[Black Sea and Danube.]

No. 441.-PROTOCOLS OF CONFERENCES between the Plenipotentiaries of Great Britain, Austria-Hungary, France, Italy, North Germany (Germany), Russia, and Turkey, for the Revision of the Treaty of 30th March (Black Sea and Danube), 1856. London, 17th January— 14th March, 1871.*

Protocol.

No. 1. Choice of President. Full Powers. Absence of Plenipotentiaries. Declaration of Adhesion. Russian Reasons for Revising Stipulations of Treaty of 1856, relative to the Neutrality of the Black Sea. Objections of Turkey. Prussian reasons for proposing Conference. London, 17th January, 1871. Annex. Declaration as to Non-alteration of Treaties without consent of Contracting Parties. (No. 432). London, 17th January, 1871. No. 2. Recognition of King of Prussia's Title of Emperor of Germany. Plenipotentiaries to be styled Plenipotentiaries of Germany. Russian Reasons for wishing Revision of Treaty of 1856, relative to the Neutrality of the Black Sea. Articles of Treaty to be Revised. Conditional Adhesion of Turkey. Austria, Great Britain, and Italy support Turkish view. Other Plenipotentiaries wait instrucLondon, 24th January, 1871. No. 3. Discussion of proposed New Articles. Black Sea, Dardanelles, and Bosphorus. Turkish Objection to Art. II. Austria supports Original Reading with Verbal Alteration. Prussia supports Original. Great Britain advises Austria to accedo to proposed Articles under reserve. Acceptance by Italy. Acceptance by Germany. Austrian Reservations. Adhesion of Russia. Observations on Turkish views. Additional Article proposed by Great Britain and accepted. Riverain Commission of the Danube. Duration of European Commission of the Danube. Extension of its competency to Ibraila. London, 3rd February, 1871.

tions.

Annex. Project of Treaty.

No. 4. Qualified Adhesions to Project of Treaty.

London, 7th February, 1871. No. 5. Introduction of French Plenipotentiary. His Adhesion. Decision of Conference. Signs. Declaration annexed to Protocol No. 1 respecting Inviolability of Treaties (No. 433). Proposed extension of European Commission of the Danube to Ibraila abandoned. Articles of Treaty as amended, agreed to. New Convention between Russia and Turkey respecting number and force of Vessels of War in the Black Sea, to be signed and ratified at the same time, as General Treaty. Duration of European Commission of the Danube extended to 24th April, 1883. London, 13th March, 1871. No. 6. Signature of Treaty.

Close of Conference.

See Note, page 1900.

Thanks to President. London, 14th March, 1871.

[Peace.]

No. 442.-CONVENTION between France and Germany, for the Delivery to the French Authorities of the Administration of the Departments occupied by German Troops. Signed at Rouen, 16th March, 1871.

1. Departmental and Communal Administration of Departments occupied by German Troops, restored to French Authority on Ratification of Con

vention.

2. Re-establishment of French Prefects, &c. German Civil Commissioners to superintend German Interests. French Authorities to conform to measures of German Civil Commissioners.

3. French Tribunals, &c., to resume their functions.

Reorganisation of

Gendarmerie. Maintenance of state of Siege in Departments occupied by Germans.

4.* French Administrative Authorities to conform to measures adopted by Commanders of German Troops.

5. Right of German Authorities to abrogate above Concessions in case their interests are compromised.

6. Ratifications.

(Translation.)

BETWEEN M. Pouyer-Quertier, Minister of Finances; Baron de Ring, Delegate of the Minister for Foreign Affairs; and M. Casimir Fournier, Delegate of the Minister of the Interior, furnished with the Full Powers of the Government of the French Republic, on the one part; and, on the other part, Lieutenant-General de Fabrice, furnished with the Full Powers of His Majesty the Emperor of Germany, King of Prussia;

The Full Powers of the two Contracting Parties having been found in good and due form, it has been agreed as follows:

The Parties wishing to secure the easy and loyal execution of the Preliminary Treaty of Peace, signed at Versailles between the Empire of Germany and France, on the 26th February last (No. 438), and to remove any possibility of a conflict between

* See Preliminaries of Peace of 26th February, 1871, Art. VIII.

[Peace.]

the German Army and the French Population, have agreed upon

the following dispositions :

ARTS. I to VI (see Table).

Done at Rouen, 16th March, 1871.

(L.S.) FABRICE.

(L.S.) POUYER-QUERTIER.

(L.S.) N. DE RING.

(L.S.) FOURNIER.

[A Convention was signed on the same day relative to the

payment of Taxes in arrear.]

[German Constitution.]

No. 443.-LAW of the Emperor of Germany, respecting the Constitution of the Empire. Berlin, 16th April, 1871. (Translation.)

Reference to the Constitution of the North German Confederation and to the Treaties with Bavaria and Wurtemberg of 23rd and 25th November, 1870.

WE, William, by the Grace of God, German Emperor, King of Prussia, &c., do hereby order, in the name of the German Empire, by and with the consent of the Council of the Confederation and of the Imperial Diet, as follows:

§ 1. In the place of the Constitution of the German Confederation, agreed to between the North German Confederation, and the Grand Duchies of Baden and Hesse, as well as of the Treaties of 23rd and 25th November, 1870,* concluded with the Kingdoms of Bavaria and Wurtemberg respecting the adhesion to that Constitution, is substituted the annexed,

Constitution for the German Empire (No. 444).

§ 2. The stipulations in Article LXXX of the Constitution of the German Confederation (No. 407) mentioned in § 1; under III § 8 of the Treaty with Bavaria of 23rd November, 1870; in Article II, No. 6 of the Treaty with Wurtemberg of 25th November, 1870, respecting the introduction into those States of the Laws issued in the North German Confederation, remain in force.

The laws specified there are Laws of the Empire. Where the North German Confederation, its Constitution, Territories, Members, or States, Birthright, Constitutional Organs, Subjects, Officials, Flag, &c., are spoken of therein, the German Empire and its corresponding relations are to be understood.

The same is valid for those Laws enacted in the North German Confederation, which may hereafter be introduced into one of the said States.

§ 3. The arrangements in the Protocol adopted at Versailles on the 15th November, 1870; in the transaction at Berlin on the 25th November, 1870; in the final Protocol of 23rd November, 1870; as well as under Article IV of the Treaty with Bavaria of 23rd November, 1870, are not affected by this Law.

Given under our Imperial Signature, and sealed with our Imperial Seal.

Done at Berlin, the 16th of April, 1871.

PRINCE V. BISMARCK.

See Note, pages 1828.

(L.S.) WILLIAM.

[German Constitution.]

No. 444.-CONSTITUTION of the German Empire. Berlin, 16th April, 1871.*

ART.

Preamble.

1. Territory of the Confederation.

2

to

5.

6

to

10.

11

to

19.

}

Legislature of the Empire.
lature

TABLE.

Council of the Confederation. Committee for Foreign Affairs.

The Presidency. King of Prussia, German Emperor. Right to declare War; to make Peace; to conclude Treaties with Foreign Powers, and to send and receive Ambassadors.

}

to

68.

69

to

73.

74

Military Affairs of the Empire. Final Stipulations to Section XI.

Finances of the Empire. Final Stipulation to Section XII.

to Settlement of Differences and Penal Stipulations.

77.

78. General Stipulations.

(Translation.)

His Majesty the King of Prussia in the name of the North German Confederation, His Majesty the King of Bavaria, His Majesty the King of Wurtemberg, His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Baden, and His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine, for those parts of the Grand Duchy of

*See Note, page 1828.