The sun., 1918-12-30
BEFORE THE CONGRESS OF
VIENNA.
A Historical Review Of n Great Con-
vention OF Statesmen, TO De Read
Now with Duo Attention to the
Prellmlnarles Of Another Pence Con.
ference About 10 Assemble In Paris.

"O" DuO
Prellminarles Of Another Pence Con.
ference About TO Assemble In Paris.
Prom the Encyclopedia Britannica.
The fall of Napoleon was only
achieved by the creation OF n special
alliance between Great Britain. Aus
tria, Russia and Prussia. BY the treaty
OF Chaumont OF March 10, 1914, these
four Powers bound themselves together
in a bond which was not to be dis
solved when peace was concluded.
When Napoleon had been beaten,
France conceded TO these allies by a
secret article Of the first treaty OF
Paris of May 80, 1914, the disposition
of all countries which Napoleon's fall
lad freed from French ~suzerainty.
This stupendous task was reserved for
a general congress-, and IL was agreed
10 meet at Vienna
The visit of the allied sovereigns
TO England and the pressing engage
ments Of the Emperor Alexander ana
Lord CastlereaRh delayed the congress
until autumn, when all Europe sent It's
re representatives to accept the hospi-
t0lity of the impoverished but a
nitcent Austrian court.
Metternich, though he had not yet
completely established his position,
acted as chief Austrian representative,
and he was naturally In his capacity
Of host the president OF the congress.
Friedrich Won Cent? acted as secre-
tary, both to him and the congress.
and did much OF the routine work.
.o.l.-e - D,,.sta .llrontnl hla ONrn
diplomacy, and round him he had gath
cred a brilliant body of men who could
express but not control their masters
desires. OF these the chief were for
eigners, according to the traditions OF
Russian diplomacy. Capo dlstria,
| Nesselrode, Stein. Pozzo di Borgo were
perhaps tho best men in Europe TO
manage the Russian policy, while Car
toriski represented at the imperial
court the hope OF Polish nationality.
Frederick William III. of Prussia
was a weaker character. and, as Will
pc seen. his policy was largely deter
mined by his ally. Prince Won Harden
berg. who by no means shared all the
views Of his master. but was incapaci-
tated by his growing infrmities. was
first Prussian plenipotentiary, and as
sisting him was Baron Won Humboldt.
Great Britain was represented by
Lord Castlereagh, and under him we're
the British diplomats who had been
attached to the foreign armies since
1913. Clancarty. Stewart and CathcaTt.
Castlereagh brought with him decided
views. which, however, we're not alto
gether those OF his Cabinet. and his
position was weakened By the fact that
Great Britain was still at war with
the United States. and that public
opinion at home cared for little but
| the abolition Of the slave trade. When
parliamentary duties called Castle.
reagh home in February. 1915. the
Duke of Wellington filled his place
With adequate dignity n statesman
ship until the war broke out.
France sent Prince Talleyrand to
conduct her difficult affairs. No other
man was so Well fitted for the task
Of maintaining the interests OF a de-
feated country. His rare diplomatic
skill and supreme intellectual endow-
ments were to enable him to play n
deciding part in the coming congress.
All the minor Powers of Europe were
represented. for all felt that their in
~ttrests were at stake In the coming
settlement. Gathered there also were
a host of puhlicists, secretaries and
oouriers, and never before had Europe
witnessed such a collection OF rank
and talent. From tho first the social
size of the congress impressed observ-
ers with its wealth and variety, nor
! l{l .ho r+a.aevNnn IlaIotn en- ,,En fhn
dining table or the ballroom as the
Instruments Of their diplomacy.
All Europe waited with eager expec-
tation the results of SO great an as
sembly. The fate OF Poland and Sax
Dry hung in the balance: Germany
awaited an entirely new reorganiza-
ton: Italy was again ready for dis
memberment: ruInors went that even
the Pope and the Sultan might be
largely affected.
Some there were who hoped that so
great an opportunity would not be lost,
but that the statesmen would initiate
such measures OF international dis
armament as would perpetuate the
blessings of that peace which Europe
was again enjoying after twenty years
Of warfare.
1t WIS not long. however, before the
allies displayed their intention OF keep
ins the management Of affairs in their
own hands. At an informal meeting
OF the 22d OF September the four great
Powers agreed that all subjects of gem
eral interest were to be settled by a
committee consisting of Austria, Rus
STA, Prussia n Great Britain, to-
gether with France and Spain. At the
same time, however, 1t was decided
by a secret protocol that the four
Powers should first settle among them
selves the distribution of the con-
qucred territories, and that France and
Spain should only be consulted when
their final decision was announced.