[Integrity of Turkey.] No. 241.-PROTOCOL of Conference between Great (Translation as laid before Parliament.†) Vienna, 9th 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 qua 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. 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.* 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 Renounce 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. [War with Russia.] Who, after having communicated to each other their Full Powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon and signed the following Articles: Measures for the re-establishment of Peace. ART. I. The High Contracting Parties engage to do all that shall depend upon them for the purpose of bringing about the re-establishment of Peace between Russia and the Sublime Porte on solid and durable bases, and of preserving Europe from the recurrence of the lamentable complications which have now so unhappily disturbed the general Peace. Naval and Military Assistance to Turkey. ART. II. The Integrity of the Ottoman Empire being violated by the Occupation of the Provinces of Moldavia and of Wallachia, and by other movements of the Russian troops, their Majesties the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland and the Emperor of the French have concerted, and will concert together, as to the most proper means for liberating the Territory of the Sultan from Foreign Invasion, and for accomplishing the object specified in Article I. For this purpose they engage to maintain, according to the requirements of the War, to be judged of by common agreement, sufficient Naval and Military Forces to meet those requirements, the. description, number, and destination whereof shall, if occasion should arise, be determined by subsequent Arrangements. Contracting Parties not to enter into Arrangements with Russia without previous deliberation. ART. III. Whatever events may arise from the execution of the Present Convention, the High Contracting Parties engage not to entertain any Overture or any Proposition having for its object the Cessation of Hostilities, nor to enter into any Arrangement with the Imperial Court of Russia, without having first deliberated thereupon in common. Contracting Parties renounce the Acquisition of any Advantages. ART. IV. The High Contracting Parties being animated with a desire to maintain the Balance of Power in Europe, and having no interested ends in view, renounce beforehand the Acquisition [War with Russia.] of any Advantage for themselves from the events which may occur. Admittance of European Powers into Alliance. ART. V. Their Majesties the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the Emperor of the French will readily admit into their Alliance, in order to co-operate for the proposed object, such of the other Powers of Europe as may be desirous of becoming party to it.* Ratifications.† ART. VI. The present Convention shall be ratified, and the Ratifications shall be exchanged at London within 8 days. In witness whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the same, and have affixed thereto the Seal of their Arms. Done at London, the 10th day of April, in the year of Our Lord, 1854. (L.S.) CLARENDON. See Convention between Great Britain, France, and Sardinia of 26th January, 1855. + Ratifications exchanged at London, 15th April, 1854. |