The New York herald., 1871-03-18
TIE TREATIES OF 1856.

In illustration OF the contents or our special cable
telegram, published above, detailing the labors and
result Of the European Conference IN London, we
proceed to annex history Of the Old World treaties
OF 1855. accompanying the exhibit with narrative
In retrospect Of the circumstances which preceded
The arrangement, the detail being specially COM
piled for the use OF the readers OF the HERALD from
the most authentic sources OF infolmation:-
PAST EVENTS.
Fifteen years have elapsed since Russia agreed to
the Treaties Of Paris which limited the force OF her
naval power the Black sea, and to the revision Of
which she has now consented by aflixlng her sigma
ture to the Treaty Of London. The causes ana con-
sequences which induced the necessity OF the nrst
act and which followed IRON Its completion, are
not generally understood by the public.
Russian aggression upon Turkey has been
stock subject Of diplomacy for the last thirty
or forty years. The naturalization OF the Black
Sea is o much Older question. In 1889, after
her first invasion Of the Crimea, Russia. by conven.
vention with the Porte. undertook that she would
not keep fleet on that sea; and the Porte acknoWl.
edged the imperial title or the Czars. With refer
ence TO the modern diplomatic controversy, we may
Unklar Skeessi granted by Turkey to Russia In 1888
In consideration Of services rendered by her during
1t was agreed that II the Sublime Porte should there
after require naval or military assistance 1t should
Turkey SS 10 the II as
neles against the war vessels Of other nations.
na to nkar e Tssy sseess o. y s e
ment OF 1910 Britain Austria, Prussia ana Russia
severaly acknowledged the hereditary sovereignty
Of Menemet ALI undertook to defend the Sultan
from any attacks by cooperation in the two
straits, and, with that exception, recognized the
rule OF the Ottoman empire, which prohibits foreign
war ships from entering the Dardanelles or the
Bosphorus. ''The sultan" 1t adds, "on the one
hand hereby declares That, excepting the con
tion to maintain in future this principle, and, as
long as the Porte is at peace. to admit no foreign
n In n
hand, Their MajesIies engage to respect ms
the above mentioned prlnciplen Thus four
great powers, including Russia, debarred
Instead Of the arrangement OF Unkiar Skelessi
which gave special privileges to Russia, that State
other three contracting parties. The accession or
France TO tbs arrangement OF ls40 was announced
in the following year.. Addressing the French
Chambers in 1s4l, King LOUIS Philippe said.-'Snce
the close OF your last session The questions which
excited IN the East just solcltude have reached
their term. nave concluded with the Emperor Of
Austria, the Queen of Great Britain, the Emperor Of
Russia and the sultan convention which conse-
crates the common intention OF the Powers to NAM
tain the peace of Europe and consolidate the repose
OF the Ottoman EmpTsn Ssc,ss,rv
| A glance at the map Of Europe win show why the
naturalization OF the Black Sea Is regarded by dipo.
supreme Importance. fhe sea of bIarmora commu-
| ncates with the Mediterranean BY the Dardanees,
or Channel OF Constantnople. Consequently a ship
| passing from the Mediterranean to the Black sea
must sail by the Greek isaads, through the Darda-
through the Bosphorus. The waters OF this strait
have channel some twenty miles long and
nses 0as ana the are es aonb
| gates Of the Black Sea, upon which Turkey has
coast of more than thousand miles. 1t Is obvious
that II the straits are closed this coast is safe
from the attacks OF the natives OF either OF the
Powers & Is also S Rss,. hat the ne ma Raa
sea is equally important TO prevent invasions OF
the ottoman coast by Turkeys dreaded northera
neighbor
Only four years after the convention had been con-
dsmemberment of the Ottoman empire was made
by Russia subject OF diplomatic speculation. I'M
sS CABINET sfa h S to the 20 Of e
Porte to eXtrlcate herself from her treaty engage
ments, and TO the oppressed state Of her Christian
population; and, sin the uncertainty which hOvers
over the fufure,n he insisted upon the value OF
previous arrangement by England and Russia.
more beneficial nasnuch as 1t wi have also the
assent OF Austria, between which country and
principles In regard to the affairs OF Turkey.n The
true sigqdcalon OF this proposal was Illustrated III
scaoas Se Enss ne n Hsnqg
Seymour, which took place in 1853, and which pic,
duced great sensation when twas reported. Alter
repeating the proposal OF the Nesselrode memo.
randum Of 1874, that England and Russia should
come e preliminary anaerstanaas as 70 the
Us before the necessary dispositions are MADE"
The primary o1S SBaFS y lie WAs WAR declared AGAINST
France in the following year, was the dispute be-
ing the custody OF parts Of the Church Of the Holy
Sepulchre at Jerusalem. But rs the contest
eo s re Tas spse 6 sa
land was gradually drawn into the fray, nor to de-
fend her participation In It. Writing on the 25th OF
speech OF Nicholas about '.the sick man-Lord
Clarendon thus instructed Sir Stratford Canning.
British Minister at constantinope with reference to
the dangers to be apprelended from dispute about
the Holy :-"England, however Is in position
to neutralize by her moral influence these alarming
contingencies, and the Porte will learn with salts
faction that. even before your arrival at ConstaA-
tnople, the best efforts OF her Maesty's government
have been directed to restrain encroachment You |
will inform the French Minister for Foreign Affairs
that her Majesty's government have great satisac-
ton In believing that the interests OF France and |
England In the East are identical, and that nothing,
therefore, need prevent their cordial co-operaton
In maintaining the integrity and independence Of |
The Turkish empire" |
In March, 1854, France and England proclaimed |
In the following month Austria and Prussia |
signed treaty defensive and offensive, mutually |
gaging to defend tine interests OF Germany. |
They also declared their intention to abstain from
their desire for the restoration or peace. Austria |
engaged 10 apply to the Emperor OF Russia to stop |
s ns arses @ hs 81 ms army and to
TO support these proposals: and, In they were |
not accepted the contracting Powers engaged TO !
repel every attack on their territories and to defend
German interests.
CONFERENCES.
After the death OF the Emperor Nicholas. IN March,
1850 conferences were held between the representa-
tives OF Austria, France England, Turkey ana Rus
sa, Tor the purpose OF considering terms OF peace.
The fundamental question was the limitation OF the
Russian power In the Black Sea. NJ. Drouyn de
Lhuys proposed that Russia and Turkey should |
henceorth keep In the Euxine no more than four |
ships and four rigates and that France England
and Austria should by f1rman OF the Sultan, be
authorized to keep in the Euxine half the Turkish or
Russian force. The celebrated flour p0intsn DIS |
cussed at these conferences were:-
First,The collective proectorate Of the Princpaties
SeoadThe free navig cation of the Danube
7hdThe revision Of Treaty OF 1Sle confirm the
integrity OF the Turkish territory.
FoWthThe collective protecorae of the Christian sub.
jects of the Porte
Russia accepted these points as bases OF negota- |
ti0n.