The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-28 00:00:00

THE TLEATY OF APRIL 15.

It was said a few days since that the Austrian
Government was likely to give to the world an
account of the origin and object of the treaty of
April 15, and the subjoined article, which is con-
tained in the Wiener Zeitung, affords satisfactory
proof of the correctness of the statement :
"An international document—the treaty concluded on
the 15th of April, 1856, between Austria, France, and
Great Britain—which first became public when presented
by the British Cabinet to Parliament, has induced the
organs of the press, of alt lands' to indulge in con-
jectures of the most various kinds. Suppositions
have been made, and consequences deduced which
have frequently been in keeping neither with
the sense nor with the object of this important
treaty. In order to place both facts and principles in their
proper light, we will give a brief account, as well of the
circumstances which led to the conclusion of the Treaty of
April 15th as of its object.
The mutual guarantee of the integrity of the Turkish
Empire was not introduced into the Austro-Anglo-French
preliminary points, the acceptance of which by the Rus•
sian Court led to the peace now so happily concluded.
During the Vienna Conferences, the Russian Plenipoten-
tiaries so positively declined to take any share in a
guarantee that the introduction of any such clause into
the fundamental conditions must have rendered it ex-
tremely difficult to bring matters to a satisfactory ter-
mination. At the Paris Conferences it was the very
same case. The principle (of a mutual guarantee) was,
however, most distinctly laid down in the treaty of De-
cember 2;, it was to outlive the war, and to take its
place among the most firmly based international treaties.
The war was neither waged for the sake of conquest nor
from interested motives, but solely for the re-establishment
of satisfactory international relations. Without such a
guarantee as that above-mentioned, the peace and quiet of
Europe might again be disturbed. France, England, and
Austria interfered in the struggle between Russia and the
Porte ; the first with the sword, the last by means of mili-
tary demonstrations and treaties. The principles which
united them (the three Powers) were unchanged, and,
therefore, the international alliance was consolidated in a
most conservative sense after the war which had led to it
was at an end.

" It was neitherfor Austria nor for the Western Powers
to demand of the Imperial Russian Cabinet during the
negotiations for peace that it should, in contradiction to
the former positive declarations of its representa-
tives, share in an active guarantee, Neither could
the contracting parties do otherwise than hesitate
to invite the Prussian Government to take part in
the matter in question, as Prussia had, during the whole
course -of the Eastern difference, announced and main-
tained its resolution not to enter into any kind of obliga-
tion which could at a future time interfere with its perfect
freedom of action. It is true that the treaty of April 15 re-
cords the continuance of an alliance, an intimate union,
between France, Austria, and England, but it is based on
the principles of justice, which the Sovereigns openly pro-
fess, and which in no way either menace or injure any other
Government; the treaty is based on principles which sup-
port and protect the balance of power in Europe and the
territory and authority of the Governments of all countries.
The treaty of April 15th, by its contents and sense, is a
guarantee that the parties to it will nowhere and never
swerve from the principles of international law and justice.
" Such an alliance requires no secret conditions, no re-
served clauses, for the purity of its tendency will justify it
in the sight both of the present and of future generations.
Indeed, we are in a position to affirm that there are no
secret articles whatever to the treaty of the 15th of April
of this year.
"We cherish the firm persuasion that although the treaty
in question secures the prolonged union of Austria, Eng-
land, and France On the principles of law and justice, it in
no way interferes with the most intimate federal relations
with Prussia and the other German States, nor prevents
the complete re-establishment of sincere, friendly, and
neighbourly relations with Russia.
" Vienna, May 23, 1856."