[Treaty of Zurich.] the pacification of men's minds, His Majesty the King of Sardinia and His Majesty the Emperor of Austria declare and promise that, in their respective Territories, and in the Countries restored or ceded, no Individual compromised on the occasion of the late events in the Peninsula, of whatever class or condition he may be, shall be prosecuted, disturbed, or troubled in his person or in his property, on account of his political conduct and opinions. Ratifications. ART. XXIII. The present Treaty shall be ratified, and its Ratifications exchanged at Zurich in the space of 15 days, or sooner if possible. In faith of which the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed and sealed it. Done at Zurich, on the 10th day of the month of November, in the year of Grace, 1859. (L.S.) KAROLYI. (L.S.) BANNEVILLE. (L.S.) JOCTEAU. [In March, 1859, Proposals were made by Russia for the assembling of a European Congress to settle the Affairs of Italy. The British Government expressed its willingness to join such a Meeting, although preferring a Conference, provided a fixed basis. was previously agreed upon; and the following 4 points were mentioned for discussion (19th March, 1859): 1. Evacuation. 2. Reform. 3. Security of Sardinia against Austrian attack. 4. Substitution of a plan for the internal security of the small States, in place of the Treaties with Austria of 1847 (Nos. 206, 208). It was understood that the Territorial Arrangements of Europe, as fixed by the Treaty of 1815, should not be interfered with. A 5th Point was subsequently proposed by Austria (31st March, 1859), namely, that an agreement should be come to with regard to a simultaneous Disarmament by the Great Powers. Insuperable difficulties presented themselves, and the Congress was not held.] [Fortresses of Placentia, Ferrara, and Commachio.] No. 304.-DECLARATION between the Plenipotentiaries of Austria and France, declaring the Renunciation by Austria of the right of Garrison of the Fortresses of Placentia, Ferrara, and Commachio. Zurich, 10th November, 1859. (Translation.*) Present: The Plenipotentiaries of Austria and France. THE Dispositions of the Treaty signed this day (No. 301), between Austria and France, having settled on new Bases, the relations between the different States of Italy, the Plenipotentiaries of Austria have declared that the intention of their Sovereign was to renounce to the Right of Garrison of the Fortresses of Placentia, Ferrara, and Commachio, such as it had been stipulated by the Final Act of the Congress of Vienna (No. 27), and by the Treaty of Paris of 10th June, 1817 (No. 73). The Plenipotentiaries of France made a note of this Declaration. In faith of which the Plenipotentiaries have signed the present Protocol. Done at Zurich, 10th November, 1859. BOURQUENEY. BANNEVILLE. KAROLYI. * For French version, see "State Papers," vol. 1, p. 1016. [Italian Confederation.] No. 305.-DECLARATION between the Plenipotentiaries of Austria and France, declaring the Italian Provinces of Austria, which are to form part of the Italian Confederation. Zurich, 10th November, 1859. (Translation.*) Present: The Plenipotentiaries of Austria and France. WITH the view of allowing no doubt to exist on the meaning of the engagement taken by His Imperial and Royal Majesty to favour, by common consent with His Majesty the Emperor of the French, the creation of an Italian Confederation, the Austrian Plenipotentiaries declare that it is well understood that the Italian Provinces of His Imperial and Royal Majesty which shall have to form part of the Italian Confederation, are composed of the Venetian Kingdom, within its actual Limits, and the part of Lombardy reserved to the Imperial Crown by the Treaty of Peace of 10th November, 1859† (No. 301), and that no Property or Territory possessed by His Imperial Majesty beyond the said Countries, can be claimed for the Confederation in question. The French Plenipotentiaries made a note of this Declaration. In faith of which the Plenipotentiaries have signed the present Protocol. Done at Zurich, 10th November, 1859. BOURQUENEY. KAROLYI. BANNEVILLE. MEYSENBUG. *For French version, see "State Papers," vol. 1, p. 1017. [Italian Boundary. River Po.] No. 306.-PROTOCOL OF CONFERENCE between the Plenipotentiaries of Austria, France, and Sardinia. Signed at Zurich, 21st November, 1859. (Translation.*) Interpretation of Article IV† of the Treaty of Peace of 10th November, 1859, relative to the Delimitation along the Po. ON the exchange of the Ratifications of the Treaty of Peace concluded between France and Austria (No. 301), a careful study of Article IV of that Treaty points out a passage, the compilation of which might give rise to a misunderstanding, or at least to a doubtful interpretation. In that paragraph, beginning with the words "This circle will be determined by a circumference," it is said "the Frontier will follow the thalweg of the River (Mincio), as far as Le Grazie, will extend from Le Grazie in a straight line to Scorzarolo, will follow the thalweg of the Po to Luzzara." According to its usual acceptation, the expression quoted above "will follow the thalweg of the Po," would mean will descend the course of the River. Therefore as Luzzara does not proceed upwards, but down from the point of Scorzarolo, the expression "will proceed up the thalweg of the Po," instead of "will follow," appears to be more correct and to indicate in a more positive manner that part of the new Delimitation of the Frontier. With a view of preventing every uncertainty which might arise from the compilation adopted in the Treaty, and to re-establish in all its clearness the sense to be attached to the above passage of Article IV, the Plenipotentiaries of France and Austria have agreed to record in this Protocol the above explanation. In testimony whereof, the Plenipotentiaries have signed the present Protocol. Done at Zurich, 21st November, 1859. BOURQUENEY. BANNEVILLE. KAROLYI. DES AMBROIS. *For French version, see "State Papers," vol. 1, p. 1019. + Page 1383. [Protocol. Annexation of Savoy to France.] No. 307.-PROTEST of the Swiss Government against the Annexation of the Districts of Savoy (Chablais, Faucigny, and the Genevese) to France. Paris, 15th March, 1860.* The Swiss Minister in Paris to the British Ambassador in Paris. (Translation as laid before Parliament.) M. LE MINISTRE, Paris, 15th March, 1860. In compliance with a despatch from Berne, it is my duty to inform your Excellency that the Federal Council has addressed to His Majesty the King of Sardinia a Note, in which it demands the observation of the stipulations of the Treaty of 1564, confirmed by the Treaty of the 16th March, 1816 (No. 52), between Sardinia and Switzerland, so far as they affect the Cession of the existing Savoyard Territory to another Power. I must observe, that my Government most distinctly regards any Annexation of the Neutralised Provinces of Chablais, Faucigny, and the Genevese to another Power as being in contradiction to the stipulations of the Treaties of 1815, which guarantee those Provinces, in the interest of Swiss Neutrality, as if they were an integral portion of the Confederation, declaring "that they are to benefit by the Neutrality of Switzerland in the same way as if they belonged to her." Meanwhile, my instructions impose on me the duty, referring to the reasons which I had the honour to state to you at the audience which you were good enough to grant me on the 13th of March, to protest formally, in the name of the Swiss Confederation, against any measure which should have for its object the annexation of those Provinces to France, until the Powers of Europe, to whom the Imperial Government itself has declared its desire to submit this question, shall have pronounced their opinion. I avail, &c., Earl Cowley. KERN. On the 11th and 14th March, 1860, the Swiss Federal Council also addressed Notes to the Sardinian Government protesting against any vote of the people of Savoy, or any act of the Sardinian Government, which might tend to alter the existing condition of Savoy, without consideration being paid to the rights which Switzerland possesses to those parts of Savoy which are neutralised. See also Treaty between France and Sardinia of 24th March, 1860, Article II, respecting conditions of transfer to France of Neutralized Portions of Savoy; and further, Swiss Protest of 28th March, 1860. |