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    THE LEA. PEE. [ No. 319, Saturday, 4i-L4...

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    The Treaty Of Peace. —?—The Ratification...

    tation which had been adopted in the Acts of the Vienna Conference , should be adhered to . " Subsequently , . " The Russian Plenipotentiaries express a wish tnat , in order to hasten the proceedings of the Congress , tho agreement which had been come to at that time on certain points , should at all events be taken into account . On the third paragraph of the first point , relative to the system of defence in the Principalities , having been read by Count Walewski , Baron Brunnow stated that the Russian Plenipotentiaries would willingly refer on this point to the terms agreed on at Vienna ; to which Baron de Boiirqueney replied that , as the ideas on that point are now better defined , a reference would not effect the object contemplated .

    On the second point , Count Orloff observed that the presence at the mouths of the Danube of vessels of war , bearing the flags of Powers not bordering on the Black Sea , would constitute an infringement of the principle of neutralization In connexion with the internal regulation ot Turkey " Count Orloff , as well as Baron Hilbner , and , after them , the other Plenipotentiaries , express an opinion that mention should be made , in the General Treaty , of the measures taken by the Ottoman Government . They appeal to the text itself of the fourth point , which imposes this as an obligation on the Plenipotentiaries , yet so that no prejudice should result from doing so to the independence and dignity of the Sultan ' s Crown . "

    Aali Pacha , finding his powers insufficient for settling this point , said that he would communicate by telegraph with his Court . Count Orloff , at the sitting of March 1 ( Protocol No . 3 ) , stated the willingness of Russia to accede to the stipulation that " henceforth that Power should no longer be able to rebuild or create any naval or military establishment in the Aland Isles ; " but he thought that the stipulation ** should be recorded in a Separate Act , to be concluded between France , Great Britain , and Russia , those Powers having exclusively taken part in the warlike operations of which the Baltic has been the theatre . " With respect to the

    rectification of the frontiers of the Russian and Turkish Empires in Asia , Baron Brunnow remarked that Austria had given Russia an assurance that the separate conditions would involve no cession of territory . Count Walewski observed that Russia had erected forts on the eastern coast of the Black Sea , which she had herself in part blown up , and that it would be necessary to come to an understanding on this subject . Lord Clarendon insisted that these forts ought not to be rebuilt ; but the Russian Plenipotentiaries , setting up the distinction which , according to them , exists between these forts and military-maritime arsenals , maintained the contrary opinion . " The consideration of this point was adjourned ; and it does not seem at any time to have been resumed . The

    sittm" - concluded by Count Walewski maintaining tnat Kars should be restored to Turkey , by the energetic support of that proposal by the Earl of Clarendon , and by the Russian Plenipotentiaries admitting the principle , but desiring to postpone its consideration . At the sitting of March 4 th ( Protocol No . 4 ) , Count Orloff objected to the destruction of Nicholaieff , as extending to the interior of Russia a principle solely applicable to the coast ; but he added that " the Emperor intends only to authorize the construction at Nicholaieff of the ^ vessels of war mentioned in the bases of the negotiation . " Lord Clarendon , and after him the other Plenipotentiaries , considered this declaration satisfactory . Count Orloff afterwards stated

    that" In order to prove the sincerity of his intentions , the Emperor had entrusted him to demand a free passage through the Straits of the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles for the two ships of the lino which alono wore then % t J Jicholaleff , and which would have to proceed to the Baltic aa soon as peace waa concluded . " The conditions with respect to the Sea of Azof were discussed at the sitting of March 6 th ( Protocol No . 6 ) , when Count Orloff stated that tho same exemption applies , in his opinion , to the Sea of Azof as to Nicholaieff . He added that ,

    "Russia , being desirous of acting wholly in conformity with- the engagements which she has contracted , will not builfl , any where on tho shores of tho Black Soa , or in its tributaries , or in tho waters which aro dependent on It , any ships of war other than those which Russia will maintain in the Black Sea according to tho torma of hor Convention with Turkey . " Towards the cloae of the sitting , " The first Plenipotentiary of Great Britain expresses the opinion that the terms of the stipulations inserted in

    the Protocols ought not to bind the Congress irrevocably . He adds that , in his opinion , each Plenipotentiary retains the right of further proposing such modifications as he may consider it advantageous to bring forward . " Count Orloff replies that , as the Plenipotentiaries transmit each Protocol to their respective Governments , he cannot admit that paragraphs , accepted unanimously , can be indefinitely altered . " The Plenipotentiaries of Great Britain explain that they do not propose to reserve to each Plenipotentiary the right of revising the resolutions adopted and the principles accepted by the Congress , but the power of proposing a simple revision of the text , if necessary , in order better to define its sejise and bearing . " The observations of the Earl of Clarendon , confined within these limits , are agreed to by the Congress . "

    At the sitting of March 8 th ( Protocol No . 6 ) , the question of the rectification of the Bessarabian frontier came on for discussion , when" Baron Brunnow reads a memorandum tending to prove that the character of the localities , and the direc tion of the roads of communication , do not admit of a direct line being drawn between the two extreme points indicated in the Preliminaries of Peace . He observes that the Allied Powers propose to ensure the free navigation of the Danube , and he conceives that this object would be attained by another line which he is instructed to propose to the Congress ; this line , which would have the advantage of causing no disturbance in the administration of the Province , would start from Waduli-Tsaki on the Pruth , follow the Val de Trajan , and terminate on the north of Lake Yalput . Russia would abandon the Islands of Delta , and raze the forts of Ismail and

    Kilianova . This was objected to by the Plenipotentiaries of England , France , and Austria , as being too wide a departure from the bases of the negotiation agreed to by all the Powers . " After a discussion , in which all the Plenipotentiaries take part , it is proposed to the Plenipotentiaries of Russia to settle the frontier by means of a line which , starting from the Pruth between Leova and Hush , would pass to the north of . Lake Salsyk , and terminate above Lake Albedies . "

    The Russian Plenipotentiaries then requested that the discussion might be postponed till the next meeting . This was agreed to . With respectto the Moldavian Principalities , Count Walewski conceived that the Congress should admit and proclaim the union of the two provinces . Lord Clarendon held the same opinion , more especially considering the wishes of the people , which should always , he added , be taken into account . This was

    opposed by Aali Pacha , who remarked that the separation dates from the most remote times , while the confusion complained of in the Principalities dates from a comparatively recent period , and that the proposed union is certainly not in accordance with the will of the people . Count Buol also opposed the union , which was urged by Baron Bourqueney , Count Cavour , and Count Orloff . The question was deferred . March 10

    Lord Clarendon , at the sitting of ( Protocol No . 7 ) , claimed that the graves of the soldiers of the Allied armies who have fallen on Russian soil shall be respected ; to which Count Orloff agreed . At the sitting of March 12 th ( Protocol No . 8 ) , " The Plenipotentiaries of Russia give to the Congress explanations tending to prove the necessity of providing for the internal police of the ports , and of inserting in the Convention a clause relative to the stationary vessels which shall be there employed , so as not to expose the Powers on the coast of the Black Sea to the interpretations which might bo authorized by this subject being passed over in silence . " Lord Clarendon and Count Walewski objected to thisand the question was adjourned .

    , Several of tho succeeding Protocols relate to mere matters of detail ; but in the 14 th ( recording the sitting of March 25 th ) , we find it stated that , Count Buol having called tho attention of Russia to the province of Montenegro , and desired to know whether she meant to pursue towards it " a course of action having a certain analogy with that which had devolved on her in the Danubian Principalities , "

    " The Plenipotentiaries of Russia reply that no mention waa made of Montenegro , either in the documents which issued from tho Conferences of Vienna , or in the Acta which had preceded the meeting of the Congress ; that , nevertheless , they do not hesitate to declare , as the question has boen put to them , that their Government has no other relations with Montenegro than such as spring from the sympathies of the Montenegrins for RusHia , and from tho friendly dispositions of Kusaia towards those mountaineers . " Protocol No . 22 contains a report of tho sitting of April tho 8 th .

    Count Walewski ' s observations on the Belgian question , of which we gave a report last week from the Daily News , appear with some modifications in the Protocols , and must , therefore , be here repeated according to the oflicinl versions" The first ^ Plenipotentiary of France says that he must call the attention of the Congress to a subject which , although more particularly affecting France , is not the less of great interest for all the Powers of Europe . He considers it superfluous to state that there are everv day printed in Belgium publications the most

    insulting , the most hostile against France and her Government ; that revolt and assassination are openly advocated in them ; he remarks that quite recently Belgian newspapers have ventured to extol the society called ' La Marianne , ' the tendencies and object of which are known ; that all these publications are so many implements of war directed against the repose and tranquillity of France by the enemies of social order , who , relying on the impunity which they find under the shelter of the Belgian legislation , retain the hope of eventually realising their culpable designs .

    " Count Walewski declares that the intention and sole desire of the Government of the Empire is to maintain the best relations with Belgium ; he readily adds that Franco has reason to be satisfied with the Belgian Government , and with its efforts to mitigate a state of things which it is unable to alter , its legislation not allowing it either to restrain the e ' xeesscs of the press , or to take the initiative in a reform which has become absolutely indispensable . We should regret , he says , to be obliged ourselves to make Belgium comprehend the strict necessity for modifying a legislation which does not allow its Government to fulfil the first of international duties—that of not

    assailing , or allowing to be assailed , the internal tranquillity of the neighbouring States . Representations addressed by the stronger to the less strong have too much the appearance of menace , and that is what we dosire to avoid . But if the Representatives of the Great Powers of Europe , viewing in the same light with ourselves this necessity , should find it useful to express their opinion in this respect , it is more than probable that the Belgian Government , relying upon all reasonable persons in Belgium , would be able to put an end to a state of things which cannot fail sooner or later to give rise to difficulties , and even real dangers , which it is the interest of Belgium to avert beforehand . "

    The first French Plenipotentiary concluded his remarks by urging a reform of the maritime laws of Europe in time of war as regards neutrals . After the delivery of this speech , " The Earl of Clarendon , sharing the opinions expressed by Count Walewski , declares that , like France , England proposes to recal the troops which she was obliged to send to Greece so soon as she shall be able to do so without inconvenience to the public tranquillity ; but that it is necessary , in the first instance , to provide solid guarantees for the maintenance of a satisfactory state of things . According to him , the protecting Powers may agree among themselves upon the remedy which it is indispensable to apply to a system injurious to the country , and which has altogether departed from the object which they had proposed to themselves , when establishing there an independent monarchy , for tha

    well-being and the prosperity of the Greek people . The first Plenipotentiary of Great Britain remarks that the treaty of March 30 opens a new era ; that , as the Emperor had said to the Congress on receiving it after the signature of the treaty , this era is that of peace ; but , in order to be consistent , nothing should be omitted to render that peace solid and lasting ; that , representing tho principal powers of Europe , tho Congress would fuil in its duty if , on separating , it sanctioned by its silenco a state of things which is injurious to the political equilibrium , and which is far from securing pence from all danger in one of the most interesting . countries of Europe . We have just provided , ' continues tho Earl of Clarendon , ' for the evacuation of the different territories occupied by foreign armies during the war ; we have just taken tho solemn engagement to effect tho evacuation within tho shortest period ; how would it bo

    possible for us not seriously to advort to occupations which took pluce before tho war , and to abstain from devising means for putting an end to them ?' Tho first Plenipotentiary of Great Britain does not consider it of any use to inquire an to tho causes which have brought iu foreign armies upon various points of Ituly , but he considers that , even udmitting that those causes were legitimate , it is not tho less true , ho says , that tho result is an abnormal and irregular state of things , which can bo justified only by extreme necessity , and which should como to an end as soon aa that

    that necessity is no longer imperiously felt ; neverthelo . iH , if endeavours aro not made to put an end to that necessity , it will continue to exist ; that , if we arc content to depend upon tho mined , forco instead of Booking to apply a remedy to the just causes of discontent , it is certain that a system little honourable for the governments , and lamentable for tho people will be perpetuated . Ho conceives that the , administration of tho Roman States present !) inconveniences from whence duiigaru may ariso which tho Congress has the right to attempt to avort ; that to neglect thorn would be to run tho risk of labour-

    The Lea. Pee. [ No. 319, Saturday, 4i-L4...

    THE LEA . PEE . [ No . 319 , Saturday , 4 i-L 4 i ^ j —¦ wr 1 -

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), May 3, 1856, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_03051856/page/6/