Short Essay on the Main Conference of the Quadruple Alliance

Thus, the Concert of Europe was evolved by the allied powers in order to establish the system proposed by the Congress of Vienna. This alliance remained in force for a period of ten years only.

This period -1825 is called the Age of the Conferences in the history of Europe, conferences were held during this period at different venues, which were:

1. Aix -la Chapelle (1818)

2. Troppau (1820)

3. Laibach (1822)

4. Verona (1822)

5. St. Petersburg (1825)

1. The Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle (1818)

The first conference of the concert of Europe was convened at Aix-la-Chapelle, the old capital of the Holy Roman Empire, in 1818. The following decisions were taken in this congress:

i. France had paid the amount of war expenses and the government of France obeyed the decisions of the Vienna Congress. It was, therefore, decided that the occupation army of the allied powers should be withdrawn.

ii. France was included in the Alliance and thus, the name of the Quadruple Alliance was changed and it was called the Quintuple Alliance.

iii. Although, the representatives of other countries also came to participate in this congress, the voting right was given to the four big powers only, i.e., England, Austria, Russia and Prussia.

iv. A board was constituted including the representatives of the members of the Alliance. Rights were given to the take board total important decisions on certain problems; such as, the economic improvement of the European states, maintenance of law, justice, peace and order.

v. The king of Sweden had not followed out the decisions taken in the Congress of Vienna regarding Norway and Denmark. The board asked the king of Sweden for the causes of disobedience.

vi. The ruler of Hess, a state in the German Federation, assumed the title of ‘Elector’. He demanded that he should be given the right to assume the title of ‘King’. His demand was rejected.

vii. The question of succession in Vaden was solved and the ruler of Bavaria was not permitted to extend the boundaries of his kingdom.

viii. The ruler of Minorca was asked to introduce certain reforms in administration of his state and to protect the interests of the people of minority.

All decisions were taken unanimously. Metternich, the central figure of European diplomacy at that time, was very happy because this congress became successful in achieving its aims. He said:

“I have never seen such pretty and successful congress in my than the one of Aix-la-Chapelle.”

The Differences among the Allied Powers:

Although, the Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle became successful, yet the concert of Europe could not run smoothly after 1819. Differences arose among the members of the Alliance on some European matters. They were as follows:

(i) Austria, Prussia and Russia wanted to use the Alliance against any state of Europe. They wanted to establish the police system in the whole of Europe by means of general intervention. Bui Great Britain opposed this system. Castlereagh, the foreign minister of Great Britain declared:

“The Alliance was never intended as union for the government of the world or for the superintendence of the internal affairs of other states.”

(ii) The Spanish colonies in America revolted against the government of Spain. Ferdinand VII, the ruler of Spain, wanted to suppress the revolt and, therefore, he requested the allied powers to give military assistance to him against the rebellions.

France and Russia wanted to help Spain, but England objected to the idea of France and Russia. The British government advised these nations not to interfere in the internal affairs of Spain or any other state of Europe.

In fact, England had trade relations with the Spanish colonies in America. She knew that, after the full control of Spain over these colonies, the British trade would be adversely affected.

(iii) It was decided in the Congress of Vienna that the slave trade – was against the human dignity and it should be stopped. England wanted that she should be given the right to search the ships of all countries in this connection. But Austria and Russia did not give their consent to the proposal of England.

(iv) The pirates of Africa robbed the ships of the European countries. Russia, therefore, proposed that an international fleet should be sent to the Mediterranean Sea in order to crush the power of these pirates.

But England opposed the resolution of Russia, because the pirates paid due regard to the Union Jack of England and they did no harm to the British ships. Owing to the strong opposition of England, the problem of the pirates could not be solved.

These were the main reasons which gave rise to the differences among the allied powers. These differences proved to be a signal for the downfall of the Concert of Europe.

2. The Congress of Troppau (1820)

The second congress of the Concert of Europe was convened at Troppau in 1820. It was called to consider over the political changes having occurred in Spain, Portugal and Naples.

The peoples of these states revolted against their rulers who were enthroned according to the doctrine of legitimacy. The problems of Spain and Portugal remained unsolved in this congress.

But the problems of Naples, Piedmont and other Italian states compelled Metternich to find out a solution for them on a permanent basis.

The national leaders of these states were agitating against the rulers. Metternich wanted to suppress the national and revolutionary movements of these states. He was of the opinion that:

“A revolution in one country may encourage a revolution in another, and thus the world, set in order by the Congress of Vienna, may soon find itself in conflagration Once more, the established order everywhere threatened.”

In this congress, the right of suppressing the revolt of Naples was given to Austria. In fact, a treaty had already been affected between Metternich and Ferdinand I, the ruler of Naples, according to which Metternich had promised to maintain peace and order in Naples by armed forces.

In the same way, the ruler of Naples had promised that he will not admit any change that is not in accordance with the ancient institutions of the monarchy and with the principle of the Austrian Emperor.

Thus, Metternich was bound to help the government of Naples, so that the revolt might be crushed and other states might not be disturbed.

With the influence of Metternich, a resolution was passed in the Congress of Troppau that was known as “The Protocol of Troppau’. Austria, Prussia and Russia signed the resolution and declared:

“States which have undergone a change of government due to revolutions, the results of which threaten other states ipso facto cease to be members of the European Alliance, and remain excluded from it until their situation gives guarantee for legal order and stability.

If owing to such alteration, immediate danger threatens other states, the powers bind themselves, by peaceful means, or if need be by arms, to bring back the guilty states into the bosom of the great Alliance.”

Thus, the principle of interference was recognised in this congress due to the influence of Austria. This country was supported by Prussia and Russia. A great change was noted in the nature of the Czar of Russia, when he declared his full support to Metternich. He said:

“Today I deplore all that I have done between the years 1814 and 1818. Tell me what you desire and what you wish me to do, I will do it.”

England and France were against the decisions taken in the Congress of Troppau. Although France was ready to accept the ‘Protocol of Troppau’ with certain modifications, England had totally opposed this decision. British foreign minister Castlereagh had clearly declared:

“With the internal affairs of each separate state, we have nothing to do.”

In spite of the strict opposition of England, the principle of interference was endorsed. Metternich was authorised to use military powers for the suppression of the revolutionary movements and for the re-establishment of the ancient constitutions.

Castlereagh called the ‘Protocol of Troppau’ as: “an outrage upon religion, upon civilization, upon humanity and upon decency.”

Thus, there came about a clear-cut division of the Concert of Europe. One group was led by Austria and supported by Russia and Prussia, while the other one constituted England and France. The congress of Troppau was postponed due to the partisan feeling and the differences having developed among the members.

3. The Congress of Laibach (1821)

In the prevailing atmosphere of differences, the third congress of the Alliance was held at Laibach in 1821. In this congress, Metternich was given the right to suppress the revolts of Naples and Piedmont.

Though Britain opposed this resolution, she did not adopt any effective measure to prevent the efforts of Metternich.

At last, Austria, with the help of the military powers, easily suppressed the revolt of Naples and the ruler of Naples was again enthroned. The revolt of Piedmont was also crushed successfully.

4. The Congress of Verona (1822)

The next and the most important congress of the Concert of Europe were convened at Verona in 1822 to discuss some important issues.

It was a disaster that the differences reached a climax and England declared that it would not take any interest in the matters of the Concert of Europe in future. Following problems were discussed in the Congress of Verona:

(i) The Greek War for Independence:

In 1821, the people of Greece revolted against Turkey. Russia wanted to help the Greeks. The motive of Russia was to dominate the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

So it was proposed that permission should be given to Russia to help the Greeks against Turkey. But Austria and England opposed this proposal of Russia. Metternich knew it well that in case Russia helped the Greeks, her influence would greatly be increased in the Balkan states and that would pose a great danger to the Austrian empire.

In the same way, England did not want to increase the influence of Russia over the seas, for it would surely have resulted in terrible loss to the overseas trade of Great Britain.

In addition to it, it was proposed by Great Britain that the question of Greece and Turkey must be solved with the combined efforts of the allied powers. Thus, the problem of Greece remained unsolved in the Congress of Verona.

(ii) The Problem of Spain:

The second and the foremost problem due to which the Congress of Verona was called, was the problem of Spain. Ferdinand VII, the ruler of Spain, issued an ordinance to dismantle the Inquisition Tribunals in Spain.

Not only this, he also issued many new ordinances, by which the people were deprived of their political rights. Consequently, the people of Spain revolted against him. As the king belonged to the House of Bourbons, he requested Louis XVIII, the king of France, to help him.

France appealed in the Congress of Verona that she should be authorised to help Spain. In this congress, the Duke of Wellington was the representative of Great Britain. Up to this time, Lord Castlereagh had committed suicide and he had been succeeded by Lord Canning.

The Duke of Wellington strictly opposed the resolution of France, because he had been instructed by the British government not to support any resolution which was related to intervention in the internal affairs of any state.

Austria, Prussia and Russia overlooked the opposition of England and they allowed France to interfere in the internal affairs of Spain. The French army easily suppressed the revolt of Spain and Ferdinand VII was again enthroned. The French army stayed in Spain till 1827.

England was angry at the decisions of the Congress of Verona, and she disassociated herself from the Concert of Europe. Lord Canning made the following comment on these decisions:

“The issue of Verona has split the one and individual Alliance into three parts as distinct as the constitutions of England, France an’ Russia. Things are getting back to a wholesome state again. Eve nation is for itself and God is for all.”

(iii) The Problem of Spanish Colonies in America:

It has already been described that Spain had its colonies in South America. These colonies had their trade relations with England. The peoples of these colonies had revolted against Spain.

When the absolute monarchy of Ferdinand VII had been restored in Spain in 1822 with the military interference of France, Ferdinand VII made up his mind to suppress the revolt of these colonies forever.

The Holy Allies (Austria, Prussia ant Russia) were ready to help Spain, but at the same time, Lord Canning,the foreign minister of England, took an effective step, by which he could successfully prevent the interference of these nations in the matter of Spanish colonies in America.

“He declared that it was the internal affairsof Spain and that Spain herself should try to recover them, but if the allied powers would help Spain, Great Britain would strictly oppose and check their efforts.”

The Monroe Doctrine:

America had also trade relations with these colonies. So, Lord Canning met James Monroe, the President of the United States. After the careful study of the whole matter, Monroe sent a message to the Allied powers on December 2, 1823. In this message, he announced that:

“We should consider any attempt on the part of these absolute monarchs to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and safety, as the manifestation of an unfriendly disposition towards the United States.”

This message was called ‘The Monroe Doctrine’. Its conclusion was as under:

“America is for the Americans, we can tolerate no European intervention in the South or North America.”

This attitude of England and the United States produced its effects. The colonies declared their independence against the control of Spain. In 1825, England gave its recognition to their independence. Lord Canning succeeded in establishing the balance of power. He himself declared:

“I have called a new world into existence to redress the balance of the old.”

5. The Congress of St. Petersburg (1825)

The last and the merely formal meeting of the Concert of Europe were held at St. Petersburg to consider over the Eastern Question. The meeting was called in November 1824, but it was postponed due to the absence of Lord Canning.

It was again called in January 1825 and this time too, only four members Austria, Russia, Prussia and France participated. No decision could be taken in this congress due to the self-contradictory interests of Austria and Russia.

The Czar of Russia declared that he would act in the future, according to the interests of his country without the consent of the allies. Owing to profound differences, Ike congress was dissolved and the Concert of Europe virtually came to an end.