Treaty between Great Britain, Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Prussia, and Russia, relative to the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, and the Duchy of Limburg (London), May 11, 1867
Article I. His Majesty the King of the Netherlands, Grand Duke of Luxemburg, maintains the ties which attach the said Duchy to the House of
Orange-Nassau, in virtue of the Treaties which placed that State under the Sovereignty of the King Grand Duke, his descendants and successors.
The Rights which the Agnates of the House of Nassau possess with regard to the Succession of the Grand (p.42) Duchy, in virtue of the same Treaties, are maintained.
The High Contracting Parties accept the present Declaration, and place it upon record.
Article II. The Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, within the Limits determined by the Act annexed to the Treaties of the 19th April, 1839, under the Guarantee of the Courts, of Great Britain, Austria, France, Prussia, and Russia, shall henceforth form a perpetually Neutral State.
It shall be bound to observe the same Neutrality towards all other States.
The High Contracting Parties engage to respect the principle of Neutrality stipulated by the present Article.
That principle is and remains placed under the sanction of the collective Guarantee of the Powers signing Parties to the present Treaty, with the
exception of Belgium, which is itself a Neutral State.
Article III. The Grand Duchy of Luxemburg being Neutralized, according to the terms of the preceding Article, the maintenance or establishment of
Fortresses upon its Territory becomes without necessity as well as without object.
In consequence, it is agreed by common consent that the City of Luxemburg, considered in time past, in a military point of view, as a Federal Fortress, shall cease to be a fortified city.
His Majesty the Grand Duke reserves to himself to maintain in that city the number of troops necessary to provide in it for the maintenance of good
order.
Article IV. In conformity with the stipulations contained in Articles II and III, His Majesty the King of Prussoa declares that his troops actually in
garrison in the Fortress of Luxemburg shall receive orders to (p.43) proceed to the Evacuation of that place immediately after the exchange of
Ratifications of the present Treaty. The withdrawal of the artillery, munitions, and every object which forms part of the equipment of the said
Fortress shall commence simultaneously. During that operation there shall remain in it no more than the number of troops necessary for the safety of
the material of war, and to effect the dispatch thereof, which shall be completed within the shortest time possible.
Article V. His Majesty the King Grand Duke, in virtue of his rights of Sovereignty which he exercises over the City and Fortress of Luxemburg,
engages, on his part, to take the necessary measures for converting the said Fortress into an open city by means of a demolition which His Majesty shall deem sufficient to fulfil the intentions of the High Contravting Parties expressed in Article III of the present Treaty. The works requisite for that
purpose shall be commenced immediately after the withdrawal of the garrison. They shall be carried out with all the attention required for the interests of the inhabitants of the city.
His Majesty the King Grand Duke promises, moreover, that the Fortifications of the city of Luxemburg shall not be restored in future, and that no Military Establishment shall be there maintained or created.
Article VI. The Powers signing Parties to the present Treaty recognize that the Dissolution of the Germanic Confederation having equally produced the Dissolution of the ties which united the Duchy of Limburg, collectively with the Grand Duchy of Lucemburg, to the said Confederation, it results
therefrom that the relations of which mention is made in articles III, IV, and V of the Treaty of the 19th April, 1839, between the Grand (p.44) Duchy and certain Territories belonhing to the Duchy of Limburg, have ceased to exist, the said Territories continuing to form an integral part of the
Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Treaty between Great Britain, Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Prussia, and Russia, relative to the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, and the Duchy of Limburg (London), May 11, 1867