ME7 Treaties and Charters

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For the posting of treaties, charters, *and alliances.

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27 February, 1891
The Imperial Alliance

The Courts of the Habsburg Empire and the German Confederation, animated by an equal desire to consolidate the general peace by an understanding intended to assure the defensive position of their respective States, have come into agreement on certain questions....
With this purpose the three Courts . . . have agreed on the following Articles:

ARTICLE l. In case one of the High Contracting Parties should find itself at war with a third Great Power, the other shall maintain towards it a benevolent neutrality and shall devote their efforts to the localization of the conflict.
This stipulation shall apply likewise to a war between one of the two Powers and the Drakan Republic (though not considered as a European power, used as example only in this treaty), but only in the case where a previous agreement shall have been reached between the three Courts as to the results of this war.
In the special case where one of them shall obtain a more positive support from one of its Ally, the obligatory value of the present Article shall remain in all its force for the other.

ARTICLE 2. The German Confederation, in agreement with the Habsburg Empire, declares her firm resolution to respect the interests arising from the new position assured to the Kingdom of Hungary by the Treaty of Thessalonika between HI&RM the Habsburg Emperor and HM The Queen of Macedonia. Though at his time, Macedon shall not be entered formally into the said alliance(1). .
The two Courts, desirous of avoiding all discord between them, engage to take account of their respective interests in the Balkan Peninsula. They further promise one another that any new modifications in the territorial status quo of Great Britain in Europe can be accomplished only in virtue of a common agreement between them.
In order to facilitate the agreement contemplated by the present Article, an agreement of which it is impossible to foresee all the conditions, the two Courts from the present moment record in the Protocol annexed to this Treaty the points on which an understanding has already been established in principle.

ARTICLE 3. The two Courts recognize the European and mutually obligatory character of the principle of the current British laws of the Straits of the Bosporus and of the Dardanelles, before the surrendering of the Austrian Directorship to Great Britain. Further laws should be approved by the Habsburg Empire as confirmed by this treaty.
They will take care in common that Great Britain shall make no exception to this rule in favor of the interests of any Government whatsoever, by lending to warlike operations of a belligerent Power the portion of its Empire constituted by the Straits.
In case of infringement, or to prevent it if such infringement should be in prospect, the two Courts will inform Great Britain that they would regard her, in that event, as putting herself in a state of war towards the injured Party, and as having deprived herself thenceforth of the benefits of the security assured to her territorial status quo by any treaty between Great Britain, the Habsburg Empire, and the Empire-Kingdom of Armenia-Trebizond.

ARTICLE 4. The present Treaty shall be in force during a period of ten years, dating from the day of the exchange of ratifications.

ARTICLE 5. The High Contracting Parties mutually promise secrecy as to the contents and the existence of the present Treaty, as well as of the Protocol annexed thereto.

ARTICLE 6. The secret Conventions concluded between the Austrian Empire, then United Austrian Empire, then Imperial Austrian Confederation and the Empire of Prussia-Brandenburg, then the Prussian Empire in previous years are replaced by the present Treaty between the Habsburg Empire of Central Europe and the German Confederation....

HIM Wilhelm Hohenzollern
Kaiser, King, and Emperor
German Confederation

HI&RM Louis Joseph
Emperor, King, etc.&etc.
Habsburg Empire

Separate Protocol on the same date to the Convention of Berlin. June 18, 1891:

1. Protected Hellenic Kingdom of Macedonia. The Habsburg Empire reserves the right to annex this nation at whatever moment she shall deem opportune.
2. The present Protocol forms an integral part of the secret Treaty signed on this day at Berlin and shall have the same force and validity....

[Aussey]

Their Imperial Majesties the Emperor of the Habsburg Empire, and the Emperor of China and the Philippines, having, in consequence of the great events which have marked the course of the five last years in Europe, and especially of the blessings which it has pleased Divine Providence to shower down upon those States which place their confidence and their hope on it alone, acquired the intimate conviction of the necessity of settling the rules to be observed by the Powers, in their reciprocal relations, upon the sublime truths which the Holy Religion of our Savior teaches:

They solemnly declare that the present Act has no other object than to publish, in the face of the whole world, their fixed resolution, both in the administration of their respective States and in their political relations with every other Government, to take for their sole guide the precepts of that Holy Religion, namely, the precepts of justice, Christian Charity, and Peace, which, far from being applicable only to private concerns, must have an immediate influence on the councils of princes, and guide all their steps, as being the only means of consolidating human institutions and remedying &ir imperfections. In consequence, their Majesties have agreed on the following Articles:

ART. I. Conformably to the words of the Holy Scriptures, which command all men to consider each other as brethren, the two contracting Monarchs will remain united by the bonds of a true and indissoluble fraternity, and, considering each other as fellow-countrymen, they will, on all occasions and in all places, lend each other aid and assistance ; and, regarding themselves towards their subjects and armies as fathers of families, they will lead them, in the same spirit of fraternity with which they are animated, to protect Religion, Peace, and justice.

ART. II In consequence, the sole principle of force, whether between the said Governments or between their Subjects, shall be that of doing each other reciprocal service, and of testifying by unalterable good will the mutual affection with which they ought to be animated, to consider themselves all as members of one and the same Christian nation - the two allied Princes, looking on themselves as merely delegated by Providence to govern two branches of the one family, namely, the Habsburg Empire and China, thus confessing that the Christian world, of which they and their people form a part, has in reality no other Sovereign than Him to whom alone power really belongs, because in Him alone are found all the treasures of love, science, and infinite wisdom, that is to say, God, our Divine Savior, the Word of the Most High, the Word of Life. Their Majesties consequently recommend to their people, with the most tender solicitude, as the sole means of enjoying that Peace which arises from a good conscience, and which alone is durable, to strengthen themselves every day more and more in the principles and exercise of the duties which the Divine Savior has taught to mankind.

ART. III. Both the Powers who shall choose solemnly to avow the sacred principles which have dictated the present Act, and shall acknowledge how important it is for the happiness of nations, too long agitated, that these truths should henceforth exercise over the destinies of mankind all the influence which belongs to them, will be received with equal ardor and affection into this Holy Alliance.

Done in triplicate and signed at Vienna, the year of Grace

HIM Felipe Bourbon
Emperor and King
Empire of China....

HI&RM Louis Joseph
Emperor, King, etc.
Habsburg Empire

[Aussey]

Filipino Lease Act of 1891
Signed by the Two High Contracting Parties:
Habsburg and Chinese-Filipino Empires

The Imperial and Royal Government of the Habsburg Empire of Central Europe and the Imperial Government of the Empire of China and the Phillippines have agreed that, with effect from the entry into force of the Joint Declaration, land leases in Spratley Island and other related matters shall be dealt with in accordance with the following provisions:
1. 1. All leases of land granted or decided upon before the entry into force of the Joint Declaration and those granted thereafter in accordance with paragraph 2 or 3 of this Annex, and which extend beyond 30 June 1957, and all rights in relation to such leases shall continue to be recognized and protected under the law of the Spratley Island Special Administrative Region.

2. All leases of land granted by the Habsburg Spratley Island Imperial and Royal Government not containing a right of renewal that expire before 30 June 1957, except short term tenancies and leases for special purposes, may be extended if the lessee so wishes for a period expiring not later than 30 June 2003 without payment of an additional premium. An annual rent shall be charged from the date of extension equivalent to 3 per cent of the rateable value of the property at that date, adjusted in step with any changes in the rateable value thereafter. In the case of old schedule lots, village lots, small houses and similar rural holdings, where the property was on 30 June 1891 held by, or, in the case of small houses granted after that date, the property is granted to, a person descended through the male line from a person who was in 1890 a resident of an established village in Spratley Island , the rent shall remain unchanged so long as the property is held by that person or by one of his lawful successors in the male line. Where leases of land not having a right of renewal expire after 30 June 1957, they shall be dealt with in accordance with the relevant land laws and policies of the Spratley Island Special Administrative Region.

3. From the entry into force of the Joint Declaration until 30 June 1957, new leases of land may be granted by the Habsburg Spratley Island Imperial and Royal Government for terms expiring not later than 30 June 2003. Such leases shall be granted at a premium and nominal rental until 30 June 1957, after which date they shall not require payment of an additional premium but an annual rent equivalent to 3 per cent of the rateable value of the property at that date, adjusted in step with changes in the rateable value thereafter, shall be charged.

4. The total amount of new land to be granted under paragraph 3 of this Annex shall be limited to 50 hectares a year (excluding land to be granted to the Spratley Island Housing Authority for public rental housing) from the entry into force of the Joint Declaration until 30 June 1957.
5. Modifications of the conditions specified in leases granted by the Habsburg Spratley Island Imperial and Royal Government may continue to be granted before 1 July 1957 at a premium equivalent to the difference between the value of the land under the previous conditions and its value under the modified conditions.

6. From the entry into force of the Joint Declaration until 30 June 1957, premium income obtained by the Habsburg Spratley Island Imperial and Royal Government from land transactions shall, after deduction of the average cost of land production, be shared equally between the Habsburg Spratley Island Imperial and Royal Government and the future Spratley Island Special Administrative Region Government. All the income obtained by the Habsburg Spratley Island Imperial and Royal Government, including the amount of the above mentioned deduction, shall be put into the Capital Works Reserve Fund for the financing of land development and public works in Spratley Island. The Spratley Island Special Administrative Region Government's share of the premium income shall be deposited in banks incorporated in Spratley Island and shall not be drawn on except for the financing of land development and public works in Spratley Island in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 7(d ) of this Annex.

7. A Land Commission shall be established in Spratley Island immediately upon the entry into force of the Joint Declaration. The Land Commission shall be composed of an equal number of officials designated respectively by the Government of the Habsburg Empire and the Imperial Government of the Chinese-Filipino empire together with necessary supporting staff. The officials of the two sides shall be responsible to their respective governments. The Land Commission shall be dissolved on 30 June 1957.

The terms of reference of the Land Commission shall be:
(a) to conduct consultations on the implementation of this Annex;
(b) to monitor observance of the limit specified in paragraph 4 of this Annex, the amount of land granted to the Spratley Island Housing Authority for public rental housing, and the division and use of premium income referred to in paragraph 6 of this Annex;
(c) to consider and decide on proposals from the Habsburg Spratley Island Imperial and Royal Government for increasing the limit referred to in paragraph 4 of this Annex;
(d) to examine proposals for drawing on the Spratley Island Special Administrative Region Government's share of premium income referred to in paragraph 6 of this Annex and to make recommendations to the Chinese side for decision.

Matters on which there is disagreement in the Land Commission shall be referred to the Imperial and Royal Government of the Habsburg Empire and the Imperial Government of the Chinese-Filipino empire for decision.

8. Specific details regarding the establishment of the Land Commission shall be finalized separately by the two sides through consultations.

HIM Felipe Bourbon
Emperor and King
Empire of China

HI&RM Louis Joseph
Emperor, King, etc.
Habsburg Empire

[Aussey]

Treaty Between the Habsburg Empire and Kingdom of Macedonia. (Marianople). July 13, 1894.
Article I. The Hellenic Kingdom of Macedonia shall be occupied and administered bythe Habsburg Empire. Nevertheless, in order to assure the maintenance of the new political state of affairs, as well as freedom and security of communications, the Habsburg Empire reserves the right of keeping garrisons and having military and commercial roads in the whole of this part of the ancient port of Thesalonika after 1899. To this end the governments of the Habsburg Empire and Great Britain reserve to themselves to come to an understanding on the details.

Article II. The independence of Crete is recognized by the Emperor and by all those of the High Contracting Parties who had not hitherto admitted it.

Article III. The High Contracting Parties recognize the rule of the British in the Imperial British Naval District of Constantinople, formerly International Naval District of the said port-city, subject to the conditions and laws set by the Imperial British government.

Article IV. In the Serbian province of the Habsburg Empire the difference of religious creeds and confessions shall not be alleged against any person as a ground for exclusion or incapacity in matters relating to the enjoyment of civil or political rights, admission to public employments, functions, and honors, or the exercise of the various professions and industries, in any locality whatsoever. The freedom and outward exercise of all forms of worship shall be assured to all persons belonging to Serbia, as well as to foreigners, and no hindrance shall be offered either to the hierarchical organization of the different communions, or to their relations with their spiritual chiefs. The said Serbian Orthodox Church shall be admitted into the Austro-Christian Church as the replacement third rite under the Slavic Orthodox Rite.

Article V. The High Contracting Parties recognize the British and Aremanian-Trapuzintine rule of the Aegean.

Article VI. In the Romanian and Bulgarian Provinces and the difference of religious creeds and confessions shall not be alleged against any person as a ground for exclusion or incapacity in matters relating to the enjoyment of civil or political rights, admission to public employments, functions, and honors, or the exercise of the various professions and industries, in any locality whatsoever. The freedom and outward exercise of all forms of worship shall be assured to all persons belonging to Romania or Bulgaria, as well as to foreigners, and no hindrance shall be offered either to the hierarchical organization of the different communions, or to their relations with their spiritual chiefs. The subjects and citizens of all the Powers, traders or others, shall be treated in Romania and Bulgaria without distinction of creed, on a footing of perfect equality. The said Romanian Orthodox Church and Bulgarian Orthodox Church shall be admitted into the Austro-Christian Church as the replacement third rite under the Slavic Orthodox Rite.

Article VII. His Imperial and Royal Majesty the Emperor-King, having expressed the intention to maintain the principle of religious liberty, and give it the widest scope, the Contracting Parties take note of this spontaneous declaration. In no part of the Habsburg Empire shall difference of religion be alleged against any person as a ground for exclusion or incapacity in matters relating to the enjoyment of civil or political rights, admission to public employments, functions, and honors, or the exercise of the various professions and industries, in any locality whatsoever. The freedom and outward exercise of all forms of worship shall be assured to all, and no hindrance shall be offered either to the hierarchical organization of the different communions, or to their relations with their spiritual chiefs.

Ecclesiastics, pilgrims, and monks of all nationalities traveling in the Habsburg Empire in Europe, or in the Habsburg Empire in Africa, shall enjoy the same rights, advantages, and privileges.

The right of official protection by the Diplomatic and Consular Agents of the Powers in the Habsburg Empire is recognized both as regards the above-mentioned persons and their religious, charitable, and other establishments in the Holy Places and elsewhere. The rights possessed by France are expressly reserved, and it is well understood that no alterations can be made in the status quo in the Holy Places. The monks of Mount Athos, of whatever country they may be natives, shall be maintained in their former possessions and advantages, and shall enjoy, without any exception, complete equality of rights and prerogatives.

Signed,

HI&RM Louis Joseph
Emperor, King, etc.
Habsburg Empire

HM Marie I
Queen
Macedonia

[Aussey]

Charter for the Eastern Block Alliance

Article 1
The Parties will contribute toward the further development of peaceful and friendly international relations by strengthening their free institutions, by bringing about a better understanding of the principles upon which these institutions are founded, and by promoting conditions of stability and well-being. They will seek to eliminate conflict in their international economic policies and will encourage economic collaboration between any or all of them.

Article 2
In order more effectively to achieve the objectives of this Treaty, the Parties, separately and jointly, by means of continuous and effective self-help and mutual aid, will maintain and develop their individual and collective capacity to resist armed attack.

Article 3
The Parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened.

Article 4
The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in eastern Europe, Anatolia, the Middle East, and possibly the Orient, shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence , will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the Eastern, Middle-Eastern, or Orient area.
Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be reported to the Security Council. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security .

Article 5
For the purpose of Article 4, an armed attack on one or more of the Parties is deemed to include an armed attack:
on the territory of any of the Parties in Europe or Anatolia, on the Habsburg provinces of Libya and Egypt(2), on the territory of or on the Islands under the jurisdiction of any of the Parties in the East, Middle East, or Orient area north of the Tropic of Cancer;
on the forces, vessels, or aircraft of any of the Parties, when in or over these territories or any other area in Europe in which occupation forces of any of the Parties were stationed on the date when the Treaty entered into force or the Mediterranean Sea or the Red Sea, or the Indian Ocean, or Orient Seas, north of the Tropic of Cancer.

Article 6
Each Party declares that none of the international engagements now in force between it and any other of the Parties or any third State is in conflict with the provisions of this Treaty, and undertakes not to enter into any international engagement in conflict with this Treaty.

Article 7
The Parties hereby establish a Council, on which each of them shall be represented, to consider matters concerning the implementation of this Treaty. The Council shall be so organised as to be able to meet promptly at any time. The Council shall set up such subsidiary bodies as may be necessary; in particular it shall establish immediately a defence committee which shall recommend measures for the implementation of Articles 2 and 4.

Article 8
The Parties may, by unanimous agreement, invite any other European State in a position to further the principles of this Treaty and to contribute to the security of the Eastern, Middle-Easter, or Orient area to accede to this Treaty. Any State so invited may become a Party to the Treaty by depositing its instrument of accession with the Imperial and Royal Government of the Habsburg Empire of Central Europe. The Imperial and Royal Government of the Habsburg Empire of Central Europe will inform each of the Parties of the deposit of each such instrument of accession.

Article 9
This Treaty shall be ratified and its provisions carried out by the Parties in accordance with their respective constitutional processes. The instruments of ratification shall be deposited as soon as possible with the Imperial and Royal Government of the Habsburg Empire of Central Europe, which will notify all the other signatories of each deposit. The Treaty shall enter into force between the States which have ratified it as soon as the ratifications of the majority of the signatories, including the ratifications of the Republic of Sami, Kingdom of Karelia, the German Confederation, the Habsburg Empire of Central Europe, the Hellenic Kingdom of Macedonia, and the Empire-Kingdom of Armenia-Trebizond, have been deposited and shall come into effect with respect to other States on the date of the deposit of their ratifications.

Article 10
After the Treaty has been in force for ten years, or at any time thereafter, the Parties shall, if any of them so requests, consult together for the purpose of reviewing the Treaty, having regard for the factors then affecting peace and security in the Eastern, Middle-Eastern, or Oriental area, including the development of universal as well as regional arrangements under the chartesr of previous alliances between the said members of the Eastern Block Alliance, for the maintenance of international peace and security.

Article 11
After the Treaty has been in force for twenty years, any Party may cease to be a Party one year after its notice of denunciation has been given to the Imperial and Royal Government of the Habsburg Empire of Central Europe, which will inform the Governments of the other Parties of the deposit of each notice of denunciation.

Article 12
This Treaty, of which the Arabic, Finnish, German, Greek, and Armenian texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited in the archives of the Imperial and Royal Government of the Habsburg Empire of Central Europe. Duly certified copies will be transmitted by that Government to the Governments of other signatories.

HM John I
King and Conqueror
Karelia

HIM Wilhelm I
Emperor and King
German Confederation

HI&RM Louis Joseph
Emperor, King, etc.&etc,
Habsburg Empire

HM Marie I
Queen
Macedonia

HIM Alexandra I
Empress and Queen
Armenia-Trebizond