[Slave Trade.] this purpose, by the unanimous accession of their respective Courts to the principle laid down in the said separate Article of the Treaty of Paris; they declare, in the face of Europe, that, considering the universal abolition of the Slave Trade as a measure particularly worthy of their attention, conformable to the spirit of the times, and to the generous principles of their august Sovereigns, they are animated with the sincere desire of concurring in the most prompt and effectual execution of this measure, by all the means at their disposal; and of acting, in the employment of these means, with all the zeal and perseverance which is due to so great and noble a cause. Too well acquainted, however, with the sentiments of their Sovereigns, not to perceive, that however honourable may be their views, they cannot be attained without due regard to the interests, the habits, and even the prejudices of their subjects; the said Plenipotentiaries at the same time acknowledge that this general Declaration cannot prejudge the period that each particular Power may consider as most advisable for the definitive abolition of the Slave Trade. Consequently, the determining the period when this trade is to cease universally, must be a subject of negotiation between the Powers; it being understood, however, that no proper means of securing its attainment, and of accelerating its progress, are to be neglected; and that the engagement reciprocally contracted in the present Declaration, between the Sovereigns who are parties to it, cannot be considered as completely fulfilled, until the period when complete success shall have crowned their united efforts. In communicating this Declaration to the knowledge of Europe, and of all civilised countries, the said Plenipotentiaries hope to prevail on every other Government, and particularly on those which, in abolishing the Slave Trade, have already manifested the same sentiments, to give them their support in a cause, the final triumph of which will be one of the noblest monuments of the age which embraced it, and which shall have brought it to a glorious termination.* Vienna, the 8th of February, 1815. (Signed) CASTLEREAGH. STEWART, Lieut.-Gen. WELLINGTON. NESSELRODE. PALMELLA. LOBO. HUMBOLDT. METTERNICH. TALLEYRAND. * See also Resolutions of the Cougress of Verona of 28th November, 1822. [Precedence.] No. 8.-REGULATION of the Eight Powers, concerning the Rank and Precedence of Diplomatic Agents.-Signed at Vienna, 19th March, 1815. [This Regulation formed Annex XVII to the Vienna Congress Treaty of 9th June, 1815, No. 27.] 4. Diplomatic Precedence. Representatives of the Pope. 5. Form for Reception of Diplomatic Agents. 6. Diplomatic Agents of Courts Allied by Family or other Ties. 7. Alternation of Signatures in Acts or Treaties. (Translation as laid before Parliament.*) Preamble. In order to prevent in future the inconveniences which have frequently occurred, and which may still occur, from the claims of Precedence among the different Diplomatic Characters, the Plenipotentiaries of the Powers who signed the Treaty of Paris (No. 1) have agreed on the following Articles, and think it their duty to invite those of the other Crowned Heads to adopt the same regulations. Division of Diplomatic Characters. ART. I. Diplomatic Characters are divided into Three classes. That of Ambassadors, Legates, or Nuncios. That of Envoys, Ministers, or other persons accredited to Sovereigns. That of Chargé d'Affaires, accredited only to the Ministers for Foreign Affairs. Representative Character. ART. II. Ambassadors, Legates, or Nuncios only shall have a Representative character. Special Missions. ART. III. Diplomatic characters charged with any Special Mission shall not on that account assume any superiority of Rank. Diplomatic Precedence. ART. IV. Diplomatic characters shall rank in their respective classes, according to the date of the official notification of their arrival. For French version, see "State Papers," vol. ii, p. 179. [Precedence.] Representatives of the Pope. The present Regulation shall not occasion any change respecting the Representatives of the Pope. Form for Reception of Diplomatic Agents. ART. V. There shall be a regular form adopted by each State for the reception of Diplomatic Characters of every Class. Diplomatic Agents of Courts Allied by Family or other Ties. ART. VI. Ties of consanguinity or family alliances between Courts confer no Rank on their Diplomatic Agents. The same rule also applies to political alliances. Alternation of Signatures in Acts or Treaties. ART. VII. In Acts or Treaties between several Powers that admit the alternity, the order which is to be observed in the signatures of Ministers shall be decided by ballot. The present regulation is inserted in the Protocol of the Plenipotentiaries of the eight Powers who signed the Treaty of Paris, at their sitting of the 19th March, 1815. (The signatures follow in the Alphabetical order of the Courts.) AUSTRIA. (L.S.) The PRINCE DE METTERNICH. (L.S.) The BARON DE WESSENBERG. SPAIN (ESPAGNE). (L.S.) P. GOMEZ LABRADOR. RUSSIA. SWEDEN. (L.S.) COUNT RASOUMOFFSKY. See Protocol of 5 Powers of 21st November, 1818, respecting Ministers Resident. [Switzerland.] No. 9.-DECLARATION of the 8 Powers, on the Affairs of the Helvetic Confederacy. Signed at Vienna, 20th March, 1815. [This Declaration formed Annex XIA to the Vienna Congress Treaty of 9th June, 1815, No. 27.] ART. Preamble. Dappes.) TABLE. Independence and Neutrality of Switzerland. (Vallée des 1. Integrity of the 19 Cantons. 2. Union of 3 new Cantons; Valais, Geneva, Neufchatel. (Vallée des Dappes.) 3. Union of Bishopric of Basle, and Town and Territory of Bienne, with Canton of Berne. 4. Rights of Inhabitants of Countries united with Canton of Berne. Collection of Ordinary Revenues. Indemnity to the Prince Bishop of Basle. Retention of Bishopric of Basle. Proportion to be paid by Canton of Berne to Bishopric of Basle. 5. Commercial and Military communications of the Town of Geneva with the Canton of Vaud. Versoy Road. Passage of Troops. Free Communication between the Town of Geneva and the Jurisdiction of Peney. Accession of Territory for the Town of Geneva. 6. Mutual Compensations by Cantons of Argovia, Vaud, Tessin, and St. Gall to Cantons of Schweitz, Unterwald, Uri, Glaris, Zug, and Appenzell. 7. Disposal of Funds placed in England by the Cantons of Zurich and Berne. 8. Indemnity to Proprietors of "Lauds." 9. Pensions to Prince Abbot of St. Gall, and others. Accession to Federal Union. Amnesty. (Translation as laid before Parliament.*) Preamble. THE Powers called upon to mediate in the arrangement of the affairs of Switzerland, in order to carry into effect Article VI of the Treaty of Paris of the 30th May, 1814 (No. 1), having acknowledged that the general interest demands that the Helvetic States should enjoy the benefit of a perpetual Neutrality; and wishing, by territorial restitutions and cessions, to enable it to secure its Independence and maintain its Neutrality; After having obtained every information relative to the interests of the different Cantons, and taken into consideration the claims submitted to them by the Helvetic Legation; * For French version, see "State Papers," vol. ii, p. 142. That as soon as the Helvetic Diet shall have duly and formally acceded to the stipulations contained in the present Instrument, an Act shall be prepared, containing the acknowledgment and the guarantee, on the part of all the Powers, of the perpetual Neutrality of Switzerland, in her new frontiers; which Act shall form part of that which, in the execution of Article XXXII of the Treaty of Paris of the 30th May, was to complete the arrangements contained in that Treaty.* Integrity of the 19 Cantons of Switzerland.† ART. I. (Embodied in Vienna Congress Treaty (No. 27) as Art. LXXIV.) Switzerland. Union of Three new Cantons (The Valais, Geneva, Neufchatel). Vallée des Dappes.§ ART. II. (Embodied in Vienna Congress Treaty (No. 27) as Art. LXXV.) Switzerland. Union of Bishopric of Basle, and Town and Territory of Bienne, with Canton of Berne. ART. III. (Embodied in Vienna Congress Treaty (No. 27) as Art. LXXVI.) Switzerland. Rights of Inhabitants of Countries united with Canton of Berne. ART. IV. (1, 2, 3, Embodied in Vienna Congress Treaty (No. 27) as Art. LXXVII.) * See Act of the 5 Powers of 20th November, 1815. The King of Prussia renounced his Sovereign Rights over the Principality of Neufchatel and the County of Valengin, by the Treaty between Great Britain, Austria, France, Prussia, Russia, and Switzerland, of 26th May, 1857, by which Treaty it was also declared that the Principality should continue to form part of the Swiss Confederation, in conformity with Art. LXXV of the Vienna Congress Treaty of 9th June, 1815. § See Treaty between France and Switzerland of 8th December, 1862. |