[Hatti-Humaïoun. Christian Privileges, &c.] plish these objects means shall be sought to profit by the science, the art, and the funds of Europe, and thus gradually to execute them. Such being my wishes and my commands, you, who are my Grand Vizier, will, according to custom, cause this Imperial Firman to be published in my capital and in all parts of my Empire; and you will watch attentively, and take all the necessary measures that all the orders which it contains be henceforth carried out with the most rigorous punctuality. 10 Dzemaziul, 1272 (18th February, 1856). [Peace of Paris. Close of Crimean War.] No. 264.-GENERAL TREATY of Peace between Great Britain, Austria, France, Prussia, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey. Signed at Paris, 30th March, 1856.* ART. TABLE. Preamble. Integrity and Independence of Ottoman Empire. 1. Peace and Friendship. 2. Evacuation of Territories. 3. Restoration of Kars, &c., to Turkey. 4. Restoration of Sebastopol, Balaklava, Kamiesch, Eupatoria, Kertch, Jenikale, Kinburn, &c., to Russia. 5. Amnesty. pardon 6. Prisoners of War. 7. Admission of the Sublime Porte into the European System. Guarantee of Independence of Ottoman Empire.t 8. Mediation, in event of misunderstanding, between the Sublime Porte and one or more of the Contracting Powers. 9. Amelioration of condition of Christian Population of Ottoman Empire. Non-interference of Allies in Internal Affairs of Ottoman Empire. 10. Closing of Straits of Bosphorus and Dardanelles. 11. Neutralisation of the Black Sea. 12. Commercial Regulations in the Black Sea. Appointment of Foreign Consuls in Ports of Black Sea. 13. Military-maritime Arsenals not to be established or maintained on Coasts of Black Sea. 14. Russian and Ottoman Naval Force in Black Sea. 15. Free Navigation of the Danube. Duties and Regulations of Police and Quarantine in the Danube. 16. Appointment of Danube European Commission. Duties to be levied in the Danube. 17. Appointment of Danube River Commission. 18. Period of dissolution of European Commission of the Danube. 19. Right of Contracting Powers to establish 2 Light Vessels at the Mouths of the Danube. 20. Rectification of Frontier of Bessarabia. Delegates to trace New Frontier. 21. Russian Cessions in Bessarabia to be annexed to Moldavia. Rights and Privileges of Inhabitants of ceded Territory. 22. Guarantee of Privileges and Immunities of Wallachia and Moldavia. 23. Independent and National Administration, &c., of Principalities. Appointment of Commission for Revision of Laws and Statutes. Duties of Commission. * An Armistice was concluded between the Belligerent Powers on the 14th March, 1856. + See Separate Treaty between Great Britain, Austria, and France, of 15th April, 1856. [Peace of Paris. Close of Crimean War.] ART. TABLE. 24. Convocation of Divans ad hoc, for Organisation of Principalities. Congress to issue Instructions. 25. Principalities. Result of Labours of Divans to be sent to Conferences. Principality Convention to record final Agreement with Suzerain Power. 26. National Armed Force in Principalities. 27. Maintenance of internal tranquillity in Principalities. 28. Rights and Immunities of Servia guaranteed by Contracting Powers. Servia. Independent and National Administration. 29. Right of Garrison of Sublime Porte, maintained by force of Arms. NonIntervention in Servia. 30. Maintenance of Integrity of Russian and Ottoman Possessions in Asia. Line of Frontier to be verified. Appointment of Frontier Com mission. 31. Evacuation of Territories by Allied Troops. 32. Maintenance of Treaties of Commerce. Treatment of most favoured Nation. 33. Aland Islands. 34. Ratifications. Additional and Transitory Article. Stipulations relative to the Straits of Dardanelles and Bosphorus to take effect after evacuation of Territories by Sea and Land. [For Annexes, see Nos. 265, 266, 267.] (Translation as laid before Parliament.*) Integrity and Independence of Ottoman Empire. THEIR Majesties the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Emperor of the French, the Emperor of All the Russias, the King of Sardinia, and the Emperor of the Ottomans, animated by the desire of putting an end to the calamities of War, and wishing to prevent the return of the complications which occasioned it, resolved to come to an understanding with His Majesty the Emperor of Austria as to the bases on which Peace might be re-established and consolidated, by securing, through effectual and reciprocal guarantees, the Independence and Integrity of the Ottoman Empire. For this purpose their said Majesties named 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 For French version, see "State Papers," vol. xlvi, p. 8. [Peace of Paris. Close of Crimean War.] 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 Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, &c.; and the Right Honourable Henry Richard Charles Baron Cowley, a Peer of the United Kingdom, a Member of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, Her Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to His Majesty the Emperor of the French, &c. ; His Majesty the Emperor of Austria, the Sieur Charles Ferdinant Count of Buol-Schauenstein, his Chamberlain and actual Privy Councillor, his Minister of the House and of Foreign Affairs, President of the Conference of Ministers, &c.; and the Sieur Joseph Alexander Baron de Hübner, his actual Privy Councillor, and his Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of France, &c.; His Majesty the Emperor of the French, the Sieur Alexander Count Colonna Walewski, a Senator of the Empire, 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.; His Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias, the Sieur Alexis Count Orloff, his Aide-de-Camp General and General of Cavalry, Commander of the Head-quarters of His Majesty, a Member of the Council of the Empire and of the Committee of Ministers, &c.; and the Sieur Philip, Baron de Brunnow, his Privy Councillor, his Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Germanic Confederation, and to the Grand Duke of Hesse, &c.; His Majesty the King of Sardinia, the Sieur Camille Benso, Count of Cavour, President of the Council of Ministers, and his Minister Secretary of State for the Finance, &c.; and the Sieur Salvator Marquis de Villa-Marina, his Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of France, &c. ; And His Majesty the Emperor of the Ottomans, Mouhammed Emin Aali Pasha, Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire, &c.; and Mehemmed Djemil Bey, his Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to His Majesty the Emperor of the French, accredited in the same character to His Majesty the King of Sardinia, &c.; Which Plenipotentiaries assembled in Congress at Paris.* See page 1274. An understanding having been happily established between them, their Majesties the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Emperor of Austria, the Emperor of the French, the Emperor of All the Russias, the King of Sardinia, and the Emperor of the Ottomans, considering that in the interest of Europe, His Majesty the King of Prussia, a signing party to the Convention of the 13th of July, 1841 (No. 193), should be invited to participate in the new arrangements to be adopted, and appreciating the value that the concurrence of His said Majesty would add to a work of general pacification, invited him to send Plenipotentiaries to the Congress. In consequence, His Majesty the King of Prussia named as his Plenipotentiaries, that is to say: The Sieur Otho Theodore Baron de Manteuffel, President of his Council, and his Minister for Foreign Affairs, &c.; and the Sieur Maximilian Frederick Charles Francis, Count of Hatzfeldt Wildenburg-Schoenstein, his actual Privy Councillor, his Envoy and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of France, &c.; The Plenipotentiaries, after having exchanged their Full Powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon the following Articles : Peace and Friendship. ART. I. From the day of the exchange of the Ratifications of the present Treaty there shall be Peace and Friendship between Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, His Majesty the Emperor of the French, His Majesty the King of Sardinia, His Imperial Majesty the Sultan, on the one part, and His Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias, on the other part; as well as between their heirs and successors, their respective dominions and subjects, in perpetuity. Evacuation of Territories. ART. II. Peace being happily re-established between their said Majesties, the Territories conquered or occupied by their armies during the War shall be reciprocally evacuated. Special arrangements shall regulate the mode of the Evacuation, which shall be as prompt as possible.† Restoration of Kars, &c., to Turkey, ART. III. His Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias engages |