[Black Sea.]

No. 440.-CONVENTION between Russia and Turkey, relative to the Black Sea. Signed at London, 13th March, 1871.

[Communicated to the Conference on the 15th May, 1871, on the exchange of the Ratifications of the General Treaty of the 13th March.]

1. Abrogation of Special Conventions of 30th March, 1856, relative to the Black Sea.

2. Ratifications.

(Translation as laid before Parliament.*)

In the Name of Almighty God.

His Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias and His Imperial Majesty the Sultan, being mutually animated with the desire to consolidate the relations of Peace and good understanding happily existing between their Empires, have resolved to conclude for this purpose a Convention, and have named to that effect as their Plenipotentiaries, that is to say:

His Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias, the Sieur Philip Baron de Brunnow, his Actual Privy Councillor and his Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Her Britannic Majesty, &c.;

And His Imperial Majesty the Sultan, Constantine Musurus Pasha, Muchir and Vizir of the Empire, his 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:

Abrogation of Special Convention of 30th March, 1856, relative to the Black Sea.

ART. I. The Special Convention concluded at Paris between His Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias and His Imperial Majesty the Sultan, on the 18th March, in the year 1856 (No. 266), relative to the number and force of the Vessels of War of the two High Contracting Parties in the Black Sea, is and remains abrogated.

* For French version, see "State Papers,” vol. lxi.

[Black Sea.]

Ratifications.

ART. II. The present Convention shall be ratified, and the Ratifications thereof shall be exchanged at London in the space of 6 weeks, or sooner if possible.

In witness whereof, the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the same, and have affixed thereto the Seal of their Arms.

1st

Done at London, the day of the month of March, in the year 1871.

13th

(L.S.) BRUNNOW.

(L.S.) MUSURUS.

[A Convention between Turkey and Russia, mutatis mutandis, signed and ratified on the same days, was also communicated to the Conference at the same time.]

* Ratifications exchanged on the 15th May, 1871.

[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 January14th March, 1871.*

Protocol.

Russian

No. 1. Choice of President. Full Powers. Absence of Plenipotentiaries. Declaration of Adhesion. 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 instructions. London, 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. Original. Great Britain advises Austria to Articles under reserve. Acceptance by Italy. many. 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.

Annex. Project of Treaty.

No. 4. Qualified Adhesions to Project of Treaty.

Prussia supports accede to proposed Acceptance by Ger

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 Convention.

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.]