Having consulted with the representatives of France, Prussia, and Russia, Her Majesty's government has recommended, and Her Majesty has graciously agreed to the following changes to the Treaty of Paris, signed in 1814, and the Treaty of London, signed in 1839.
Amendments and changes
Agreed to in London on May 11, 1862
France, Prussia, United Kingdom, Russia
Subject: Representation and warranty of neutrality of Luxembourg
Article.
The ties that bind the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to the House of Orange-Nassau as stipulated in the treaties that placed the state under the sovereignty of His Majesty the King of the Netherlands, his heirs and successors, are hereby dissolved.
The rights for the members of the House of Nassau on the succession of the Grand Duchy under the same treaties, are revoked.
The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg shall pass to the George William Frederick Charles the Duke of Cambridge, his heir and successors.
The High Contracting Parties agree to this statement and take note.
Article 2.
The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, within the limits established by the Act annexed to the Treaty of 19 April 1839 under the guarantees of France, Austria, Britain, Prussia and Russia, will now form a perpetually neutral and independent state. It will be required to observe the same neutrality towards all other States.
The High Contracting Parties undertake to respect the principle of neutrality stipulated by this article.
The principle is and remains under the sanction of the collective guarantee of the Powers signatory of the present Agreement.
Article 3.
Since the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is required to maintain neutrality under the previous article, the maintenance or establishment of strongholds on its territory is unnecessary.
Accordingly, it is agreed by mutual consent, the city of Luxembourg, despite its previous status as a military fortress, will cease to be a walled city.
The Grand Duke reserves the right to maintain in this city the number of soldiers necessary in order to ensure maintenance of good order.
Article 4.
Accordance with the provisions contained in Articles 2 and 3, HM the King of Prussia agrees that his troops currently stationed in the fortress of Luxembourg will evacuate that place immediately after the exchange of ratifications of the present Agreement.
Article 5.
The Grand Duke undertakes to take the necessary steps to convert Luxembourg into an open city through a demolition of the fortress and other necessary measures to fulfill the intentions expressed in Article 3 of this Agreement. The work required for this purpose will begin immediately after the retreat of the garrison.
The Grand Duke further promises that the fortifications of the city of Luxembourg will not be restored in the future, and that there will not be maintained or created any military establishment within the city.
Article 6.
The signatories of this Agreement acknowledge the dissolution of ties between the German Confederation and the Duchy of Limburg and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The territories of the Duchy of Limburg will continuing to be an integral part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Article 7.
As has been agreed to at the Treaty of Paris of 1814 and the convention of Mainz of 1831 the river Rhine will remain free and open to navigation by all parties. No fees or tolls of any kind shall be charged for passage on the river. No customs duties shall be charged on goods in transit on the river to their final destination and no obstacles, physical or legal, shall be placed upon such transit.
The current Article applies to the entirety of the river Rhine, from its source in Switzerland until it meets the North Sea.
Article 8.
This Agreement shall be ratified and the ratifications shall be exchanged at London, in the space of four weeks, or sooner if possible.
In witness whereof, the respective plenipotentiaries have signed it and have affixed thereto the seal of their arms.
Done at London on May 11, the year of grace 1862.
[X] signed on behalf of Her Majesty by Lord John Russell
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