Hand: Anonyme Hand

[Bl. 235r]

MM.Messieurs les Ministres des Cabinets d’Autriche, de France, de Prusse et de Russie se sont réunis aujourd’hui avec MrMonsieur le Duc de Wellington pour conférer avec S. E.Son Excellence sur le procès-verbal signé hier par MMMessieurs les plénipotentiaires des quatre Cours, ainsi que sur les[Bl. 234r] instructions que chacune de ces Cours se propose d’adresser à son Ministre à Madrid.

MrMonsieur le Duc de Wellington a développé les différens points de vue sous lesquels, comme plénipotentiaire du Gouvernement britannique, il envisage l’une et l’autre de ces démarches, et à la suite de la discussion amenée par ces développemens MrMonsieur le Duc s’est engagé à communiquer à MM.Messieurs les Ministres des quatre Cabinets la substance de ses observations par écrit et en forme de note confidentielle.

La question du protocole a été traitée ensuite ; et après avoir examiné plusieurs formes de rédaction dont chacune a présenté des difficultés ou des inconvéniens il a été conclu :

Qu’il n’y aura pas de protocole général sur les négociations et conférences relatives à l’affaire d’Espagne ;

[Bl. 234v]

Que les pièces échangées entre MM.Messieurs les Ministres ou présentées aux conférences seront regardées comme de simples communications de Cabinet à Cabinet ;

Qu’il en sera de même de la note confidentielle annoncée par MrMonsieur le Duc de Wellington.

Hand: Anonyme Hand

[Bl. 372r]

I have already stated, that the King my master would find it impossible for Him to answer in the affirmative the three questions submitted to the Ministers of the Allied Courts on the 20thOctbOctober by H. E.His Excellency the Minister of H. M. C. MyHis Most Christian Majesty,¹ although equally anxious with the august Sovereigns His Allies for the honour of H. M. C. M.His Most Christian Majesty and the tranquillity and happiness of France.

The same reason must induce me to decline, on the part of H. MyHis Majesty, to sign the Procès-verbal which[Bl. 372v] defines cases, on the occurrence of which H. M. C. M.His Most Christian Majesty would be entitled to call for the promised succours.

To these reasons I must add that the articles of the Procès-verbal refer to occurrences which H. M.His Majesty's GovtGovernment do not consider themselves authorized to suppose probable.

In a Country in a state of revolution, the life of the Monarch may be in danger, and the Foreign Ministers at Madrid have, it appears upon two occasions, considered it their duty to make[Bl. 373r] representations to the Spanish GovtGovernment, having for their object to make known the anxiety of their respective Sovereigns for the safety of H. C. MyHis Catholic Majesty ² and of His august Family.

Such representations, when made upon the spur of the occasion which may justify them, and in consequence of the instructions which Each of those Ministers may have received from His GovtGovernment, and without any previous concert, are likely to be useful to those[Bl. 373v] persons in the Country who are desirous of averting the danger which may threaten the person of the Monarch; which danger, experience has shewn, may exist in a country in a state of revolution.

But experience has likewise shewn that, during Revolutions, the minds of men are influenced by motives of party and faction; and that that which is most repugnant to Their feelings is the formal organized interference of foreign Powers,[Bl. 374r] and that the effect of such interference is to weaken and endanger the Party in whose favour it is exerted.

This sentiment prevails in Spain in a greater degree than in other Countries; and it is to be apprehended that the existence of this Procès-verbal may tend to endanger the august Persons for whose safety it is intended to provide, and to weaken the effect which it appears that the representations of the Foreign Ministers at Madrid have[Bl. 374v] had upon two occasions, and which they might have upon others equally justifiable and necessary.

It appears to me likewise, that some of the artsarticles of the Procès-verbal touch upon points, which are properly the subjects of municipal Law.

The person of a Sovereign is inviolate. The Laws of all Countries, and the unanimous opinion & sentiments of mankind have provided for the safety of the sacred Person of a Monarch.

[Bl. 375r]

But the laws, which declare the persons of Sovereigns inviolate, do not equally protect the Persons of Their august Families; and this Procès-Verbal may tend to hold out a protection to the Royal Family of Spain, which the Laws of Spain do not afford them, and which is not afforded to the Royal Families of other Countries in Europe by the Laws of those Countries.