principle of the neutralization of the Black Sea established by the preliminaries contained in the Protocol No. I, signed at Paris on the twenty-fifth of February of the present year, and wishing, in consequence, to regulate by common agreement the number and the force of the light vessels which they have reserved to themselves to maintain in the Black Sea for the service of their coasts, have resolved to sign, with that view, a Special Convention, and have named for that purpose:—
His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, the Sieur Alexis Count Orloff, &c.; and the Sieur Philip Baron de Brunnow, &c.;
And His Majesty the Emperor of the Ottomans, Mouhammed Emin Aali Pasha, &c.; and Mehemmed Djemil Bey, &c.;
Who, after having exchanged their full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon the following Articles:—
Art. I. The High Contracting Parties mutually engage not to have in the Black Sea any other vessels of war than those of which the number, the force, and the dimensions are hereinafter stipulated.
Art. II. The High Contracting Parties reserve to themselves each to maintain in that sea six steam-vessels of fifty metres in length at the line of flotation, of a tonnage of eight hundred tons at the maximum, and four light steam or sailing-vessels of a tonnage which shall not exceed two hundred tons each.
Art. III. The present Convention annexed to the General Treaty, signed at Paris this day, shall be ratified, and the ratifications shall be exchanged in the space of four weeks, or sooner, if possible[1].
In witness whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the same, and have affixed thereto the seal of their arms.
Done at Paris, the thirtieth day of the month of March, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
ORLOFF.
BRUNNOW.
AALI.
- ↑ The ratifications were exchanged on 27th April, 1856.
