[Greece and Turkey. Crete, &c.] On the proposition of the Russian Plenipotentiary it is agreed that this document shall be annexed to the Protocol. The Marquis de Lavalette observes that his intention being to send off the day after to-morrow the communication which he is charged to address to the Cabinet of Athens, it is of pressing importance to notify the different Courts; and the Plenipotentiaries of Austria-Hungary, Great Britain, Italy, Prussia, and Russia, undertake to inform their Governments, in order that the Legations in Greece may be instructed to give their support to the proceeding of the President of the Conference. Done at Paris, the 20th January, 1869. [Here follow the Signatures.] [Greece gave its adhesion to this Declaration on the 6th February, 1869.] [Greece and Turkey. Crete, &c.] No. 417.-PROTOCOLS OF CONFERENCES between Great Britain, Austria, France, Italy, Prussia, Russia, and Turkey, relative to the Differences between Turkey and Greece. Paris, January, February, 1869. Protocol "State Papers," vol. lix, page No. 1. Assembling of Conference. Refusal of Greece to join Con- 813 No. 2. Answers relative to status quo not received from Greece and Turkey. Invitation to Greece not to persist in refusal to assist at Conferences. Paris, 12th January, 1869 Annex. M. de Lavalette to Baron Baude. 816 No. 3. Adhesion of Turkey to maintenance of status quo, except decision relative to closing of Ottoman Ports to Greek Vessels. Answers not received from Greece. Determination to proceed with deliberations without the assistance of Greece. Subjects for deliberation. Greek succour to an Insurgent Province of Turkey; indirect assistance given by Greece; opposition in Greece to repatriation of Candiot Families; acts of Violence on Ottoman Subjects in Hellenic Territory; and refusal of Greece to give satisfaction to the repeated complaints of Turkey. Proposal to draw up a Declaration to be addressed to Greece and signed by the Powers, agreed to. Paris, 14th January, 1869 No. 4. Instructions not received by Turkish Plenipotentiary rela tive to proposed Declaration. Discussion of Draft of proposed Declaration to Greece. Adhesion to proposed Draft. Period to be fixed for assent of Greece. Paris, 15th January, 1869 No. 5. Greek counter-demands against Turkey. Opinion of Con ference unchanged as to Declaration. Verbal alterations 818 827 Paris, 16th January, 1869 832 [Greece and Turkey. Crete, &c.] Protocol "State Papers," vol. lix, page No. 6. Territorial question raised by Greek Government. Con- ference declares its incompetency. Greece not to join in Conferences, except on terms of equality; but will observe status quo. Adhesion of Turkey to proposed Declaration. Ultimatum not to be carried out if Greece adheres. Signature of Declaration. Paris, 20th January, 1869 Annex. Note from President of Conference to Greek Minister for Foreign Affairs calling upon Greece to adhere to Declaration ......... Paris, 20th January, 1869 No. 7. Adhesion of Greece to Declaration. Re-establishment of Diplomatic relations between Turkey and Greece. Security to Candiot Families returning to Crete. Closing of Conferences.... . Paris, 18th February, 1869 Annex. Greek Minister for Foreign Affairs to the President of the Conferences.... Athens, 6th February, 1869 835 839 841 846 [Private Property of King George of Hanover.] No. 418.-PROTEST of King George of Hanover against the Prussian Decree relating to his Private Property. Vienna, 30th March, 1869. (Translation.) YOUR Majesty, on the Mediation of the Government of Her Majesty the Queen of England, entered into negotiations with me at the commencement of the year 1867, with the object of concluding an Agreement respecting the Property of my House. Before I consented to this proposal of the English Government, I made a declaration that I would only negotiate respecting the Property of my House, not respecting my Political Right. Notwithstanding this, however, your Majesty propounded a project which required at its outset an acknowledgment of the Incorporation of my Kingdom with Prussia. This proposal I declined, and your Majesty thereupon withdrew the demand for the Renunciation of my Crown. The Ultimatum of your Majesty in the matter of the Property then followed in the beginning of September, 1867. I accepted the same. But after the acceptance on my part your Majesty receded from the Ultimatum, and proposed new conditions to me under the pretext of securing the Family Entail of the Joint Houses of Brunswick-Lüneburg. I consented also to these new conditions, so far that the Agreement was concluded on the 29th September, 1867. The Agreement is concluded between your Majesty and myself. Neither in the Agreement itself, nor in the preliminary negotiations, is there any word or intimation that the Agreement is dependent on the consent of others. Only from your Majesty and from the Prussian Crown have I to require and demand that your Majesty will be just to the signature of your Name under the Agreement. I, upon my side, immediately fulfilled this Property Agreement of the 29th September, 1867. Securities to the amount of nearly 19,000,000 thalers, which, on the invasion of my Kingdom by [Private Property of King George of Hanover.] your Majesty's troops, I saved by sending them to England, I got back and had them delivered over to your Majesty's Agent in November, 1867. Your Majesty, on the other hand, has not fulfilled the Agreement hitherto, but taken another course. Your Majesty first, at the commencement of the year 1868, laid the Agreement, concluded without reservation between your Majesty and myself, before the Prussian Landtag. Your Majesty then yourself declared to the Landtag that your Majesty was not bound to obtain its consent to the Agreement. In spite of this your Majesty sought this assent, and received the same, with a condition very difficult for your Majesty to execute. The acceptance or refusal of the Agreement by the Prussian Landtag is a matter which as regards me does not alter your Majesty's engagements arising from the Agreement. Your Majesty then, after the Chambers had but just given their consent to the Agreement respecting the Property, without any alteration, at the same time with the publication of this assent, which, I repeat it, left your obligations toward me intact, issued an Ordinance on the 2nd March, 1868, which laid an embargo on the whole Property of my House. 3rd I entered a Protest against this Ordinance through my Agents in Hanover, but I am not aware if it came to your Majesty's knowledge. This Ordinance against me rests upon accusations which, even if well founded, could not be brought to bear against me, because the Property Agreement of the 29th September, 1867, places no conditions upon me to which I have acted contrary by the deeds of which I am accused. But even these accusations are without foundation, and untrue. The Hanoverians who have withdrawn themselves from the Prussian Military Service have done so without my knowledge and without my influence. They first sought shelter in Holland, and afterwards in Switzerland. In both Countries Prussian influence was able to make their residence there impossible. They then went to France, whose hospitable territory gave them the same Protection as to other Political Refugees. These Refugees the Councillors of your Majesty have designated as a "Legion." It is, however, impossible to form in time of peace, on the |