[Proposed Congress. Peace of Europe.] it has appeared hopeless to anticipate any good result from such a meeting of the Plenipotentiaries of the several Powers, and therefore the project has been altogether abandoned. Her Majesty's Government do not feel called upon to pronounce any judgment on the course that the Austrian Government has pursued in this matter. But they cannot do otherwise than feel the greatest regret that apparently the last expedient for preserving the Peace of Europe has been renounced without a trial, and that there remains nothing more for the Neutral Powers at the present moment to do than to look on with sorrow at the misery and ruin by which it is probable that some of the fairest countries in Europe will be overwhelmed. But though disappointed at the failure of their recent endeavours, in conjunction with France and Russia, at all events to retard for a time the breaking out of War, while conscious of having used their utmost exertions for that purpose, Her Majesty's Government will not abandon the hope that the experience of its evils may in a short time render all those who are engaged in it more disposed to lay aside extreme pretensions and ambitious views, and to accept with sincerity the Good Offices of friendly Powers for the settlement of differences and for the reconciliation of animosities. Her Majesty's Government will be at all times ready to contribute to the utmost of their ability, and with entire singleness of purpose, to the adjustment, not only of the questions which now divide the litigant States, but of any others which may arise between them in the prosecution of Hostilities. It is the earnest desire of Her Majesty's Government that all such differences should be settled between States without a recourse to War. CLARENDON. (22.) The Earl of Clarendon to the British Representatives at Vienna, Berlin, Florence, and Frankfort. Causes which led to the Abandonment of the proposed Congress for the Preservation of the Peace of Europe. Sir, Foreign Office, 8th June, 1866. THE Austrian Ambassador has communicated to me a despatch from his Court in reply to the Invitation which you, in conjunction with your colleagues of France and Russia, ad [Proposed Congress. Peace of Europe.] dressed to the Austrian Government to attend a Conference at Paris, having for its object to devise means for maintaining the Peace of Europe. The Prussian Ambassador and the Italian Minister have made known to me in the same manner the replies of their respective Courts; and Her Majesty's Envoy at Frankfort has reported to me the result of his communication on the subject with the Diet of the Germanic Confederation. It is unnecessary for me to comment severally on these answers, which, with one exception, would have realised the object which the Governments of England, France, and Russia sought to obtain by their invitations, and would have admitted of a free deliberation between the neutral and the dissident Powers that might have resulted in an amicable understanding in regard to all points of difference by which the latter are divided. Unfortunately the decision of Austria to subject her entrance into the Conference to the acceptance by the other Powers of a Preliminary Condition, which would have eliminated from discussion one of the topics most fraught with danger to the general Peace, and her further decision to make over to the German Confederation, so far as she was concerned, the solution of another most vital question, debarred the Conference from entering upon two out of the three matters for the settlement of which it was proposed it should assemble; and it has appeared, therefore, to the Governments of England, France, and Russia, useless to open a discussion upon the third alone, which only partially affected the general interests of Europe. Under these circumstances Her Majesty's Government could not hesitate to concur with the Governments of France and Russia in the inutility of proceeding further with the proposed Conference, and it only remains for me to instruct you to announce to the Government to which you are accredited that it is abandoned. But in making this communication, and in expressing the regret of Her Majesty's Government at the disappointment of the expectations which Europe might have entertained of a successful issue of the Conference, you will add that Her Majesty's Government will not abandon the hope that, at no distant day, recourse may be had to the friendly intervention of Neutral and disinterested Powers for restoring the good understanding now unfortunately interrupted; and that in that case Her Majesty's exert to the utmost their Government will be found disposed to I am, &c., CLARENDON. NOTE.-In September, 1855 (during the Crimean War), the Emperor of the French proposed to the British Government that in any further discussions which might arise for the re-establishment of Peace, the condition of Poland should be considered, and His Majesty appealed to the Treaties of 1815. The British Government replied (22nd September, 1855), that "without entering into any engagement, or binding themselves to any particular course of action, it would be sufficient for England and France to agree generally upon the principle involved in this question, and to determine that future events should, as far as practicable, be turned to account in favour of Poland; and that, although the People of England and France were well disposed towards Poland, and would gladly learn that the wrongs of that unfortunate Country were redressed, yet it might well be doubted whether they would for that object consent indefinitely to prolong the War, and whether the two Governments would not lose the support of public opinion in carrying on the War if it became known that the re-constitution of Poland were made a condition sine quâ non of Peace." At the close of the Conferences of Paris in 1856, the Earl of Clarendon, in a Despatch to Viscount Palmerston (15th April, 1856) stated as follews:"Since the commencement of the Conferences, I have not failed to bear in mind the deep interest which Her Majesty's Government have always taken in the condition of Poland; and I have been most anxious to bring that question before the Congress in order to obtain some expression of opinion on the subject from that Body, or some assurance from the Representatives of the Emperor of Russia that His Majesty intended to adopt a more conciliatory Policy towards his Polish Subjects;" and he concluded his Despatch by stating that the Russian Plenipotentiary (Count Orloff) had declined "to make any declaration respecting Poland;" but had said "that the Emperor had determined to do everything that had been suggested, and that the Amnesty would be comprehensive; that he wished to signalise his Coronation by these and other Acts of Grace, but that their good effect would be destroyed if His Majesty's intentions were declared beforehand; and that, if he (Lord Clarendon) persisted in bringing the matter before the Congress, he should be compelled to give an unfavourable answer, and to say that Foreign Intervention would probably lead to a postponement or a diminution of the favours which His Majesty meant to bestow on his Polish Subjects." Under those circumstances Count Walewski and Lord Clarendon agreed that the more prudent course would be not to bring forward the question in the Congress. [Prussian Invasion of Hanover, Hesse-Cassel, and Saxony.] No. 378.—PRUSSIAN DECLARATION of the Necessity for the Invasion of Hanover, Hesse-Cassel, and Saxony. Berlin, 16th June, 1866. (Translation.) THE Confederation having been dissolved by the Resolution of the 14th (No. 376), and Prussia finding herself threatened with War, the duty of self-preservation required that the Country was secured against neighbouring States. Prussia on the 15th June proposed to Saxony, Hanover, and Hesse-Cassel an Alliance founded on Unarmed Neutrality, with the condition of the Convocation of a German Parliament with the object of securing Peace. At the same time Prussia promised to those States the Guarantee of the state of Possession and their Sovereignty. The 3 above-mentioned States have declined the offer. The Geographical position of Prussia not admitting that it should tolerate in those Countries either an open or concerted Hostility during a War carried on elsewhere, the Royal Troops have this morning passed the Frontier in the 3 directions in order to prevent their being attacked behind whilst they are defending themselves against Austria. It is reported that the Hesse-Cassel and Hanoverian Governments have stopped the Railways and Telegraph Lines in their States. On the Express Train which passed this night through Hanover was a detachment of Pioneers to execute, it is said, the order to destroy the Hanoverian Railroad on the Frontiers of Brunswick. Those proceedings show more clearly than any other how impossible it is for Prussia, at the time of being threatened with War by Austria, to allow at its rear as doubtful neighbours, those Countries which separate the two parts of the Monarchy, and who Arm in conformity with the Federal Resolution voted by the enemies of Prussia. After the Hanoverian Government had offered, in its Note of the 14th May, 1866, to conclude a Treaty of Neutrality with Prussia, after Prussia had officially accepted that offer, but that Hanover had not kept her promise and had pronounced against Prussia by her Vote relative to the Mobilisation of the German [16 June, 1866. [Prussian Invasion of Hanover, Hesse-Cassel, and Saxony.] Contingents, it was impossible for Prussia to act otherwise than she has done. The Hanoverian Government will be responsible towards their Country, for having rejected the means of an Arrangement so amicably offered of concluding a Treaty of Neutrality with Prussia, who would at the same time have guaranteed the Possessions and Sovereignty of Hanover, and of preferring the Austrian Alliance. His Majesty's Government have instructed the Royal Legations to state, in the first instance, by Notes to the Powers which signed the Act of Congress of 9th June, 1815 (No. 27), the breaking up of the Federal Act (No. 26), and consequently of Articles LIV and LXIII of those European Treaties, in which that Act has been reproduced, and afterwards to communicate that Act to all the other Powers. Public Organs announce that His Highness Duke Ernest of Coburg holds an eminent position among the Princes who intend to defend the Rights of Prussia. We fulfil our duty in announcing that fact, and in stating that Duke Ernest expressed himself with as much decision as firmness against the Austrian proposal of Mobilisation. Many Ratepayers offer to the Government to pay their Contributions for one year and more in advance, and to place at their disposal Capital without Interest so long as the War lasts. His Majesty has gratefully appreciated these proofs of devotion and patriotic feelings. It would not be in conformity with the interests of the State to reject such patriotic offers, and the Tax Officers have received the necessary orders to receive the Contributions and the Capital offered without interest. |