[Poland.] straightforwardness and honesty of which the British Cabinet has so often been in a position to appreciate, invests His Imperial Majesty with this right. On the other hand, the British Government is not under the disagreeable necessity of submitting to the requirements of a party which only seeks to disturb the friendly relations of the Powers with a view of their attaining the object of its efforts, that is, general confusion. This Government will, therefore, avail themselves of their power to pursue the line of conduct prescribed by their principles of justice and the wisdom of their councils. By a necessary consequence they will respect the rights of the Emperor in the justest of causes. We have just, mon Prince, with perfect straightforwardness, expressed our opinion on the subject of the communication which Lord Heytesbury made to us by order of his Court. This was due to the bond of friendship that unites the two Governments, and which the Emperor will always be anxious to maintain. It was due especially to the friendly spirit which pervaded that communication. But His Imperial Majesty flatters himself that our explanations will be satisfactory to the British Government, and that it is the last time he will be called upon to give explanations on a subject which concerns himself exclusively. His Majesty is all the more anxious for this, as he highly values the importance of rendering his relations with the British Government more and more intimate, and that he is anxious to remove from them everything that could impair them. Your Highness will be so good as to explain this wish to Lord Palmerston, when you communicate the contents of this despatch to him. NESSELRODE. [See further British Protests of 23rd November, 1831, and 3rd July, 1832.] [Poland.] No. 158. MANIFESTO of the Emperor of Russia, on the promulgation of a New Organic Statute for the Govern ment of the Kingdom of Poland. St. Petersburgh, 26th February, 1832. (Translation.*) By the Grace of God, We, Nicolas I, Emperor of All the Russias, King of Poland, &c. the 6th February In announcing to our faithful subjects by our Manifesto of 2 of last year, the entrance of our Armies into the Kingdom of Poland, momentarily withdrawn by rebellion from the legitimate Sovereign, we have declared our intention to strengthen the future of that country on solid bases, in harmony with the events and well-being of the whole of our Empire. Now that the strength of our arms has put a stop to the disturbances which have agitated the Kingdom of Poland, and that the nation, led on by factions, has been brought back to duty, and pacified, we have judged that the time has arrived to fulfil our intentions, and to lay down the basis of a solid and lasting state of affairs, in order to guarantee from all new attempts the indissoluble Peace and Union of the two peoples, which Divine Providence has confided to our care. The Kingdom of Poland, already conquered by the victorious arms of Russia, had not only recovered a national existence in 1815, but had obtained a Constitutional Charter [27th November, 1815], monument of the magnanimity of our august predecessor, the Emperor Alexander, of glorious memory. That Charter has nevertheless not satisfied men inimical to all order and legitimate power. In their guilty projects, dreaming of separation of the two subject to our sceptre, they have abused the benefits of the regeneration of their country, and have used as a means to overthrow his work the privileges and constitutions which they possessed exclusively from his sovereign will. Torrents of blood have been shed; the peace and prosperity which the Kingdom of countries enjoyed to a degree unknown until then, have given way to the horrors of civil war and total ruin. These disasters have nevertheless come to an end. The Kingdom of Poland, brought For French Version see "State Papers," vol. xix, p. 961. [Poland.] back again under our power, is now pacified, and is again about to breathe under a tutelar regimen. But our paternal solicitude for our faithful subjects enjoins on us the duty of preventing, as far as depends upon us, the return of similar disasters, and to remove from the evil-intentioned the means which they have themselves laid bare to disturb henceforth the public Peace. We wish, at the same time, that our subjects of the Kingdom of Poland should enjoy all the advantages necessary to their wellbeing and the prosperity of their country; that the respect for persons and property, liberty of Commerce, and municipal franchise, should be maintained; that they should have a distinct Administration, in conformity with their wants, in such manner as that the Kingdom of Poland may never cease to form an integral part of our Empire, and that they may in future make with the Russians but one nation, one people of brothers. For these purposes, we have judged it necessary to determine by an Organic Statute, promulgated under this day's date, the future organisation destined for the said Kingdom, in conformity with the intentions described above. Given at St. Petersburgh, the 44th February, of the year of Our Lord, 1832, and the 7th year of our reign. The Minister Secretary of State, COMTE ETIENNE GRABOWSKI. NICOLAS. (ANNEX.) ORGANIC STATUTE of the Kingdom of Poland.— [Sovereignty of Greece.] No. 159.-CONVENTION between Great Britain, France, and Russia, on the one part, and Bavaria on the other, relative to the Sovereignty of Greece. Signed at London, 7th May, 1832.* ART. TABLE. 1. Offer of Hereditary Sovereignty of Greece to Prince Otho of Bavaria. 2. Acceptance of Hereditary Sovereignty by King of Bavaria. 3. Title of King of Greece. 4. Greece to form a Monarchical and Independent State, under the Guarantee of Great Britain, France, and Russia. 5. Limits of Greece. 6. King of Greece to be a Contracting Party to Definitive Treaty. 7. Three Courts to obtain recognition of King Otho. 8. Royal Crown to be Hereditary. Crown of Greece and Bavaria not to be united. 9. Majority of Prince Otho. 10. Regency during Minority of King of Greece. 11. Prince Otho to retain his Appanages in Bavaria, and to be assisted by King of Bavaria. 12. Guarantee of Loan by 3 Powers. Extent of Loan. Loan to be raised by Instalments. Guarantee of Interest and Sinking Fund by 3 Powers. Payment of Interest and Sinking Fund by Greece. Representatives of 3 Courts to watch over fulfilment of engagement by Greece. 13. Pecuniary Compensation to Turkey to be paid out of proceeds of Loan. 14. Bavarian Troops to be raised for King of Greece. Evacuation of Greece by Allied Troops. 15. Bavarian Officers to organize a National Military Force. 16. Regency to proceed to Greece without delay. 17. Declaration of 3 Courts to Greek Nation. 18. Ratifications. (Translation as laid before Parliament.†) THE Courts of Great Britain, France, and Russia, exercising the power conveyed to them by the Greek nation, to make choice of a Sovereign for Greece, raised to the rank of an Independent State, and being desirous of giving to that country a fresh proof of their friendly disposition by the election of a Prince descended Royal House, the friendship and alliance of which cannot fail to be of essential service to Greece, and which has already acquired claims to her esteem and gratitude, have resolved to offer the Crown of the new Greek State to the Prince Frederick Otho of Bavaria, second son of His Majesty the King of Bavaria. *See also Treaties of 13th July, and 14th November, 1863; and 29th from a March, 1864. t For French version, see "State Papers," vol. xix, p. 33. [Sovereignty of Greece.] His Majesty the King of Bavaria, on his part, acting in the character of guardian of the said Prince Otho during his minority, participating in the views of the 3 Courts, and duly appreciating the motives which have induced them to fix their choice upon a Prince of his House, has determined to accept the Crown of Greece for his second son, the Prince Frederick Otho of Bavaria. In consequence of such acceptance, and for the purpose of agreeing upon the arrangements which it has rendered necessary, their Majesties the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the King of the French, and the Emperor of All the Russias, on the one part, and His Majesty the King of Bavaria, on the other, have named as their Plenipotentiaries, viz.: His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Right Honourable Henry John, Viscount Palmerston, Baron Temple, a Peer of Ireland, a Member of His Britannic Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, a Member of Parliament, and his Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; His Majesty the King of the French, the Sieur Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord, Prince-Duke de Talleyrand, Peer of France, His said Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to His Britannic Majesty, &c.; His Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias, the Sieur Christopher, Prince of Lieven, General of Infantry in his Armies, his Aide-de-Camp General, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to His Britannic Majesty, &c.;-and the Sieur Adam, Count Matuszewic, Privy Councillor of His said Majesty, &c.; And His Majesty the King of Bavaria, the Sieur Augustus, Baron de Cetto, his Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to His Britannic Majesty; Who, after having exchanged their Full Powers, found to be in good and due form, have agreed upon and signed the following Articles: Offer of Hereditary Sovereignty of Greece to Prince Otho of Bavaria. ART. I. The Courts of Great Britain, France, and Russia, duly authorised for this purpose by the Greek nation, offer the hereditary Sovereignty of Greece to the Prince Frederick Otho of Bavaria, second son of His Majesty the King of Bavaria. |