Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1868-12-29
European Correspondence.
PARIS, Dec. 8 1865

tersburg, by the representatives VI Ia
varia, Belgium, Denmark, England
France, Greece, Holland, Russia, Swe-
den, Switzerland, Turkey and Wuftem-
berg -
Considering that the progress q
civilization ought to result in dilnih
ishing as much as possible the suiicf-
ings inseperable from war; that the on
ly legitimate Object pursued in war is TO
weaken the for of the enemy; that 10
obtain this it suflices to place as many
men as possible hOrs dc combat; that 10
make use of expedients that shall unne-
cessarily enlarge the wounds OF the men
placed hors dc combat, or entail hcVlta
BILE death, is incompatible with the be-
fore mentioned object; that to make use
of such expedents would moreover, be
contrary to the teachings OF humanity.
"The nt.ersigned in virtue of the in
stru tons given them by their Govern
ments. are authorized to declare rs fol-
lows:
81. The contracting parties engage,
in the event of war between any of mem,
to abstain from the use OF missiles ofany
description possessing explosive power
or filled with explosive or inilammnblc
material, weighing less than four nun
dred grammes. This restriction to APP
ply to the army and navy alike.
III. They likewise invite all those
States not represented at the delibera-
tons of the Military Commission assem-
bied at st. Petersburg, to subscribe to
this mutual engagement.
"IIJ. In the event of war this engage
ment is to be observed towards the con
tracing powers, and those that may sub
seuuently subscribe to it. 1t need no'
be observed towards any who have no.
signihed their assent to the above stip-
ulations.
NV. The above engagement likewise
ceases to be valid if State tAat has not
sig. ed it takes part in q war between
parties that have signed it.
"V. Whenever the progress of science
results in any new definite proposals be-
ing made for improving the equipment
of the troops, the contracting parties, as
we'll rs those who have subsequently
Joined this engagement, will assemble
to maintain the principles laid down t'
reconcile the requirements of war will
tho demands of humanity"
The reasons alleged for this agreemen
being obviously unsound. some unavow
ed motive must have occasiOned its cor
c!usion. Explosive balls by no mean
necessaril, result in intlicting large
wounds than solid balls, now is Their
any thing in them 20 render death
more absolute certainty in the one cas-
than in the other. In the first instance
it is evident that the fragments of al
explosive rifle bullet must be smalle
than those of the grenades so freely usc'
by every army in the weird. AM
secondly, if the explosive material il
the rifle bullets be only meant to eX
plode, not to burn-as, indeed, it is IL
the gren Ades-hOw can wounds inflicted
lie more dangerous than lead ald propal
ling force can make them? 1t is there
fore certain that more self-intereSte'
motive than the one prof sscd occasion
ed the proposals to be made by one ant
to be accepted by some other powers
AS to the majority, they have PR babl.
Join ed from mistaken ideas of the re
quiremerts of humanity. 1t is not il
the battle but in the camp where dealt
reaps its largest harvest; everything
therefore, that shOrtens war tends to tn
preservation o life. Itmay, by the way
eventually become ofsome political con
sequence, that of the States which ma.
possibly he participants in European
war. Baden, Luxen- burg, Romania
Servia; Montenegro, and the Unite
States have not joined.
The emotion caused by the apprehen
sion ola rupture between Turkey an
Greece, in consequence of the cenduC
of Greece in the affai. of Crete, is sui
siding. Assurances are given here tbs
the d niger is, at least for the momer
averted. owing to the friendly interpos
ton of the Ambassadors of the Ores
Powers who are parties to the Treaty {
Paris. The Porte, provoked by the pei
sistent hostility of the Athens Govern
ment, signified that it would wait onl
to the 18th inst, t. obtain satisfaction
but at the request of the Ambassadors
further delay Ito the l7th) was accorded
M. OlOzaga, representing the Madri
Provisioa al Government in Paris hi
been received by the Minister of Foreig
Affairs.
The Council of State will meet to-mol
row in general sitting to consider