be found to come within the cases provided for by the aforesaid stipulations of the Acts of the Congress of Vienna. It is understood that mineral productions are comprised among the productions of the soil mentioned in Article XX. of the Treaty of the 3rd May, 1815, above referred to. The "droits d'aubaine et de détraction" being henceforth abolished, as between Holland, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and Belgium, it is understood that such of the abovementioned stipulations as may relate to those duties, shall be considered null and void in the three countries.

Article XX.

No person in the territories which change domination shall be molested or disturbed in any manner whatever, on account of any part which he may have taken, directly or indirectly, in political events.

Article XXI.

The pensions and allowances of expectants, of persons unemployed or retired, shall in future be paid, on either side, to all those individuals entitled thereto, both civil and military, conformably to the laws in force previous to the 1st of November, 1830.

It is agreed that the above-mentioned pensious and allowances to persons born in the territories which now constitute Belgium, shall remain at the charge of the Belgian treasury; and the pensions and allowances of persons born in the territories which now constitute the Kingdom of the Netherlands, shall be at the charge of the Netherland treasury.

Article XXII.

All claims of Belgian subjects upon any private establishments, such as the widows' fund, and the fund known under the denomination of the "fonds des leges," and of the chest of civil and military retired allowances, shall be examined by the Mixed Commission mentioned in Article XIII., and shall be determined according to the tenor of the regulations by which these funds or chests are governed.

The securities furnished, as well as the payments made, by Belgian accountants, the judicial deposits and consignments, shall equally be restored to the parties entitled thereto, on the presentation of their proofs.

If, under the head of what are called the French liquidations, any Belgian subjects should still be able to bring forward claims to be inscribed, such claims shall also be examined and settled by the said Commission.

Article XXIII.

All judgments given in civil and commercial matters, all acts of the civil power, and all acts executed before a notary or other public officer under the Belgian administration in those parts of Limbourg and of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, of which His Majesty the King of the Netherlands, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, is to be replaced in possession, shall be maintained in force and validity.

Article XXIV.

Immediately after the exchange or the ratifications of the Treaty to be concluded between the two parties, the necessary orders shall be transmitted to the commanders of the respective troops, for the evacuation of the territories, towns, fortresses, and places which change domination. The civil authorities thereof shall also, at the saine time, receive the necessary orders for delivering over the said territories, towns, fortresses, and places, to the Commissioners who shall be appointed by both parties for this purpose.

This evacuation and delivery shall be effected so as to be completed in the space of 15 days, or sooner, if possible.

[A Treaty between Holland and Belgium, comprising the 24 Articles above recited, together with the usual engagements for peace and friendship between the parties, was also signed by the Plenipotentiaries of those two Powers on the 19th of April, and the ratifications were exchanged at the same time and place as those of the preceding Treaty.]

(2.)-Treaty

(2.)—Treaty between Great Britain, Austria, France, Prussia, and Russia, and Belgium; signed at London, 19th April 1839.

Article I.

Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, His Majesty the Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary and Bohemia, His Majesty the King of the French, His Majesty the King of Prussia, and His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, declare, that the Articles hereunto annexed, and forming the tenor of the Treaty concluded this day between His Majesty the King of the Belgians and His Majesty the King of the Netherlands, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, are considered as having the same force and validity as if they were textually inserted in the present Act, and that they are thus placed under the guarantee of their said Majesties.

Article II.

The Treaty of the 15th of November 1831, between their Majesties the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary and Bohemia, the King of the French, the King of Prussia, and the Emperor of all the Russias, and His Majesty the King of the Belgians, is declared not to be obligatory upon the high contracting parties.

Annex.

[This Annex, signed by the same Plenipotentiaries who signed the preceding Treaty, is, word for word, the same as the Annex to the Treaty between the Five Powers and the King of the Netherlands.]

(3.)-Act of Accession on the part of the Germanic Confederation, to the Territorial Arrangements concerning the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, contained in the first seven Articles of the Annex to the two preceding Treaties; signed at London, 19th April 1839.

The Plenipotentiaries of the Courts of Great Britain, Austria, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Prussia, and Russia, having this day signed the Treaties concluded between the Five Courts and His Majesty the King of the Netherlands, Grand Duke of Luxembourg; between their Majesties the King of the Belgians and the King of the Netherlands, Grand Duke of Luxembourg; and between the Five Courts and His Majesty the King of the Belgians, the Plenipotentiaries have deemed it expedient that the Plenipotentiaries of Austria and Prussia, invested with full powers from the Diet of the Germanic Confederation, should be invited to accede, in the name of the said Confederation, to the arrangements concerning the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, which are contained in the Treaties above mentioned.

In consequence, the Plenipotentiaries of Austria and Prussia, representing the Diet in virtue of the said full powers, declare that the Germanic Confederation formerly accedes to the territorial arrangements concerning the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, which are contained in Articles I., II., III., ÏV., V., VI., and VII., of the Annex to the Treaties this day concluded between the Five Courts and His Majesty the King of the Netherlands, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and between the Five Courts and His Majesty the King of the Belgians, as well as in the corresponding Articles of the Treaty signed at the same time between His Majesty the King of the Belgians and His Majesty the King of the Netherlands, Grand Duke of Luxembourg. And they take, towards the Courts of Great

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Great Britain, Austria, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Prussia, and Russia, in the name of the Germanic Confederation, the engagement that the Confederation will entirely conform to the stipulations contained in the said Articles, which are hereinafter inserted word for word, so far as they concern the Germanic Confederation.

[Here follow the first seven Articles of the Annex to the two preceding Treaties.]

The Plenipotentiaries of Great Britain, Austria, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Prussia, and Russia, in virtue of their full powers, formally accept, in the name of their respective Courts, the said accession on the part of the Gerinanic Confederation.

(4.)—Treaty between Her Majesty and the King of Prussia, relative to the Independence and Neutrality of Belgium; signed at London, 9th August 1870.

[Ratifications exchanged at London, 26 August 1870.]

IHRE Majestät die Königin des Vereinigten Königreichs von Grossbritannien und Irland, und Seine Majestät der König von Preussen, von dem Wunsche beseelt, im gegenwärtigen Augenblick durch einen feierlichen Act ihren bestimmten Entschluss urkundlich festzustellen, die Unabhängigkeit und Neutralität Belgiens aufrecht zu erhalten, wie im Artikel 7 des am 19ten April 1839 zu London unterzeichneten Vertrages zwischen Belgien und den Niederlanden vorgesehen worden ist, welchem Artikel durch den fünfseitigen Vertrag von 1839 dieselbe Kraft und Bedeutung beigelegt wurde, als wenn er wörtlich in den genannten fünfseitigen Vertrag aufgenommen wäre, haben Ihre Majestäten beschlossen unter Sich einen Separat-Vertrag abzuschliessen, welcher, ohne die Bedingungen des genannten fünfseitigen Vertrages abzuschwächen oder zu entkräften, sich subsidiär und accessorisch zu demselben verhalten soll; und Sie haben demgemäss für diesen Zweck zu Allerhöchst Ihren Bevollmächtigten ernannt, nämlich:

Ihre Majestät die Königin des Vereinigten Königreichs von Grossbritannien und Irland, den sehr ehrenwerthen Granville Georg Grafen Granville, Lord Leveson, Pair des Vereinigten Königreichs, Ritter des höchst edlen Ordens vom Hosenbande, Mitglied Ihrer Majestät höchst ehrenwerthen Geheimen Raths, Lord Warden üder die fünf Häfen und Haupt-Gouverneur von Dover Castle, Kanzler der Universität London, Ihrer Britischen Majestät Haupt-Staats-Secretär für die auswärtigen Angelegenheiten;

Und Seine Majestät der König von Preussen, Seine Excellenz den Staatsminister Albrecht Grafen von Bernstorff-Stintenburg, Grosskreuz des Rothen Adler-Ordens mit Eichenlaub und Gross-Komthur des Königlichen Haus-Ordens von Hohenzollern in Brillanten, &c. &c., Allerhöchst Ihren ausserordentlichen und bevollmächtigten Botschafter für den Norddeutschen Bund bei Ihrer Grossbritannischen Majestät;

Welche, nachdem sie sich gegenseitig ihre Vollmachten mitgetheilt, und dieselben in guter und gehöriger Form befunden, über die folgenden Artikel ubereingekommen sind und dieselben abgeschlossen haben :

Artikel I.

Nachdem Seine Majestät der König von Preussen erklärt hat, dass Er, ungeachtet der Feindseligkeiten, in welche der Norddeutsche Bund mit Frankreich verwickelt ist, die feste Absicht habe, die Neutralität Belgiens so lange zu respectiren als dieselbe von Frankreich respectirt werde, so erklärt Ihre Majestät die Königin des Vereinigten Königreichs von Grossbritannien und Irland Ihrerseits, dass Sie, wenn die Armeen Frankreichs während der genannten Feindseligkeiten diese Neutralität verletzen sollten, bereit sein wird, mit Seiner Preussischen Majestät zur Vertheidigung derselben in solcher Weise, als man gegenseitig übereingekommen sein wird, zusammen zu wirken, indem Sie zu diesem Ende

Ihre

Ihre See- and Land-Macht verwenden wird, um daran Beobachtung zu sichern und in Gemeinschaft mit Seiner Majestät dem Könige von Preussen dann und nachher die Unabhängigkeit und Neutralität Belgiens aufrecht zu erhalten.

Es ist deutlich verstanden, dass Ihre Majestät die Königin des Vereinigten Königreichs von Grossbritannien und Irland Sich durch diesen Vertag nicht verpflichtet, Sich an den allgemeinen Operationen des gegenwärtig zwischen dem Norddeutschen Bunde und Frankreich geführten Krieges über die Grenzen Belgiens hinaus zu betheiligen, wie dieselben durch den Vertrag zwischen Belgien und den Niederlanden am 19ten April 1839 festgesetzt worden sind.

Artikel II.

Seine Majestät der König vog von Preussen erklärt Sich Seinerseits damit einverstanden, in dem durch den vorigen Artikel vorgesehenen Falle mit Ihrer Majestät der Königin des Vereinigten Königreichs von Grossbritannien und Irland zu besagtem Zwecke durch Verwendung Seiner See und Land-Macht zusammen zu wirken, und im gegebenen Falle mit Ihrer Majestät die Massregeln zu verabreden, welche abgesondert order gemeinshaftlich getroffen werden sollen, um die Unabhängigkeit und Neutralität Belgiens zu zichern.

Artikel III.

Dieser Vertrag soll für die hohen contrahirenden Theile während der Dauer des gegenwärtigen Krieges zwischen dem Norddeutschen Bunde und Frankreich, und für zwölf Monate nach Ratificirung irgend eines zwischen diesen Mächten abgeschlossenen Friedens-Vertrages, bindend sein; und nach Ablauf dieser Frist wird die Unabhängigkeit und Neutralität Belgiens, insoweit die hohen contrahirendeu Theile beziehentlich dabei betheiligt sind, fortfahren, wie bisher auf dem Isten Artikel des fünfseitigen Vertrages vom 19ten April 1839 zu beruhen.

Artikel IV.

Der gegenwärtig Vertrage soll ratificirt, und die Ratificationen sollen zu London sobald als möglich ausgewechselt werden.

Zur Urkund dessen haben die beiderseitigen Bevollmächtigten die gegenwärtige Uebereinkunft unterzeichnet und mit ihren Wappen untersiegelt. So geschehen zu London, am neunten August, im Jahre des Herrn ein Tausend acht Hundert und siebenzig.

(4.)-Treaty between Her Majesty and the King of Prussia, relative to the Independence and Neutrality of Belgium, signed at London, 9th August 1870.

[Ratifications exchanged at London, 26th August 1870.]

HER Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and His Majesty the King of Prussia, being desirous at the present time of recording in a solemn act their fixed determination to maintain the independence and neutrality of Belgium, as provided in the Seventh Article of the Treaty signed at London on the 19th of April 1839, between Belgium and the Netherlands, which Article was declared, by the Quintuple Treaty of 1839, to be considered as having the same force and value as if textually inserted in the said Quintuple Treaty, their said Majesties have determined to conclude between themselves a separate Treaty, which, without impairing or invalidating the conditions of the said Quintuple Treaty, shall be subsidiary and accessory to it and they have accordingly named as their Plenipotentiaries for that purpose, that is to say:

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Her

Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Right Honourable Granville George Earl Grauville, Lord Leveson, a Peer of the United Kingdom, Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, a Member of Her Britannic Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Constable of Dover Castle, Chancellor of the University of London, Her Britannic Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs;

And His Majesty the King of Prussia, his Excellency the Minister of State Albert Count Bernstorff-Stintenburg, Grand Cross of the Order of the Red Eagle with Oak Leaves, and Grand Commander of the Royal Order of the House of Hohenzollern in Diamonds, &c., Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Her Britannic Majesty from His said Majesty for the North German Confederation;

Who, after having communicated to each other their respective full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon and concluded the following Articles:

Article I.

His Majesty the King of Prussia having declared that, notwithstanding the hostilities in which the North German Confederation is engaged with France, it is his fixed determination to respect the neutrality of Belgium, so long as the same shall be respected by France, Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland on her part declares that, if during the said hostilities the armies of France should violate that neutrality, She will be prepared to co-operate with His Prussian Majesty for the defence of the same in such manner as may be mutually agreed upon, employing for that purpose her naval and military forces to insure its observance, and to maintain, in conjunction with His Prussian Majesty, then and thereafter, the independence and neutrality of Belgium.

It is clearly understood that Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland does not engage herself by this Treaty to take part in any of the general operations of the war now carried on between the North German Confederation and France, beyond the limits of Belgium, as defined in the Treaty between Belgium and the Netherlands of 19th April 1839.

Article II..

His Majesty the King of Prussia agrees on his part, in the event provided for in the foregoing Article, to co-operate with Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, employing his naval and military forces for the purpose aforesaid; and, the case arising, to concert with Her Majesty the measures which shall be taken, separately or in common, to secure the neutrality and independence of Belgium.

Article III.

This Treaty shall be binding on the High Contracting Parties during the continuance of the present war between the North German Confederation and France, and for twelve months after the ratification of any Treaty of Peace concluded between those parties; and on the expiration of that time the independence and neutrality of Belgium will, so far as the High Contracting Parties are respectively concerned, continue to rest as heretofore on the 1st Article of the Quintuple Treaty of the 19th of April 1839.

Article IV.

The present Treaty shall be ratified, and the ratifications shall be exchanged at London as soon as possible.

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

Done at London, the ninth day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy.