[Conferences of Laybach.]

After having removed the misconception to which the passage of the Circular in question, if passed over in silence, might give countenance; and having stated in general terms, without however entering into the argument, the dissent of His Majesty's Government from the general principle upon which the Circular in question is founded, it should be clearly understood that no Government can be more prepared than the British Government is, to uphold the right of any State or States to interfere, where their own immediate security or essential interests are seriously endangered by the internal transactions of another State.-But as they regard the assumption of such right, as only to be justified by the strongest necessity, and to be limited and regulated thereby, they cannot admit that this right can receive a general and indiscriminate application to all Revolutionary Movements, without reference to their immediate bearing upon some particular State or States, or be made prospectively the basis of an Alliance.-They regard its exercise as an exception to general principles of the greatest value and importance, and as one that only properly grows out of the circumstances of the special case; but they at the same time consider that exceptions of this description never can, without the utmost danger, be so far reduced to rule, as to be incorporated into the ordinary diplomacy of States, or into the institutes of the Law of Nations.

As it appears that certain of the Ministers of the three Courts have already communicated this Circular Despatch to the Courts to which they are accredited, I leave it to your discretion to make a corresponding communication, on the part of your Government, regulating your language in conformity to the principles laid down in the present despatch. You will take care, however, in making such communication, to do justice, in the name of your Government, to the purity of intention, which has no doubt actuated these August Courts in the adoption of the course of measures which they are pursuing. The difference of sentiment which prevails between them and the Court of London on this matter, you may declare, can make no alteration whatever in the cordiality and harmony of the Alliance on any other subject, or abate their common zeal in giving the most complete effect to all their existing engagements.

I am, &c.

CASTLEREAGH.

[Conferences of Laybach.]

No. 108.-DECLARATION of the Allied Sovereigns of Austria, Prussia, and Russia, on the breaking up of the Conferences of Laybach, after the Suppression of the Revolutions in the Two Sicilies and Sardinia.-Signed at Laybach, 12th May, 1821.

(Translation.*)

EUROPE knows the motives for the resolution taken by the Allied Sovereigns to stifle the Conspiracies, and to put an end to the Disturbances which threatened the existence of that General Peace, the re-establishment of which cost so many efforts and so many sacrifices.

At the very time at which their generous determination was being accomplished in the Kingdom of Naples, a rebellion, if possible, of a still more odious character, broke out in Piedmont.

Neither the ties which for so many centuries unite the Reigning House of Savoy to her People, or the benefits of an enlightened administration under a wise Prince and under Paternal Laws, nor the unhappy perspective of the evils to which the country was about to be exposed, were able to restrain the designs of the wicked.

The plan for a general overthrow was drawn up. In that vast combination against the tranquillity of nations, the Piedmontese Conspirators had their part assigned to them. They hastened to fulfil it.

The Throne and the State have been betrayed; oaths were violated, and military honour disowned, and the forgetfulness of all duty soon brought about the scourge of all the disturbances.

Everywhere the evil presented the same character, everywhere the same spirit directed those fatal Revolutions.

Not being able to find plausible reasons to justify them, or a national support to maintain them, the authors of those disturbances seek for an apology under false doctrines, they build a still more criminal hope by criminal associations. For them the salutary empire of the Laws is a yoke to be broken. They disclaim all feelings which the love of country inspire, and putting in the place of known duties arbitrary and indefinite pretexts of

* For French version see "State Papers," vol. viii., p. 1199.

[Conferences of Laybach.]

a universal change in the constitutive principles of Society, they prepare for the world unending calamities.

The Allied Sovereigns had discovered the dangers of that Conspiracy in their full extent, but they had at the same time seen the real weakness of the Conspirators through the veil of special pleading. Experience has confirmed their anticipations. Resistance which legitimate Authority has met with has been of no effect, and crime has disappeared before the sword of Justice.

It is not to accidental causes, it is not even to men who behaved so badly in the day of battle, that the ease of such a success is attributable. It arises from a more consoling principle, and more worthy of consideration.

Providence has struck terror in such guilty consciences, and the disapproval of the Peoples, whose destiny had been compromised by the promoters of disorder, made them lay down their

arms.

Destined simply to fight against and repel rebellion, the Allied Forces, far from upholding any exclusive interest, came to the assistance of subdued Peoples, and they considered it as coming in support of their liberty, and not as an attack against their independence. From that moment war ceased; from that moment the States which the revolt had overtaken, became friendly States towards the Powers who had never looked for anything but their tranquillity and their prosperity.

In the midst of such serious events, and in such a delicate position, the Allied Sovereigns, in conjunction with their Majesties the King of the Two Sicilies and the King of Sardinia, have considered it indispensable to take temporary measures of precaution pointed out by prudence and prescribed by the common good. The Allied Troops, whose presence was necessary for the re-establishment of order, have been distributed in convenient places, with the sole object of protecting the free exercise of legitimate authority and assisting it in preparing, under that protection, the benefits which are to blot out the traces of such great misfortunes.

The justice and disinterestedness which have presided over the deliberations of the Allied Sovereigns shall always regulate their policy. For the future, as in time past, the object of that policy will always be the preservation of the Independence and of the Rights of each State, such as they are recognised and defined in existing Treaties. The result even of such a danger

[Conferences of Laybach.]

ous movement will still be uuder the guidance of Providence, the strengthening of that Peace which the enemies of the Peoples strive to destroy, and that consolidation of an order of things which shall insure to Nations their repose and their prosperity.

Impressed with these feelings, the Allied Sovereigns on the termination of the Conferences of Laybach, wish to proclaim to the World the principles which guided them. They have decided never to depart therefrom, and all friends of right will see and will constantly find in their Union, a guarantee against the attempts of disturbers of the peace.

It is with that object that their Imperial and Royal Majesties have ordered their Plenipotentiaries to sign and publish the present Declaration.

METTERNICH.

LE BARON DE VINCENT.

KRUSEMARCK.

NESSELRODE.

CAPODISTRIAS.

POZZO DE BORGO.

[Limits.]

No. 109.

ART.

CONVENTION between Austria and Parma,

for the Rectification of their respective Frontiers. Signed at Placentia, 25th May, 1821.*

TABLE.

Preamble. Reference to Vienna Congress Treaty of 9th June, 1815. 1. Boundaries defined in Protocol of Demarcation of 25th April, 1820, which is the basis of this Convention.

2. Possessions of each Party.

3. Cessions to be made to respective Parties.

4. Enjoyment of Revenues from the Ceded Places.

5. Stipulation as to Hydraulic Works.

6. Stipulation as to Islands hereafter formed by the Po.

7. Stipulation as to Islands re-uniting with the Continent. 8. Ratifications.

Reference to Vienna Congress Treaty of 9th June, 1815.

COUNT Albert Adam de Neipperg, and Count Julius de Strassoldo, respectively empowered on the part of Her Majesty the Archduchess of Parma, and on the part of His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Austria, having met to define the boundary along the Po between His Imperial Majesty's States, in conformity with Article XCV. of the Act of the Congress of Vienna (No. 27), have agreed upon the following Articles :

ARTS. I. to VIII. (See Table.)

Placentia, 25th May, 1821.

COUNT DE NEIPPERG.

COUNT DE STRASSOLDO.

*See also Treaty of 3rd July, 1849.