The Sun.
London, England, 1831-02-03 00:00:00

BRUSSELS.

PROTOCOL OF THE FIVE POWERS.
MENACE OF THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT, &c. &c. &e.

(From the Courier des Pays Bas of Monday.)
SITTING OF THE NATIONAL CONGRESS,

JAN. 29.

The Central Committee communicated the following

Protocol :—.

EXTRACT OF THE PROTOCOL NO. 11. OF THE CON-
FERENCE HELD AT THE FOREIGN-OFFICE, JAN. 20,
1831 ; PRESENT, THE PLENIPOTENTIARIES OF THE
COURTS OF AUSTRIA, FRANCE, GREAT BRITAIN,

PRUSSIA, AND RUSSIA.
" The Plenipotentiaries of the Courts of Austria, France,
Great Britain, Russia, and Prussia, have taken cognizance
of the subjoined letter addressed to their Commissioners
at Brussels, in the name of the Provisional Government
of Belgium, which imports that, conformably to the tenour
of the Protocol of January 9, 1831, the Belgiau troops
which had advanced to the environs of Maestricht had re-
ceived orders to retire immediately, and to avoid any cause
for hostility.
" Having had reason to be convinced, through the ex-
planations of their Commissioners, that this retreat of the
Belgian troops will have the effect of securing to Maestricht
that entire freedom of communication which it ought to
enjoy, they cannot doubt that, on his side, his Majesty
the King of the Netherlands has provided for the fulfil-
ment of the Protocol of the 9th of January, he having,
besides, issued the necessary orders with reference to the
cases provided for by the Protocol; and they being now
convinced of the complete establishment of the cessation
of hostilities, of which they were desirous, the Powers
have proceeded to the examination of the questions which
they had determined to resolve, in order to realize the ob-
ject of their Protocol of the 20th of December, 1830, in
order to make a useful application of the fundamental prin-
ciples which, by that act, are connected with the future
independence of Belgium, and to maintain, also, the ge-
neral peace, the maintenance of which constitutes the
chief interest, as it is the chief desire, of the Powers as-
sembled in conference at London.
“With this object in view, the Powers have considered
it indispensable to consider all the bases with reference to
the limits which ought henceforth to separate the Dutch
from the Belgian territory.
" With regard to this object, prepositions have been
transmitted to them from both parties. After having ma-
turely considered them, they hare agreed among them-
selves upon the following bases :
" Art. I. The limits of Holland shall comprise all the
territori,s, districts, towns, and places which belonged to
the ci-devant republic of the United Provinces of the Ne-
therlands in the year 1790.
"2. Belgium shall consist of all the territories which
received the denomination of the kingdom of the Nether-
lands in the treaty of 1815, except the Grand Duchy of
Luxemburg, which, possessed under a different title, by
the Princes of the house of Nassau, forms part, and will
continue to form part, of the Germanic Confederation.—
(Murinurs—agitation.)
"3. It is understood that the arrangements of the ar-
ticles from 103 to 117 inclusive of the general act of the
Congress of Vienna, relative to the free navigation of the
rivers and navigable streams, shall be applied to the rivers
and streams which traverse the Dutch and Belgian terri-
tories.

" 4. As it will, nevertheless, result from the bases laid
down in articles 1 and 2, that Holland and Belgium will
possess detached portions of land within their respective
territories, such exchanges and arrangements shall,
through the care of the five Courts, be effected between
the two countries, as shall insure to them, reciprocally, the
advantage of an entire contiguity of possession, and of a
free communication between the towns and rivers included
in their frontiers.
" These preceding articles being agreed upon, the
Powers have devoted their attention to the means of con-
solidating the work of peace, respecting which the five
Powers are most solicitous, and placing in their true light
the principles which actuate their common policy.
" They are unanimously of opinion that the five Powers
owe to their interest, well understood,—to their union, to
the tranquillity of Europe, and to the accomplishment of
their views, contained in the protocol of the 20th of De-
cember, a solemn manifestation, a striking proof of their
firm determination not to seek in the arrangements relative
to Belgium, under whatever circumstances they may pre-
sent themselves, any augmentation of territory—any ex-
clusive influence—any isolated advantages; but to give to
that country itself, as well as to all the States which adjoin
it, the hest guarantees of repose and security. It is in
pursuance of these maxims and with these salutary inten-
tions, that the Powers have resolved to add to the preced-
ing articles those which follow :
"5. Belgium, within those limits that shall be de-

ermined, and traced, conformably to the arrangements

. .
laid down in articles 1,2, and 4, of the present protocol,
shall form a state, perpetually neutral, the five Powers
guaranteeing to it that perpetual neutrality, as well as the
integrity and inviolability of its territory, within the limits
mentioned above.

" 6. By a just reciprocity Belgium will be bound to ob-
serve the same neutrality towards all the other States, and
not to make any attempt against their internal or external
tranquillity.

(Conformably to copy.) " PONSONBY."
M. Jottrand insisted upon proceeding to the choice of a
Chief of the State, but M. Robaulx obtained the prece-
dence, and moved the following proposition, with refelence
to the above protocol :
" Considering that if such a decision of the Powers
should be carried into effect, it would take from Belgium a
part of its territories, and especially the left bank of the
Scheldt, a part of Lemburg and Luxemburg—
" Comidering that if the Congress does not instantly
adopt a decision which protests against that of the Powers,
and guarantees the integrity of the Belgian territory, it
will result that the Deputies sent by Luxemburg and the
other provinces, which will be detached, can no longer sit

in Congress—
" From these and other motives I have the honour to
propose to the National Congress to appoint, without
delay, a committee, which shall present to the Congress a
project of a decree for the purpose of upholding the in-
terests of the country, preserving the integrity of the Bel-
gian territory, maintaining the national dignity, and ener-
getically protesting against foreign intervention."
M. Jottrand again insisted upon proceeding to the
order of the day (the choice of a Sovereigß), and a great
tumult en,ned.

Robaulx was at length allowed to speak, and the
discussion proceeded.
M. Van de Weyer moved as follows :
" Art. I. The National Congress will protest against
the decision adopted by the Congress of London i❑ its pro-
tocol of the 20th of January.
" 2. Immediately afterwards the Assembly will appoint
a committee to prepare a project of protest, which, in the
event of its being adopted, shall be addressed to all the
Cabinets of Europe."
The question at length put to the vote by the President
was the appointment of a Committee for the purpose of
preparing a draught of protest, which was agreed to una-
nimously, and a member from each province was selected
to compose it. The Committee to meet in the evening,
and present its report to-morrow.
After voting the form of the oath to be taken by the
future King of Belgium, the Congress proceeded to the
order of the day (the choice of a Sovereign).
The discussion was commenced by

M. de Langhe, Deputy of Ypres, who in voting for
Duke Augustus of Leuchtenberg, took the opportunity of
warmly panegyrising him and his family, and observed,
that it seemed to him impossible that the French nation,
which only six months since had freely chosen its Sove-
reign amidst the acclamations of the whole world, could
consent to make war against the Belgians for merely fol-
lowing its example. " If," he concluded, " nay expecta-
tions are deceived, it only remains for us to submit to ne-
cessity, but at least our contemporaries and posterity will
not have to reproach us with hiving been solicitous to wear
the chains offered to us; and if fate is against us, we may
exclaim, ' All is lost but our honour.'"

Blarguies expressed his determination to vote for the
Duke of Nemours, contending that it would be greatly ad-
vantageous to Belgium to have the support of a nation of
30,000,000 of population, which would he ob'ained by
making alliance with the French people, through the elec•
tion of the Duke of Nemours. The revolution, he main-
tained, would not be finished in Belgium, nor secured by
the choice of the Duke of Leuchtenberg, which would
separate them from France. The choice of the Duke of
Leuchtenberg would, in his opinion, put Belgium in a
state of hostility with the French, the Poles, and the
Greeks—he would at length fall himself, and
give place
to the Prince of Orange. There was every reason to be-
lieve that, if the Duke of Leuchtenberg became King of
Belgium, be would not be recognised by the Great Powers
and then what would happen ? The armistice between
Belgium and Holland depended upon a convention con-
cluded between the Five Great Powers.. France would
repudiate the contract and retire ; and, in virtue of the
principle of non-intervention, Holland would re-commence
the contest against the Belgians without any one interfer.
ing, ansi they would be overcome by the closing of
the Scheldt, and by their intestine divisions, whilst the
Powers of the North would either replace Belgium under