File No. 25818.
Secretary of Embassy
Schuyler to the Secretary of
State.
[Extract.]
American Embassy,
St.
Petersburg, April 25,
1908.
No. 265.]
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that the
convention for the preservation of the status quo in the Baltic was
signed at the ministry for foreign affairs on April 23 by Mr. Iswolsky,
minister for foreign affairs, and by the representatives of Germany,
Sweden, and Denmark.
I have, etc.,
[Translation.]
His Majesty the Emperor of Germany, King of Prussia; His Majesty the
King of Denmark; His Majesty the Emperor of Russia; His Majesty the
King of Sweden:
Animated by the desire to strengthen the ties of neighborly
friendship existing between their respective countries and to
contribute thereby to the maintenance of universal peace, and
recognizing that their policy with respect to the regions bordering
on the Baltic Sea is directed to the maintenance of the existing
territorial status quo, their Governments declare that they are
firmly resolved to preserve intact the rights of the Emperor of
Germany, King of Prussia; of the King of Denmark; of the Emperor of
Russia; and of the King of Sweden in whatever concerns their
continental or insular possessions in the regions mentioned. Should
any events occur which threaten the existing territorial status quo
in the regions bordering upon the Baltic Sea, the four signatory
powers of the present declaration will communicate with each other
in order to arrive at an understanding as to what measures they may
consider it useful to take in the interest of the maintenance of the
status quo. In witness whereof the plenipotentiaries duly authorized
thereto have signed, etc.
Done at St.
Petersburg, April 23, 1908.
Memorandum.
At the moment of signing the declaration of this day’s date the
undersigned, by order of their respective Governments, consider it
necessary to state that the principle of the maintenance of the
status quo as laid down by the said declaration applies solely to
the territorial integrity of all the existing possessions of the
high contracting parties in the regions bordering upon the Baltic
Sea, and that consequently the declaration can in no case be invoked
where the free exercise of the sovereign rights of the high
contracting parties over their above-mentioned respective
possessions is in question.
Done at St.
Petersburg, April 23, 1908.
