Circular from the Russian Government., September 26, 1874

Circular from the Russian Government.

Several of the delegates at the Brussels conference have asked us about the further steps which will be taken with regard to the questions discussed there; that is to say, whether the imperial government will propose a new project on the basis of the opinions stated at the conference, or whether it will wait to know beforehand the judgment of the different governments on these questions.

I think it, in consequence, necessary to inform you of the manner in which this is received by the imperial cabinet.

The very result of the labors of the conference appears to us to clearly indicate the steps which are to be taken.

It made an investigation, (enquête.)

Its protocols reproduce all the opinions which were stated there, as well on the points on which an agreement was arrived at as on those on which there were divergences of opinion, or on which reserves were made. The project, as remodeled by the commission, contains the forms of the articles as agreed upon by the compromises which were the consequence of the discussions.

Finally, the final protocol submits the whole of these labors to the examination of the respective governments as being able to serve for the base of a further exchange of ideas.

It follows from this, in our opinion, that the governments, once put by the government of His Majesty the King of the Belgians, in possession of the complete and authentic acts relating to the conference, will have to examine the proposed solutions, and to present either their conclusions on the articles which are susceptible of an immediate agreement, or their observations or propositions on those which furnish matter for divergences of opinion.

It seems to us that St. Petersburg would be the most suitable place for the reunion of all these conclusions, observations, and propositions.

As soon as the imperial cabinet shall be put into possession of all these materials it will consider the question of formulating the points agreed upon in an act destined to be the object of an exchange of declarations between the powers, or of submitting to them a new project, or finally of calling a new reunion of the delegates or representatives of the governments to bring the divergent opinions to a final agreement, which would be formulated in a definitive act.

Please bring the preceding to the knowledge of the government near which you are accredited, and ask it in consequence to transmit to us, as soon as can be done, the conclusions, observations, or propositions which will he suggested to it by the examination of the whole of the labors of the conference.