[Union of Hesse-Homburg, &c., to Prussia.] Prussian Constitution to come into Operation on the 1st October, 1867. § II. The Prussian Constitution shall come into force in the above-mentioned districts on the 1st October, 1867. The arrangements for the necessary modifications and additions, and for the execution thereof, will be settled by special laws. § III. The Minister of State is charged with the execution of this Law. Given under our Royal Hand and Seal at Berlin, this 24th day of December, 1866. (L.S.) WILLIAM. Co. v. BISMARCK-SCHONHAUSEN and 7 others. [On the 28th December, 1866, Ordinances were issued by the King of Prussia, for introducing the North German Election Law into Holstein, Schleswig, and the portions of Bavarian and Hessian Territory united to Prussia; and on the 12th January, 1867, a Proclamation was issued by the Prince of Augustenburg to the Schleswig-Holstein People, releasing them from their obligations, but reserving his future Rights as well as those of the Country.] [Servian Fortresses.] No. 404.-FIRMAN of the Sultan, relative to the Evacuation of the Servian Fortresses by the Turks. 10th April, 1867. (Translation.) MICHAEL BEY, Prince of Servia! Be it known on the arrival of this our Imperial Firman, that whereas the preservation of the tranquillity of Servia, which forms an integral part of our Imperial Dominions, and the increase of the happiness and repose of its people, are of exceeding great importance in our eyes, and whereas it is essential for the fulfilment of this object that the Fortresses of Belgrade, Feth-Islam, Semendria, and Bukurdelen* (Schabatz), situated within the Principality of Servia, should be maintained in a state of efficiency, and in such manner as to afford protection to the inhabitants, and as we are convinced by the uprightness and fidelity which characterise yourself and the Servian people at large, that all your energies will be exerted in the defence and proper administration of these Fortresses, it has now seemed good to us that they should be committed to your charge, that the duty of garrisoning them should be transferred to Servian soldiers, and that henceforth the Servian Flag should float over their battlements, together with the Flag of my Sublime Porte. It is evident that this public mark and real proof of our favour and confidence as regards both yourself and the Servian people will be duly appreciated; that the stipulated and confirmed obligations of the Servian Principality towards the Suzerain Power will continue to be faithfully discharged, and that you will do your very utmost to maintain the defence and efficiency of the Fortresses. Our resolution, as stated above, to confide and recommend to your care the defence of these Fortresses, with the proviso that in case of some change in their actual condition becoming necessary, such change shall not be carried into effect without the opinion and consent of the Sublime Porte being previously obtained, is notified to you by this our Imperial Firman dated 5th Zilhidjeh, 1283. *See note, page 1520. [Luxemburg and Limburg.] No. 405.-TREATY between Great Britain, Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Prussia, and Russia, relative to the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg and the L Duchy of Limburg. Signed at London, 11th May, 1867.* 1. Maintenance of Rights of the House of Orange-Nassau. 2. Grand Duchy to form a Perpetual Neutral State under Guarantee of Contracting Parties. 3. Luxemburg to cease to be a Fortified City. Troops to be maintained by the King Grand Duke. 4. Evacuation of Fortress of Luxemburg by Prussian Troops. 5. Demolition of Fortress of Luxemburg by the Netherlands. Fortifications not to be restored. 6. Duchy of Limburg to form an Integral part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. 7. Ratifications. (Translation as laid before Parliament.†) In the Name of the Most Holy and Indivisible Trinity. His Majesty the King of the Netherlands, Grand Duke of Luxemburg, taking into consideration the change produced in the situation of the Grand Duchy in consequence of the dissolution of the ties by which it was attached to the late Germanic Confederation (Nos. 26, 388), has invited Their Majesties the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Emperor of Austria, the King of the Belgians, the Emperor of the French, the King of Prussia, and the Emperor of All the Russias, to assemble their Representatives in Conference at London, in order to come to an understanding, with the Plenipotentiaries of His Majesty the King Grand Duke, as to the new arrangements to be made in the general interest of Peace. And Their said Majesties, after having accepted that invitation, have resolved, by common consent, to respond to the desire manifested by His Majesty the King of Italy to take part in a deliberation destined to offer a new pledge of security for the maintenance of the general tranquillity. In consequence, Their Majesties, in concert with His Majesty * See Declarations of France and Prussia of 17th July, 1870. [Luxemburg and Limburg.] the King of Italy, wishing to conclude a Treaty with a view to that object, have named as their Plenipotentiaries, that is to say : Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Right Honourable Edward Stanley, commonly called Lord Stanley, a Member of Her Britannic Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, a Member of Parliament, her Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; His Majesty the Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary and Bohemia, the Sieur Rudolph Count Apponyi, Chamberlain and Privy Councillor of His Imperial Royal and Apostolic Majesty, his Ambassador Extraordinary to Her Britannic Majesty, &c.; His Majesty the King of the Belgians, the Sieur Sylvain Van de Weyer, Minister of State, his Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Her Britannic Majesty, &c.; His Majesty the Emperor of the French, the Sieur Godfrey Bernard Henry Alphonse, Prince de la Tour d'Auvergne Lauraguais, his Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Her Britannic Majesty, &c.; His Majesty the King of Italy, the Sieur Emmanuel Taparelli de Lagnasco, Marquis d'Azeglio, his Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Her Britannic Majesty, &c.; His Majesty the King of the Netherlands, Grand Duke of Luxemburg, the Sieur Adolphus Baron Bentinck, his Chamberlain and Minister of State, his Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Her Britannic Majesty, &c.; the Baron Victor de Tornaco, Minister of State, President of the Government of the Grand Duchy, his Honorary Chamberlain, &c.; and the Sieur Emanuel Servais, Vice-President of the Council of State and of the Superior Court of Justice, formerly Member of the Government, &c.; His Majesty the King of Prussia, the Sieur Albert Count de Bernstorff-Stintenburg, his Minister of State and Chamberlain, his Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Her Britannic Majesty, &c.; And His Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias, the Sieur Philip Baron de Brunnow, his Actual Privy Councillor, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Her Britannic Majesty, &c. ; Who, after having exchanged their Full Powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon the following Articles : [Luxemburg and Limburg.] Maintenance of Rights of the House of Orange-Nassau. ART. I. His Majesty the King of the Netherlands, Grand Duke of Luxemburg, maintains the ties which attach the said Grand Duchy to the House of Orange-Nassau, in virtue of the Treaties which placed that State under the Sovereignty of the King Grand Duke, his descendants and successors (Nos. 183, 187). The Rights which the Agnates of the House of Nassau possess with regard to the Succession of the Grand Duchy, in virtue of the same Treaties, are maintained. The High Contracting Parties accept the present Declaration, and place it upon record. Grand Duchy to form a Perpetual Neutral State under Guarantee of Contracting Parties. ART. II. The Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, within the Limits determined by the Act annexed to the Treaties of the 19th April, 1839 (Nos. 183, 184, 185), under the Guarantee of the Courts of Great Britain, Austria, France, Prussia, and Russia, shall henceforth form a perpetually Neutral State. It shall be bound to observe the same Neutrality towards all other States. The High Contracting Parties engage to respect the principle of Neutrality stipulated by the present Article. That principle is and remains placed under the sanction of the collective Guarantee of the Powers signing Parties to the present Treaty, with the exception of Belgium, which is itself a Neutral State. Luxemburg to cease to be a Fortified City. Troops to be maintained by the King Grand Duke. ART. III. The Grand Duchy of Luxemburg being Neutralised, according to the terms of the preceding Article, the maintenance or establishment of Fortresses upon its Territory becomes without necessity as well as without object. In consequence, it is agreed by common consent that the City of Luxemburg, considered in time past, in a military point of view, as a Federal Fortress,* shall cease to be a fortified city. His Majesty the King Grand Duke reserves to himself to maintain in that city the number of troops necessary to provide in it for the maintenance of good order. * See note, page 1903. |