, with the excep tion of Contraband of War; See also Protocols, Paris, Nos. 22, 23, and 24, of 8th, 14th, and 16th April, 1856. (No. 268.) + For French version, see "State Papers," vol. xlvi, p. 26. [Maritime Law.] Neutral Goods. 3. Neutral Goods, with the exception of Contraband of War, are not liable to capture under Enemy's Flag; Blockades. 4. Blockades, in order to be binding, must be effective, that is to say, maintained by a force sufficient really to prevent access to the coast of the enemy. The Governments of the Undersigned Plenipotentiaries engage to bring the present Declaration to the knowledge of the States which have not taken part in the Congress of Paris, and to invite them to accede to it. Convinced that the maxims which they now proclaim cannot but be received with gratitude by the whole world, the undersigned Plenipotentiaries doubt not that the efforts of their Governments to obtain the general adoption thereof, will be crowned with full success. The present Declaration is not and shall not be binding, except between those Powers who have acceded, or shall accede, to it.* Done at Paris, the 16th of April, 1856. BUOL-SCHAUENSTEIN. HUBNER. WALEWSKI. BOURQUENEY. CLARENDON. COWLEY. MANTEUFFEL. ORLOFF. BRUNNOW. CAVOUR. DE VILLAMARINA. AALI. MEHEMMED DJEMIL. HATZFELDT. *For List of Accessions, see next page. |