ont constamment échoué. La prolongation de la crise actuelle et l'absence d'un pouvoir régulier en France éloignent encore la possibllité d'un pareil concert. En attendant, la position faite à la Russie par ce Traité est devenue de plus en plus intolérable. Lord Granville conviendra que l'Europe d'aujourd'hui est bien loin d'être celle qui a signé l'Acte de 1856. Il était impossible que la Russie consentît à rester, seule, indéfiniment liée à une transaction qui, déjà onéreuse lorsqu'elle a été conclue, perdait de jour en jour ses garanties. Notre auguste Maître a trop la conscience de ce qu'il doit à son pays pour lui imposer plus longtemps une obligation contre laquelle proteste le sentiment national. Nous ne saurions admettre que l'abrogation d'un principe théorique sans application immédiate, qui ne fait que restituer à la Russie un droit dont aucune Grande Puissance ne saurait être privée, puisse être considérée comine une menace pour la paix, ni qu'en annulant un point du Traité de 1856 elle implique l'annulation du tout. Telle n'a jamais été la pensée du Cabinet Impérial. Nos communications du Octobre déclarent, au contraire, de la manière la plus explicite que Sa Majesté l'Empereur maintient entièrement son adhésion aux principes généraux du Traité de 1856, et qu'elle est prête à s'entendre avec les Puissances signataires de cette transaction, soit pour en confirmer les stipulations générales, soit pour les renouveler, soit pour y substituer tout autre arrangement équitable qui serait jugé propre à assurer le repos de l'Orient et l'équilibre Européen. Rien ne semble dès-lors s'opposer à ce que le Cabinet de Londres, si cela lui convient, entre en explications avec les Signataires du Traité de 1856. Pour notre part, nous sommes prêts à nous associer à toute délibération qui aurait pour objet les garanties générales destinées à consolider la paix de l'Orient, Nous sommes persuadés qu'elle en recevrait de nouvelles, si une cause permanente d'irritation étant écartée entre les deux Puissances les plus directement intéressées, leurs mutuelles relations se raffermissaient sur la base d'une bonne et solide intelligence. Vous êtes invité, M. le Baron, à donner lecture et à laisser copie de cette dépêche à Lord Granville. M. le Principal Secrétaire d'Etat de Sa Majesté Britannique vous a exprimé le regret qu'il éprouverait si cette discussion devait altérer l'accord que le Gouvernement de Sa Majesté la Reine s'est efforcé de maintenir entre les deux pays. Veuillez exprimer à son Excellence combien ce regret serait partagé par le Cabinet Impérial. Nous croyons l'accord des deux Gouvernements essentiellement utile aux deux pays, aussi bien qu'à la paix du monde. C'est avec une vive satisfaction que nous l'avions vu durant les dernières années devenir de plus en plus intime et cordial. Les circonstances graves où nous sommes nous semblent de nature à le rendre plus désirable que jamais. Recevez, &c. (Signé) GORTCHAKOFF. (Translation.) Czarskoe-Seloe, November, 1870. M. le Baron, THE English Ambassador has read and given to me a copy of a despatch from Lord Granville relative to our communications of the 19th October. 31st I have lost no time in laying it before His Majesty the Emperor. Our august Master was glad to gather from it, in the first instance, the expression of the serious desire of the Cabinet of London to maintain a cordial understanding between England and Russia; further, the assurance that it would not have refused to join in an examination into the modifications which circumstances have introduced into the effects of the Treaty of 1856. As regards the point of view of strict law established by Lord Granville, we do not wish to enter into any discussion, recall any precedent, or quote any example, because such a discussion would not lead to the understanding which we desire. Our august Master thought it right to fulfil an imperative duty towards his country without wishing to wound or menace any one of the Governments who signed the Treaty of 1856. On the contrary, His Imperial Majesty appeals to their sentiments of justice and to the conscience of their own dignity. We regret to see that Lord Granville lays stress principally on the form of our communications. It was not chosen us. Certainly, we should have asked for nothing be ter than to obtain our purpose by an understanding with the signataries of the Treaty of 1856. But the Principal Secretary of State of Her Britannic Majesty well knows that all attempts made at different times to assemble the Powers in common deliberations with a view to remove the causes of complication which disturb the general peace, have repeatedly failed. The prolongation of the actual crisis and the absence of a regular power in France. remove still further the possibility of such concert. In the meanwhile, the position Russia is placed in by this Treaty became more and more intolerable, Lord Granville will admit that the Europe of to-day is very far from being the Europe. which signed the Treaty of 1856. It was impossible that Russia should consent alone to remain indefinitely fettered by a transaction which, already onerous when it was concluded, was losing its guarantees day by day. Our august Master feels too much what he owes to his country to impose on it any longer an obligation against which the national sentiment protests. We cannot admit that the abrogation of a theoretical principle without immediate application, which only restores to Russia a right of which no great Power can be deprived, can be regarded as a menace to peace, or that in annulling a point of the Treaty of 1856 the annulment of the whole can be implied. 31st Such has never been the intention of the Imperial Cabinet. Our communications of the October declare, on the contrary, in the most explicit monner, that His Majesty the Emperor maintains entirely his adhesion to the general principles of the Treaty of 1856, and that he is ready to come to an understanding with the Powers, signataries of that transaction, either to confirm its general stipulations, or to renew them, or to substitute for them any other equitable arrangement which might be thought proper to assure the tranquillity of the East and the balance of power of Europe. After this nothing seems to prevent the Cabinet of London, if they choose, from entering into explanations with the signataries of the Treaty of 1856. For our part we are ready to join in any deliberation having for its object the general guarantees destined to consolidate the peace of the East. We are persuaded that fresh guarantees would be obtained if, a permanent cause of irritation between the two Powers most directly interested being removed, their mutual relations were to be re-established on the basis of a good and solid understanding. You are requested, M. le Baron, to read and give a copy of this despatch to Lord Granville. The Principal Secretary of State of Her Britannic Majesty has expressed to you the regret he would feel if this discussion should change the good understanding which the Government of Her Majesty the Queen has endeavoured to maintain between the two countries. Pray express to his Excellency in how great a degree this regret would be shared by the Imperial Cabinet, We believe an understanding between the two Governments to be essentially beneficial to the two countries, as well as to the peace of the world. We have seen this understanding with great satisfaction of late years becoming more and more intimate and cordial. The grave circumstances in which we are placed seem to us to render it more desirable than ever. Receive, &c. (Signed) GORTCHAKOFF. No. 37. Earl Granville to Mr. Odo Russell. Sir, In the former you state that Count Bismarck had expressed himself as taken by surprise by the Russian Circular; that he regretted it, but could not interfere or return an official answer to it at present; and that he showed the greatest anxiety to prevent the matter leading to hostilities. From the second it appears that his Excellency offers, with the consent of Her Majesty's Government, to take the initiative in proposing a Conference at St Petersburgh, which he understands Prince Gortchakoff would be ready to accept ; that he strongly recommends St. Petersburgh as the place of meeting with a view to the speedy settlement of the question; and begs that Her Majesty's Government, if they agree, will invite the French Government to join. I understand from you that his Excellency is not indisposed to a revision of the Treaty in a sense favourable to the views of Russia. You will inform Count Bismarck of the pleasure with which Her Majesty's Govern ment have learned that a communication which had made so painful an impression on themselves has not been received without surprise and regret by the Government of Prussia. It is with pleasure also that they recognize the desire shown by his Excellency to bring to a satisfactory issue the differences between Russia and the other Powers parties to the Treaty of 1856. Speaking for themselves, Her Majesty's Government have no objection to enter into a Conference for the purpose of considering any adequate statement of the grounds on which Russia may wish to bring before the co-signatary Powers a proposal for the revision of the Special Convention between herself and Turkey, annexed to and embodied in the Treaty of 1856. Her Majesty's Government could only join in such a Conference on the express understanding that it should be in no way prejudiced by any previous assumption as to the result of its deliberations. They would, however, feel bound, in concert with the other Powers, to weigh with fairness and without bias any claims which Russia might advance and any proposals which she might make. As regards the place of meeting of the Conference, there seems to be an obvious objection to Count Bismarck's suggestion of St. Petersburgh, and equally so to Constantinople: the same reasons do not apply to Berlin; but, during the unhappy continuance of the present war, it would be impossible for France to send a Representative to the Prussian capital. Her Majesty's Government would be willing to accept Vienna, Florence, or London as the place of meeting; or, should it be thought preferable to choose the capital of some State which was not a party to the Treaty under discussion, they would consent to the selection of the Hague, Brussels, or Berne. On hearing from you that Count Bismarck concurs in the views set forth above, I shall be ready to communicate with the French Government. I am, &c. (Signed) GRANVILLE. No. 38. (Extract.) Earl Granville to Lord Lyons. Foreign Office, November 27, 1870. I HAVE been informed by Mr. Russell that Count Bismarck accepts the basis on which, as stated in my telegram of the 25th instant, Her Majesty's Government are prepared to enter into a Conference to consider the grounds on which Russia claims to be released from the obligations imposed upon her by the Treaty of 1856, in regard to the neutralization of the Black Sea; and that he further agrees that such Conference shall be held in London. I have accordingly to request your Excellency at once to communicate to M. de Chaudordy the substance of my telegram, and in doing so you will express the hope of Her Majesty's Government that France will agree to take part in a Conference, under the condition that its deliberations and conclusions are not to be fettered by any previous assumption as to the result at which it may arrive. Sir, No. 39. Earl Granville to Mr. Odo Russell. Foreign Office, November 27, 1870. I RECEIVED late last night your telegram announcing that Count Bismarck agreed to the basis laid down by Her Majesty's Government for the proposed Conference, and to London as the place of meeting, and that he would telegraph to St. Petersburgh and Florence accordingly. In compliance with his Excellency's request, conveyed in your telegram, I have communicated his assent to the Austrian and French Governments with a view to obtaining their concurrence in the Conference, and I will at once make a similar communication to the Porte. I have also informed Her Majesty's Representatives at St. Petersburgh, Berlin, and Florence of what has passed. I am, &c. Sir, No. 40. Earl Granville to Sir A. Paget.* Foreign Office, November 27, 1870. I HAVE to acquaint you that Her Majesty's Government have, through Mr. Odo Russell, informed the Government of Prussia that they entertain no objection to entering with other Powers into a Conference with a view to consider any proposals which the Russian Government might be desirous of putting forward with a view to the revision of the Special Convention respecting the neutralization of the Black Sea, which is annexed to the General Treaty of Paris of 1856; on the understanding, however, that such Conference is not to be subject to any previous assumption in regard to its results, although at the same time the Government of Her Majesty would feel themselves bound to consider fairly and without bias any claims which the Russian Government might put forward, as well as any proposals which she might have to make. In accepting the above conditions as the basis of negotiation, Count Bismarck also assents to London being the capital in which the Conference should be assembled. I am assured that Count Bismarck will send telegrams in the above sense to Florence and St. Petersburgh, and I have, on my part, undertaken to make those arrangements known to the Governments of Austria and France, in order to obtain their concurrence also, and I shall likewise make a similar communication to the Porte through Her Majesty's Ambassador. I am, &c. My Lord, Lord Bloomfield to Earl Granville.-(Received November 28.) Vienna, November 14, 1870. THE messenger Hare arrived this morning, and I lost no time in apprizing Count Beust that I had received a copy of your Lordship's despatch to Sir Andrew Buchanan in answer to the Russian Circular, and would bring it whenever it would be convenient to his Excellency to receive me He begged me to call before 12 o'clock, at which hour he must attend the Counci I then delivered the copy into his Excellency's hands, without having time to read it to him, and he immediately took it to the Emperor, requesting me to call on him in the afternoon, when he would acquaint me with the dec sion which had been taken by His Imperial Majesty. At our second interview Count Beust told me that your Lords..ip's despatch had been carefully examined, and that it had been decided at the Council that, though the Austn reply would not be drawn up in the same terms, in meaning and purport it would hsame, and that it would be dispatched to St. Petersburgh in a couple of days. He cou d say no more at the present moment, but that he was glad to think the views of the Governments on this question were identical. I have, &c. My Lord, Lord Bloomfield to Earl Granville.-(Received November 28.) Vienna, November 16, 1870. I CALLED to-day on Count Beust, when he told me that his answer to the Russian Circular will be dispatched this evening. It is dr n up in the same spirit, though varying in form, as your Lordship's despatch to r Andrew Buchanan, and is equally positive in its condemnation and rejection of the reasoning put forward by Prince Gortchakoff in justification of the decision which has been taken by the Rus an Government. His Excellency allowed me to read his despatch to Count Chotek, and told me a copy of it would be immediately sent to Count Apponyi, for communication to Her Majesty's Government. * Similar despatches were addressed to Lord Bloomfield, Sir A. Buchanan, Sir H. Elliot, and Lord A. Loftus. (Extract.) No. 43. Lord Bloomfield to Earl Granville.--(Received November 28.) Vienna, November 23, 1870. COUNT BEUST has received a telegram from Count Chotek at St. Petersburgh, announcing the delivery of the Austrian answer to the Russian Circular of the ultimo, which does not appear to have called forth any serious observations from Prince Gortchakoff. 19th After giving me the above information Count Beust put into my hands a despatch he had addressed to Count Chotek as a reply to one of Prince Gortchakoff's which had been read to his Excellency by M. Novikoff, upon the occasion of his delivering a copy of the Circular. Count Apponyi will have shown this despatch to your Lordship, and Count Beust tells me that he was glad to have been able to answer Prince Gortchakoff's observations regarding his despatch to Russia, now nearly three years old, on the subject of a revision of the Treaties of 1856, which had once created so much sensation. My Lord, No. 44. Lord Bloomfield to Earl Granville.-(Received November 28.) Vienna, November 23, 1870. THE friends of Russia in Italy appear to have been active in spreading false reports as to the policy of the Cabinet of Florence in regard to the answer to be returned to the Russian Circular, and the report has been current here, and believed by many, that Italy took a different view of the question from England and Austria. M. Minghetti has had the goodness to assure me that his Government were fully persuaded of the vast importance of the matter at issue, and that as soon as M. Visconti Venosta should be put in possession of copies of the English and Austrian answers which had been sent to St. Petersburgh he should lose no time in despatching that of the Italian Government, which would resemble ours in all the main points, but be drawn up perhaps in a more courteous tone. False rumours have also been spread here, as to the impression produced at Constantinople by the Russian communication, and there is little doubt that all these rumours come from the same source. My Lord, · Lord A. Loftus to Earl Granville.-(Received November 28.) Berlin, November 28, 1870. I HAVE just seen Baron Thile, who informs me that he is without any instruction from Count Bismarck on the subject of the Russian Circular. He is therefore unable to give any answer to the official inquiries addressed to him by the foreign Representatives here as to the opinions of the Prussian Government on that document. Foreign Office, November 28, 1870. (Extract.) I HAVE to state to your Excellency that I have instructed Her Majesty's Ambassador at St. Petersburgh, by messenger this evening, to inform the Russian Government, in Similar despatches were addressed to Sir A. Paget, Lord Bloomfield, Sir H. Elliot, Mr. Odo Russell, and Mr. Layard. |