The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-30 00:00:00

PROTOCOLS OF CONFERENCES

HELD AT
PARIS RELATIVE TO THE GENERAL

TREATY OF PEACE.

PROTOCOL No. 1.

Present.—For Austria : Count de Bnol Schauenstein,
&c., and Baron de Hubner, &c. For France : Count
Celonna Walewski, &c., and Baron de Bourqueney, &c.
For Great Britain : The Earl of Clarendon, &c., and
Lord Cowley, &c. For Russia : Count Orloff, &c., and
Baron Brunnow, &c. For Sardinia : Count de Cavour,
&C., and the Marquis de Villamarina, &c. For Tur-
key : Aali Pasha, &c., and Mehemmed Djemil Bey.
The Plenipotentiaries of Austria, of France, of Great
Britain, of Russia, of Sardinia, and of Turkey, met to-
day in Conference at the Hotel of the Ministry for Fo-
reign Affairs.
Count Buol speaks, and proposes that the presidency
of the labours of the Conference should be confided to
Count Walewski. "This is not only," he observes, " d
custom sanctioned by precedents and recently observeo-
at Vienna; it is at the same time an act of homage at,
the Sovereign whose hospitality the Representatives of
Europe are at this moment enjoying." Count Bun! en-
tertains no doubt of the unanimous assent with which
this selection, which ensures, in all respects, the best di-i
rection being given to the labours of the Conference will
be received.
The Plenipotentiaries unanimously agree to this pro-
posal, and Count Walewski, having assumed the Presi-
dency, thanks the Conference in these terms :
" Gentlemen,--I thank you for the honour you have
the goodness to do me in choosing me as your organ ;
and though I esteem myself very unworthy of that ho-
nour, I cannot, I ought not to hesitate to accept it, for
it is a fresh evidence of the sentiments which have in-
duced our allies, as well as our adversaries, to demand
that Paris should be the seat of the negociations now
about to be opened.
"The unanimity manifested on this point augurs well
for the final result of our efforts.

"As far as concerns me personally, I shall endeavour
to justify your confidence, by conscientiously fulfilling the
duties which you have imposed on me ; it shall be my
care to prevent useless prolixity ; but, while having spe-
cially in ♦iew the prompt attainment of this object, I
shall, nevertheless, not forget that too much precipita-
tion may keep us from it.
"Moreover, Gentlemen, being all animated with an
equally conciliatory spirit, and disposed to evince mu-
tual goodwill by avoiding irritating discussions, we shall
be able to accomplish scrupulously, and with all the
completeness which it admits of, the great task which is
imposed on us, without losing sight of the jest impa-
tience of Europe, the eyes of which are fixed upon us,
and which anxiously awaits the results of our delibera-
tions."

Upon the proposal of Count Walewski, the Confer-
encedecides to intrust the drawing up of the Protocols
to M. Benedetti, Director of Political Affairs in the
office for Foreign Affairs, who is introduced.
The Plenipotentiaries then proceed to the verification
of their respeotive powers, which, having been found in
good and due form, are deposited among the Acts of tha
Conference.

Count Walewski proposes, and the Plenipotentiaries
agree, mutually to engage to observe complete secresy
respecting everything which shall pass in the Confer-
ence.
Sardinia not having taken part in the signature of the
Protocol agreed upon at Vienna on the Ist of February
last, the Sardinian Plenipotentiaries declare that they
fully assent to the said Protocol and the document an-
nexed to it.
Count Walewski, after having explained the order of
the labours with which the Conference would have to oc-
cupy itself, proposes to declare that the Protocol signed
at Vienna on the let of February should serve as Pre-
liminaries of Peace.
The Plenipotentiaries, after having exchanged their
ideas on this point, considering that the Protocol signed
at Vienna on the Ist of February by the Representatives
of Austria, France, Great Britain, Russia, and Turkey,
record the adhesion of their Courts to the bases of nego-
tiations laid down in the document annexed to the said
Protocol, and that its provisions fulfil the object which
would be obtained by an Act designated to settle the
Preliminaries of Peace, agree that that same Protocol
and its Annex, a copy of which shall be marked with
their initials and annexed to the present Protocol, shall
have the value of formal Preliminaries of Peace.

The Plenipotentiaries being thus agreed respecting the
Preliminaries of Peace, Count Walewski proposes to pro-
ceed to the conclusion of an armistice. The duration and
nature thereof having been discussed, the Pienipoten-
tiaries of the belligerent Powers, considering that it is
necessary to take steps for a suspension of hostilities
between the armies in the field during the presumed
continuance of the negotiations, resolve that an armis-
tice shall be concluded by the Commanders in-Chief,
which shall cease absolutely on the 31st of March
next, inclusively, if before that period it is not renewed

by common consent.
During the suspension of hostilities the troops shall
retain the iespectivo positions which they occupy, ab-
staining from any act of aggression.
In consequence, the pre,ent decision shall be trans-
mitted without delay, and, as far as possible, by the
telegraph, to the Commanders-in-chief, in order that
they may conform to it as soon as the orders of their Go-
vernments shall reach them.
The Plenipotentiaries further resolve that the asmis-
tice shall not affect the blockade established or to be
established ; but the Commanders of the naval forces
shall receive orders to abstain, during the contlnuance of
the:artuistic,., from any act of hostility against the terri-
tories of the belligerents.
This being settled, the Plenipotentiaries agree that
they will meet on the day after to-morrow, the 27th of
February, in order to proceed to the negotiation of the
Defiaitive Treaty.
Done at Paris, the twenty-fin of February, one thou-
sand eight hundred and fifty-six.
(Signed) BUOL-SCHAUENSTEIN. COUNT ORLOFF.
HUBNER. BRUNNOW.
\VALI:WM. CAVOUR.
BOURQTJENEY. VILLAMARINA.
CLARENDON. A ALI,
COWLEY. MEEIEUMED DJEIIIT.

ANNEX TO PROTOCOL No. I.
Present.—Tbe Representatives of Fiance, Austria,
Great Britain, Russia, and Turkey.
In consequence of the acceptance by their respective
Courts of the five propositions contained in the annexed
document under the title of a Project of Prelirnica,ies,
the Undersigned, after having affixed their initials to it,
-in conformity with the authority to that effect which they
have received, have agreed that each of their Govern-
ments shall name Plenipotentiaries furnished with the ne-
cessary full powers in order to proceed to the signature
of format Preliminaries of Peace, conclude an armistice
and a Definitive Treaty of Peace. The said Plenipoten-
tiaries shall meet at Paris within a period of three weeks
-from this day, or sooner if possible.
Done at Vienna, in quintuplicate, the first of Febru-
ary, one thousand eight hundred and fifty--six.
(Signed) BOURQUENEY. GOUTCLIAKOFF.
BUM"' SCHaUENSTEIN.
G. H. SEYMOUR.
(Initials affixed) B.
IL
NV.

0.
B.
C.
V.
A.
M. D.

PROJECT OF PRELIMINA.RIES.
1. DANUBIAN PRINCIPALITIES.

Complete abolition of the Rus'ian Protectbrate.
Russia shall not exercise any special or exclusive right
of protection or of interference in the internal affairs of
the Danubian Principalities.
The Principalities shall preserve their privileges and
immunities under the suzerainty of the Porte, and the
Sultan, in concert with the Contracting Poweri, shall
further grant to these Principalities, or confirm therein,
an internal organisation suitable to the wants and wishes
of the populations.
The Principalities shall, in concert with the Suzerain
Power, adopt a permanent defensive system required by
their geographical situation ; no obstacle shall he thrown
in the way of the extramdinary defensive measures
which they may be called upon to adopt in order to re-
pel any foreign aggression.
In exchange for the fortified positions and territories
occupied by the allied armies, Russia consents to a reo-
iifieectiorrof her frontier with Turkey in Europe': Tai
frontier, thus rectified in a manner suitable to the gene-
ral interests, would start from the neighbourhood of Cho-
tyn, follow the line of mountains which stretches in the
south-easterly direction, and terminate on Lake Salzyk.
The'line would be definitively settled in the Treaty of
Peace, and the ceded territory revert to the Principal).
ties and to the suzerainty of the Porte.
2. DANUEN.
The freedom of the Danube and of its months shall be
European institutions, in which
effectually secured by
the Contracting Powers shall be equally represented,
without prejudice to the special positions of the river-
bordering Powers, which shall be settled upon the prin-
ciples established by the Act of the Congress of Vienna
on the subject of river navigation.
Each of the Contracting Powers shall have the right
of stationing one or two light vessels of war at the
mouths of the river, for the purpose of insuring the exe-
cution of the regulations relative to the liberty of the
Danube.

3. BLACK SEA.

The Blacli' Sea shall be neutralised.
Its waters, thrown open to the mercantile marine of
every nation, shall be interdicted to vessels of war.
Consequently there shall neither be created nor main-
tained there any military maritime arsenals.
The prote:tion of the commercial and maritime interests
of every nation shall be assured in the respective p ire} of
the Black Sea, by the establishment of institutions in
conformity with international right and the established
Usages in :;uch matter.
The two Powers bordering cn it shall mutually engage
to maintain there only the nn?nber of light vessels, of
fixed force, necessary for the service of their coasts. The
Convention to be concluded between them to this effect,
after having previously received the approbation of the
Powers signing the General Treaty, shall be annexed to
the said Treaty, and shall have the same force and value
AS if it formed an integral portion of it. This Separate
Convention shall neither be annulled nor modified with.
Out the assent of the Powers signing the General Treaty.
The closing of the Straits shall be subject to the excep-
tion in favour of the stationary vessels mentioned in the
preceding Article.
4. CHRISTIAN POPULATIONS SUBJECT TO THE PORTE.
The immunities of the Ravel) subjects of the Porte
shall be confirmed, without prejudice to the independence
and dignity of the Sultan's crown,
Deliberations being in progress between Austria,
France, Great 33ritain, and the Porte, with the

view of insuring to the Christian subjects of the Sultan
their religious and political rights, Russia shall be in.
vited, at the peace, to take part therein.
5. SPECIAL CONDITIONS.
The belligerent Powers reserve to themselves the right
which belongs to them of proposing in the interests of
Europe special conditions in addition to the four gua.
rantees.
(Initials affixed) B. B. H. S. G. H.
(Initials affixed) B. H.
W. B.
C. C.
O. B.
C. V.
A. M. D.

PROTOCOL No. 2.—SITTING OF FEBRUARY 28, 1856.
Present.—The Plenipotentiaries of Austria, France,
Great Britain, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey.
The first Plenipotentiary of Russia announces that
having communicated to his Government the resolution
taken by the Congress on the subject of the armistice, he
had been informed that orders had been immediately
sent to the Commanders-in-chief of the Russian armies
in the Crimea and in Asia.
The Plenipotentiaries of France, of Sardinia, and of
Turkey make similar communications.
The Earl of Clarendon states, on his side, that the
order had in like manner been sent to the commanders
of the naval forces of the allies in the Black Sea, and in
the Baltic to abstain from any act of hostility against the
Russian territories.
Count Walewski states that it is desirable to advert
to certain preliminary points, in order to settle the course
of the general negotiation.
Count Buol is of opinion that it would be advantage-
ous, before proceeding to the development of each point,
to pass rapidly in review the general bases.
The Earl of Clarendon supports this opinion, and
points out that the order to be followed, in the definitive
examination, should be regulated by the importance of
the subjects.
The Plenipotentiaries of Russia, of Sardinia, and of
Turkey, assent to this arrangement.
The question whether one or more instruments should
be drawn up was adjourned by common consont ; but all
the Plenipotentiaries acknowledge that the negotiation
must be closed by a general treaty, to which the other
' acts would be annexed.
Count Walewski accordingly reads, paragraph by
paragraph, the propositions of peace accepted by the con-
tracting Powers as bases of the negotiation, and which
are enumerated in the document annexed to the Protocol
signed at Vienna on the let February last.
Upon the first paragraph of the first point, Baron
Brunnow remarks that the word "protectorate" impro-
perly describes the position which bad been acquired by
Russia in the Principalities ; the Russian Plenipoten-
tiaries had pointed this out at the Vienna Conferences,
and had obtained the substitution of another term, in
order to restore to the action of Russia its true character.
Baron Brunnow demands that the interpretation which
had been adopted in the Acts of the Vienna Conference
should be adhered to.
Count Buol remarks that the protectorate existed in
the facts and in the situation, if the word itself was not
in the diplomatic stipulations with Turkey ; that the
term used is in effect that of " guarantee," but that it is
important to find a form of expression calculated to show
clearly that an end will be put to this exclusive guarantee.
Aali Pasha, on his side, remarks that the word " pro-
tectorate" was employed in diplomatic documents, and
specifically in the Organic Statute of the Principalities.
The first Plecipotentaries of France and of Great
Britain add the resolutions adopted at Vienna had not all
equally satisfied the allied Powers, and that, moreover,
there was no occasion now to trouble themselves about
them, as the efforts made at that time for the re•esta-
blishment of peace had been inefisctual.
The Russian Plenipotentiaries express a wish that, in
order to hasten the proceedings of the Congress, the
agreement which had been come to at that time on cer-
tain points, should at all events be taken into, account.
Baron Brunnow is of opinion that the situation of Ser-
via should be the object of a Special Article.
This opinion is assented to by all the Plenipoten-
taries.
Ali Pasha remarks that the cessation of any single
protectorate naturally excludes all idea of collective pro-
tectorate, and that the intervention of the Powers will
be confined withix the limits of a simple guarantee.
After having read the second paragraph of the first
point, Count Walewski remarks that the future organi-
zation of the Principalities has given rise to several
systems.
The Plenipotentiaries are unanimously of opinion that
all these .combinations shall be referred to a Committee
selected from the Congress, which shall, moreover, itself
only have to lay down the principles of the political and
administrative Constitution of the Danubian Provinces,
leaving eats duty of working out the details to a second
Commission, in which the Contracting Parties shall be
represented, and which shall meet immediately after the
conclusion of peace.
The third paragraph of the first point, relative to the
system of defence in the Principalities, is read by Count
Walewski.
Baron Brunnow states that the Russian Plenipoten-
taries would willingly refer on this point to the terms
agreed upon at Vienna.
Baron de Bourqueney replies that the ideas on this
important point are at present more developed and better
defined ; that the reference would not effect the object
contemplated by the terms of the paragraph under dis-
cussion. _ _ _

Count Walewski after having read.the fourth and last
paragraph of the first point, passes on to the second
point, which contains only a single paragraph.
Count Orloff observes that the presence at the mouths
of the Danube of vessels of war bearing the figs of
Powers not bordering on the Black Sea, will constitute
an infringement of the principle of neutralisation.
Count Buol remarks that the ships of the non-border-
ing Powers intended to be stationed at the mouths of the
Danube will, nevertheless, have the power of moving
about freely in the Black Sea ; that the nature and re-
quirements of the service impos:d on them would not
admit of the existence of any doubt on that point.
Baron Brunnow observes that the object of their
oi is, however, clearly defined.
The reading of the first, second, and third paragraphs
of the third point gives rise to no observation.
A short discussion showed that the Plenipotentiaries
were agreed as to the interpretation of the fourth, fifth,
and sixth paragraphs, relating to the protection of com•
mercial interests ia the Black Sea, and the Separate Con-
vention to be concluded between Russia and the Otto-

man Porte.
On the eighth paragraph, relating to the renewal of
the Convention of the Straits, the Plenipotentiaries
unanimously expressed a wish that the separate Act, des-
tined to record that important principle, should be an-
nexed to the General Treaty.
Count Walewaki observes that it will be necessary,
when the Plenipotentiaries enter upon this point of the
negotiation, to inquire what Powers shall be called upon
to concur in it; and Count Orloff, as well as Count Buol,
add that Prussia would naturally be invited to take part
in it.
Whilst agreeing to thie opinion, the Earl of Clarendon
stated that Prussia ought not to be invited to take part
in the negotiation until the principal clauses of the Ge-
neral Treaty should be settled.
Count Walewski points out that the Plenipotent!aries
will have to decide later at what time this invitation
should be sent to Prussia.
The fourth point is read throughout, and Count Wa-
lewski remarks thereupon that it will be proper to re-
cord the entrance of Turkey within the public law of
Europe. The Pienipotentiaries agree that it ia important
;o record this now fact by a special stipulation inserted
the General Treaty. The terms agreed upon at Vienna
o that effect were read, and it is admitted that they
sight be accepted by the Congress.
Count Orloff expresses a wish to be informed of the
course which Turkey proposes to follow, in order to give
the proper effect to the fourth point.
Aali Pasba states that a new hatti-sherif has renewed
the religious privileges granted to the non Mussulman
subjects of the Porte, and prescribed new reforms, which
proved the solicitude of hi Majesty the Sultan for all hie
people without distinction ; that this Act has been pub-
lished, and that the Sublime Porte, in proposing to com-
municate it to the Powers by means of an official note,
would in that matter have complied with the require-
ments in regard to the fourth point.
Count Orloff, as well as Baron Hubner, 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
Liipeal to the text itself of the fourth point, which im-
poses 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.
The Plenipotentiaries of Austria, of France, and of
Great Britain acknowledge the liberal character of the
measures which have been adopted at Constantinople,
and state that it is under the same impression that they
consider it indispensable to record them in the Final Act
of the Congress ; and by no means in order to deduce
therefrom any right whatever of interference in the re-
lations of the Government of his Majesty the Sultan with
his subjects.
Aali Pasha replies that his powers do not permit him
to give his full assent to the opinion of the other Pleni-
potentiaries, and states that he will take the orders of
his Court by telegraph.
The sitting is broken up, and the consideration of the
fifth point is deferred till the next meeting.
(The signatures follow.)

PROTOCOL No. 3.—SITTING or MARCH 1, 1856.
Present.—The Plenipotentiaries of Austria, France
Great Britain, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey.
The Protocol of the preceding sitting is read and ap-
proved.

The Congress, as it had resolved, proceeds to the con-
sideration of the fifth point.
Count Walcwski reads it, and acids that, in the first
place, and as a separate condition, the allied Powers de-
mand that henceforth Russia should no longer be able to
rebuild or create any naval or military establishment in
the Aland blends...

C tun Orloff replies that Russia is dißposed to accede
to this stipulation if the Plenipotentiaries succeed, as he
hoped would be the case, in coming to an understandini,
upon the other points of the negotiation. He demands'
that this stipulation should be recorded in a SiieapratrtienAtchte,
tl be concluded between France, Great Britain and Rus-
sia, those Powers having exclusively taken
warlike operations of which the Baltic has been the
theatre.
The Plenipotentiaries of Austria express the opinion
that the Separate Act should, nevertheless, be annexed
to the General Treaty.
The Conference assent.
Count Walewsli states that, as the second separate
condition, the allied Powers require that the state of the
territories situated to the east of the Black Sea should be
specially inquired into.
BArou Brunnow explains the diplomatic transactions