[War. France and Sardinia and Austria.] without territorial usurpation or absorption, by the spontaneous wish of its people. "The British Government have shown, for a long series of years, how steadily they have observed these principles, and they certainly cannot depart from them on the present occasion, however earnest may be their desire to secure the freedom of the Italian people, and to maintain the Treaties which confirmed the Independence of their respective States." [Great Britain proclaimed its Neutrality in this War on the 13th May, 1859.] [Peace of Villafranca.] No. 298.-PRELIMINARY TREATY of Peace between Austria and France. Signed at Villafranca, 11th July, 1859.* TABLE. Creation of Italian Confederation under Presidency of the Holy Father. Cession of Lombardy, except Fortresses of Mantua and Peschiera, to France. Ceded Territory to be presented to King of Sardinia. Venetia to form part of Italian Confederation, subject to Crown of Austria. Restoration of Grand Duke of Tuscany and Duke of Modena. Amnesty. Reforms in States of the Church. Full and complete Amnesty by France and Austria. (Translation as laid before Parliament.†) BETWEEN His Majesty the Emperor of Austria and His Majesty the Emperor of the French, it has been agreed as follows: Creation of Italian Confederation under Presidency of the Holy Father. The two Sovereigns favour the creation of an Italian Confederation. This Confederation shall be under the honorary Presidency of the Holy Father. Cession of Lombardy, except Fortresses of Mantua and Peschiera, to France. The Emperor of Austria cedes to the Emperor of the French his rights over Lombardy, with the exception of the Fortresses of Mantua and Peschiera, so that the Frontier of the Austrian Possessions shall start from the extremity of the rayon of the Fortress of Peschiera, and extend in a straight line along the Mincio as far as Legrazia, thence to Szarzarola, and Lugano on the Po, whence the existing Frontiers continue to form the Boundaries of Austria. Ceded Territory to be presented to King of Sardinia. The Emperor of the French shall present the ceded Territory to the King of Sardinia.‡ * A Convention of Armistice was signed on the 8th July, 1859. + For French version, see "State Papers," vol. xlix, p. 362. See Treaty between Austria and France of 10th November, 1859, Arts. v and xvii. [Peace of Villafranca.] Venetia to form part of Italian Confederation, subject to Crown of Austria. Venetia shall form part of the Italian Confederation, remaining, however, subject to the Crown of the Emperor of Austria. Restoration of Grand Duke of Tuscany and Duke of Modena. Amnesty. The Grand Duke of Tuscany and the Duke of Modena return to their States, granting a General Amnesty. Reforms in States of the Church. The two Emperors shall request the Holy Father to introduce in his States some indispensable reforms. Full and complete Amnesty by France and Austria. Full and complete Amnesty is granted on both sides to persons compromised on the occasion of the recent events in the territories of the belligerents. Done at Villafranca, 11th July, 1859. FRANCIS JOSEPH. [Moldavia and Wallachia.] No. 299.-PROTOCOLS OF CONFERENCES between the Plenipotentiaries of Great Britain, Austria, France, Prussia, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey, relative to the Organisation of the Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia. Paris, April–September, 1859.* [For Protocols Nos. 1 to 19, Paris, May to August, 1858, see No. 284.] Protocol "State Papers," vol. xlix, page No. 20. Illegal Electoral Operations in Moldavia. Objections of the Porte to Election of Colonel Couza, as being contrary to the Stipulations of the Convention of 19th August, 1858 (No. 286) ...... Paris, 7th April, 1859.. No. 21. Protest of Turkey against the double Election of Colonel Couza as Hospodar of Moldavia and Hospodar of Wal. lachia. Election of Colonel Couza recommended by the Conference for recognition as an exceptional case. Coercive measures to be adopted in case of Infraction of Convention of 19th August, 1858, by Hospodar. Paris, 13th April, 1859.. No. 22. Accession of Turkey to recommendation of Conference 454 454 457 * See Protocol of 6th September, 1859; and Firman of 6th December, 1861. [Moldavia and Wallachia.] No. 300.-PROTOCOL OF CONFERENCE between the Plenipotentiaries of Great Britain, Austria, France, Prussia, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey, relative to the recognition of Prince Couza as ́Hospodar of Moldavia and Wallachia. Paris, 6th September, 1859.* (Translation as laid before Parliament.†) PRESENT: The Plenipotentiaries of Austria, France, Great Britain, Prussia, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey. The Prince Metternich shows his Full Powers, which are found to be in good and due form. The Plenipotentiary of Turkey announces that he has informed his Court of the resolution presented by the Plenipotentiaries of France, Great Britain, Prussia, Russia, and Sardinia, and inserted in the Protocol of the 13th April (No. 299), and that he is authorised in the name of his Government to make the following answer: "The Sublime Porte, taking into consideration the recommendation made by 5 of the Guaranteeing Powers, confers exceptionally, and for this once, the investiture on Colonel Couza, as the Hospodar of Moldavia and Wallachia, it being well understood that on the occasion of every future election and investiture of Hospodars, the course of proceeding shall be rigorously in conformity with the principles laid down in the Convention of the 19th August, 1858 (No. 286). In consequence, and to maintain the principle of administrative separation on which the above-mentioned Convention rests, the Sublime Porte will give to Colonel Couza two Firmans, of which the one confers the investiture for Moldavia, and the other for Wallachia; and the new Hospodar for the two Principalities, after having received his Firmans of investiture, shall go to Constantinople as his predecessors have, and as has hitherto been done, so soon as the duties connected with the Administration of the two Principalities will permit him to absent himself. The Prince called exceptionally on this occasion to the Hospodariat of Moldavia and Wallachia, must maintain in each of the two Principalities an Administration separate and distinct, the one from the other, except in the cases foreseen by the Convention. See also Firman of 6th December, 1861. State Papers," vol. xlix, p. 457. |