[Black Sea.] its conclusion, and this in face of the Great Powers assembled in Conference at Paris, and representing together the high collective authority on which rested the Peace of the East. But this infraction was not the only one. Repeatedly, and under various pretexts, Foreign Men-of-War have been suffered to enter the Straits, and whole Squadrons, whose presence was an infraction of the character of absolute Neutrality attributed to those waters, admitted to the Black Sea.* While the pledges offered by the Treaty, and more especially the Guarantees for the effective Neutralisation of the Black Sea, were thus being weakened, the introduction of ironclad vessels, unknown and unforeseen at the conclusion of the Treaty of 1856, increased the danger for Russia in the event of War, by adding considerably to the already patent inequality of the respective Naval Forces. Under these circumstances, His Majesty could not but ask himself what are the Rights and Duties accruing to Russia from these modifications of the general situation and the departures from the engagements which, although conceived in a spirit of distrust towards herself, she has invariably and scrupulously observed. After maturely considering this question, His Imperial Majesty has arrived at the following conclusions, which you are instructed to bring to the knowledge of the Government to which you are accredited :— Our illustrious Master cannot admit, de jure, that Treaties, violated in several of their essential and general clauses, should remain binding in other clauses directly affecting the interests of his Empire.† His Imperial Majesty cannot admit, de facto, that the security of Russia should depend on a fiction which has not stood the test of time, and should be imperilled by her respect for engagements which have not been observed in their integrity. Confiding in the feelings of justice of the Powers who have signed the Treaty of 1856, as well as in their consciousness of their own dignity, the Emperor commands you to declare that His Imperial Majesty cannot any longer hold himself bound by the stipulations of the Treaty of 18th March, 1856 (No. 264), as far as they restrict his Sovereign Rights in the Black Sea; That His Imperial Majesty deems himself both entitled and *See Note, next page. + See Declaration of 17th January, 1871, and Note, page 1899. [Black Sea.] obliged to denounce to His Majesty the Sultan the Special and Additional Convention (No. 266) appended to the said Treaty, which fixes the number and size of the Vessels of War which the two Powers bordering on the Black Sea shall keep in that Sea; That His Majesty loyally informs of this the Powers who have signed and guaranteed the General Treaty, of which the Convention in question forms an integral part; That His Majesty restores to the Sultan the full exercise of his rights in this respect, resuming the same for himself; In acquitting yourself of this duty, you will take care to point out that our illustrious Master has only the safety and dignity of his Empire in view. His Imperial Majesty has no wish to revive the Eastern Question. On this point, as on all others, he has no wish but the preservation and consolidation of Peace. He fully adheres to his consent to the general principles of the Treaty of 1856, which have fixed the position of Turkey in the European system (No. 264). He is ready to enter into an understanding with the Powers who have signed that transaction, for the purpose either of confirming its general stipulations, or of renewing them, or of replacing them by some other equitable arrangement, which may be considered as calculated to secure the tranquillity of the East, and the Balance of Power in Europe. His Imperial Majesty is convinced that that Peace and that Balance of Power will receive a fresh Guarantee if they are based upon a more just and solid foundation than one resulting from a state of things which no Great Power can accept as a normal condition of its existence. You are requested to read this despatch to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and leave him a copy. I avail, &c., GORTCHAKOFF. [In 1871 a Return was laid before Parliament showing the number of Foreign Ships of War (except light Vessels to be stationed at the mouths of the Danube, Russian and Turkish Vessels intended to form the Black Sea Fleets, and Vessels for Service of Foreign Legations, sanctioued by Treaty) which had been allowed to pass through the Dardanelles and Bosphorus since the conclusion of the Treaty of Pence with Russia on the 30th March, 1856, from which it appeared that in 1862, 1 British; in 1866, 1 American ; in 1868, 2 American, 2 Austrian, 1 French, and 1 Russian; and in 1869, 1 Prussian Ship of War had been allowed to pass through the Straits. It also appeared that in 7 other instances, questions had arisen with regard to the passage of Foreign Ships of War through the Straits, but that in no case had a violation of Treaty been shown to have taken place.] [Black Sea.] No. 430.-FURTHER RUSSIAN NOTE denouncing the Stipulations of the General Treaty of 30th March, 1856, and the Separate Convention with Turkey of the same date, relative to the Limitation of their Naval Forces in the Black Sea. 1st November, 1870.* M. le Baron, Prince Gortchakoff to Baron Brunnow. (Translation as laid before Parliament.) Tzarskoé Sélo, 20th October, 1870. IN making the communication to the Principal Secretary of State of Her Britannic Majesty, according to the orders of His Majesty the Emperor, you will take care to make its sense and bearing well understood. When, at the commencement of 1866, there was a question of Conferences between the 3 Powers, with a view to prevent the War then imminent in Germany by the Assembly of a Congress (No. 377), in discussing the bases of such Conferences with Earl Russell, you had the opportunity of pointing out to him the compensations and the guarantees of security which the occurrence of certain eventualities calculated to modify the status quo existing in the East would necessitate for Russia. Lord Russell admitted this with perfect equity. He in no way disputed that any alteration made in the text and the spirit of the Treaty of 1856 (No. 264), must lead to the revision of that Act. Although those eventualities have not occurred, Lord Granville will not contest the fact that at the present time this Treaty has undergone serious modifications in one of its essential parts. That which must impress Russia in respect of these modifications is not the appearance of factitious hostility towards her by which they are characterised, nor is it the consequences which may ensue to a Great Country from the creation upon its Frontiers of a small quasi Independent State; it is chiefly the facility with which, scarcely 10 years after its conclusion, a solemn Arrangement, clothed with an European Guarantee, has been infringed both in letter and in spirit, under the very eyes of the Powers who should have been its guardians. With such a precedent before us, what value can Russia attach to the efficacy of that Arrangement, and to the pledge of * See notes pages 1894, 1895. [Black Sea.] security which she believed she had obtained in the principle of the Neutralisation of the Black Sea. The Balance of Power established in the East by the Treaty of 1856, has, therefore been disturbed to the detriment of Russia. The resolution adopted by our August Master has no other object than to restore it. The Government of Her Britannic Majesty would never consent to leave the security of their shores to the mercy of an Arrangement which is no longer respected. They are too equitable not to allow to us the same duties and the same rights. But what we especially desire to establish is, that this decision implies no change in the policy which His Majesty the Emperor has pursued in the East. You have already had, on many occasions opportunities of discussing with the Cabinet of London the general views which the two Governments hold upon this important question. You have been able to establish a conformity of principles and interests, which we have learnt with great satisfaction. We have drawn from it the conclusion that at present it is neither from England nor Russia that can arise the dangers which may menace the Ottoman Empire; that the two Cabinets have an equal desire to maintain its existence as long as possible by allaying and by conciliating the differences between the Porte and the Christian subjects of the Sultan, and that, in the event of a decisive crisis presenting itself, despite these efforts, both are equally resolved to seek for its solution in a general agreement of the Great European Powers. We believe that We have not ceased to hold these views. their perfect analogy renders possible a thorough understanding between the Government of Her Britannic Majesty and ourselves, we attach the greatest value to it, as the best guarantee for the preservation of Peace and the Balance of Power in Europe from dangers which may result from complications in the East. By the order of His Majesty the Emperor, your Excellency is authorised to repeat this assurance to Lord Granville. We shall sincerely congratulate ourselves if the frankness of these explanations may contribute to that end by removing every possibility of misunderstanding between the Government of Her Britannic Majesty and ourselves. Receive, &c., GORTCHAKOFF. [For British Reply, see p. 1898.] [Black Sea.] No. 431.-BRITISH REPLY to Russian Notes, denouncing the Stipulations of the General Treaty of 30th March, 1856, and the Separate Convention with Turkey of the same date, relative to the Limitation of their Naval Forces in the Black Sea. 10th November, 1870. Sir, Earl Granville to Sir A. Buchanan. Foreign Office, 10th November, 1870. BARON BRUNNOw made to me yesterday the communication respecting the Convention between the Emperor of Russia and the Sultan limiting their Naval Forces in the Black Sea, signed at Paris on the 30th March, 1856 (No. 266), to which you allude in your telegram of yesterday afternoon. 19th In my despatch of yesterday I gave you an account of what passed between us, and I now propose to observe upon Prince Gortchakoff's despatches of the October (No. 429) and 20th October (No. 430), communicated to me by the Russian Ambassador on that occasion. 31st 1st November Prince Gortchakoff declares, on the part of His Imperial Majesty, that the Treaty of 1856 has been infringed in various respects to the prejudice of Russia, and more especially in the case of the Principalities, against the explicit protest of his Representative, and that, in consequence of these infractions, Russia is entitled to renounce those stipulations of the Treaty which directly touch her interests. It is then announced that she will no longer be bound by the Treaties which restrict her Rights of Sovereignty in the Black Sea. We have here an allegation that certain facts have occurred which, in the judgment of Russia, are at variance with certain stipulations of the Treaty, and the assumption is made that Russia, upon the strength of her own judgment as to the character of those facts, is entitled to release herself from certain other stipulations of that instrument. This assumption is limited in its practical application, to some of the provisions of the Treaty, but the assumption of a right to renounce any one of its terms involves the assumption of a right to renounce the whole. This statement is wholly independent of the reasonableness or |