The Express.
London, England, 1860-04-17 00:00:00

NOTE ciscus.Ansz.

Bear% APRIL 11, 1880.
From trustworthy and agreeing reports the vote opm the
annexation of Savoy to France has been fixed for the 22nd
April inst. The question is to be put as follows: "An-
natation to France ; yes or no." The voting will take place
by commune.
The Swiss Federal Council cannot accept in silence the'
'new phasic into which the pending question is entering.
They have already had the honour to set forth, in the note
circulaire of the 19th March, from what point of view they
think it right to estimate in a general way the resulted
such a vote. They have already expressed an opinion that
the existing rights of the neutralised provinces of Savoy,
rights so solemnly guaranteed by Europe, cannot be can-
celled by a simple cession nor by a popular vote. As to the
voting itself, the Federal Counid have thought It well to
express their views quite frankly and repeatedly, and have
formally reserved their rights on the subject,
Immediately after the well-known proclamations of the
governors of Annecy and of Chambery of the Bth and 10th ,
March, the Federal Council instructed their representatives
at Paris and at Turin to protest against any voting until
an understanding had been come to with Switzerland.
They formally declared that they could not consider as
bindirg a vote taken without a preview understanding--•
vote in which Switzerland and her legitimate pretensioiss
would be passed over.
The Federal Council have maintained this point of view'
in a most absolute manner in their fresh protestation of the'
27th March, when they asked that Switzerland should be
consulted upon the mode of voting in the neutralised pro
-
•111088, and that nothing in this respect should be clone
without her consent. The Federal Council have had the
honour to give information about this to the powers guaran-
teeing the European treaties in a note dated the same day,
in which they added that they must insist upon the abso-
lute maintenance of the state quo, until the proposed un-
derstanding with the powers, and with Switzerland herself,
should be case to.

theahir7e-n:Mtioned projected voting—all them re-
quests, all these just and equitable demands of Switzerland
are passed over. A most important political and moral act
is to be proceeded with without the concurrence of one of
the principal parties interested, and without any previous
understanding with the powers, whose participation, le
concert with Switzerland, has been positively solicited by
the note of the sth WA.

liciiiiiire;abOeof this fact,. showing as open contempt of
their • ts, the Federal Council feel anxious to declare
positivy that they cannot look upon the result of the
coming vote as demsive, and that they must explicitly pro-
test against any inference that will be drawn from this
act to invalidate the rights of Switzerland.
The Federal Council can 'lithe law admit the validity of
the voting that whilst on the one hand the free expression
of the will of the people of North Savoy, which has been
constantly asked for, is not immured, on the other, the
voting will bs proceeded with without previous under-
stending with Switzerland. Finally, the Federal Council
have no means to control the voting, whilst it is notorious
that French agents, having Seemator laity at their head, are
at work in Savoy in the interest of Frame.
The Federal Council find themselves thus in the position
of renewing, in the face of all Europe, their protestations to
the powers guaranteeing the European treaties. They
earnestly recommend to them to deliberate seriously and
impartially upon the present reclamation, and also to take
into due consideration the rights of Switzerland, and to
take prompt steps to maintain the *tutu quo.
In the name of the Swiss Federal Council.
(Signatures.)