Treaty of Paris (1857)
The Treaty of Paris ended the Neuchâtel trade between Prussia and Switzerland . The Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm IV finally renounced his rights to the Principality of Neuchâtel (Neuchâtel) and the County of Valangin . The agreement was signed in Paris on May 26, 1857 and meant a serious diplomatic defeat for Prussia.
history
In 1707, after the dynasty of the Princely House of Orléans-Longueville had died out, the Neuchâtel estates decided in favor of the King of Prussia as the new sovereign. In 1805 the principality became French, but in 1815 it returned to Prussia in accordance with the provisions of the Congress of Vienna . At the same time, Neuchâtel joined the Swiss Confederation as a canton in the same year , but remained a principality linked to Prussia in personal union.
On March 1, 1848, a revolution occurred, as a result of which Neuchâtel was declared a republic . The Prussian king did not agree to this, but renounced the use of force to enforce his inherited rights. In a putsch in the summer of 1856, royalist forces tried to restore the rule of the Prussian king. The uprising was put down by Republican militias. He claimed 8 dead and 26 wounded and 667 royalists were taken prisoner.
Prussia demanded the immediate release of the prisoners, which the Swiss Federal Council wanted to grant only under certain conditions; The main demand was that Prussia renounced its rights. On December 13, 1856, Prussia broke off its diplomatic relations with Switzerland and ordered 150,000 men to be mobilized on January 2, 1857 .
France sided with Prussia and Napoléon III. Mediated negotiations between the conflicting parties after Great Britain signaled support for the Swiss Confederation. On May 26th, a six-power agreement was signed in Paris. The treaty was ratified on June 16, 1857 and entered into force on the same day.
The Prussian crown lost a territory of approximately 14 square miles . The King of Prussia retained the title of Prince of Neuchâtel.
content
The eight-article treaty was signed and sealed by the authorized representatives of Austria , France, Great Britain, Russia , Prussia and the Confederation.
The King of Prussia renounced the rights to the Principality of Neuchâtel and the County of Valangin for himself and his heirs. Neuchâtel remained a member of the Swiss Confederation. Switzerland bore the costs of the events. A general amnesty was issued for the prisoners and neither the persons nor the canton were entitled to compensation. Withdrawn capital and income from foundations were not allowed to be misused.
Extract from the contract "concerning the settlement of the Neuchâtel affair" May 26, 1857
Her Majesties the Emperor of Austria, the Emperor of France, the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Emperor of all Reussen,
... have ... invited the Swiss Confederation to ... come to an understanding on the most suitable provisions for achieving ... [the calm of Europe].
As a result ... [they] have agreed to ... to conclude a treaty ...:
Art. 1
His Majesty the King of Prussia consents to for ever for himself, his heirs and successors, to waive the sovereignty rights which Article 23 of the June 1815 in Vienna the treaty on the Principality of Neuchâtel and the County of Valangin.
Art. 2
The state of Neuchâtel, henceforth self-contained, continues to form a member of the Swiss Confederation, with the same rights as the other cantons and in accordance with Article 75 of the proposed treaty.
…
Art. 5
For all political and military crimes and offenses related to the last events, a full and total amnesty is granted, in favor of all Neuchâtel, Swiss and foreigners, and in particular in favor of the militias, which are distanced have withdrawn from compulsory weapons abroad.
A criminal or corrective action, a lawsuit for damages cannot be brought against those who directly or indirectly participated in the September events, neither by the canton of Neuchâtel nor by any corporation or person.
The amnesty is also intended to extend to all political and press offenses that occurred prior to the September events.
…
Art. 8 The
current treaty is to be ratified and the resulting ratifications replaced within three weeks or earlier if possible. The substitution will take place in Paris.
...
This is what happened in Paris on May 26, 1857.
literature
- Wilhelm Fix: The Territorial History of the Prussian State. Simon Schroppsche Hof-Landkartenhandlung, Berlin 1884 (Reprint - Melchior Verlag, Wolfenbüttel).
- Imanuel Geiss (Hrsg.): Chronicle of the 19th century. Chronik Verlag, Dortmund 1993; ISBN 3-611-00312-3 .
- Oskar Jäger : History of the Latest Time. From the Congress of Vienna to the present. (2nd volume); Oswald Seehagen, Berlin 1882.
- Olaf Kappelt : When Neuchâtel and Valangin were still with Prussia, 300 years ago. BHV Berlin-Historica-Verlag, Berlin 2008; ISBN 978-3-939929-08-6 .
- Swiss Confederation: SR 0.193.11 “ Agreement on the Settlement of the Neuchâtel Affair ” (German translation) , Systematic Collection of Federal Law
Individual evidence
- ↑ Swiss Confederation: SR 0.193.11 “Treaty on the Settlement of the Neuchâtel Affair” (German translation) , Systematic Collection of Federal Law