Protocol of the Congress of Vienna (relating to the neutralization of Chablais and Faucigny) (PC-Vienne-2)

1. **To Their Excellencies the Plenipotentiaries of England, Austria, Prussia, and Russia at the Congress of Vienna**

The undersigned Minister of State and Plenipotentiary of His Majesty the King of Sardinia has reported to his August Sovereign the desire of the High Allied Powers that some territorial concessions be made to the Canton of Geneva on the side of Savoy, and submitted the project formed on this subject.

His Majesty, always eager to demonstrate all his gratitude to his High and Mighty Allies and his desire to please them, has overcome his very natural reluctance to part with good, old, and faithful subjects and has authorized the undersigned to consent to a cession of territory in favor of the Canton of Geneva as proposed by the attached protocol, and on the following conditions

1. That the provinces of Chablais and Faucigny, and all the territory north of Ugine, belonging to His Majesty, will be part of the Neutrality of Switzerland guaranteed by all powers, i.e., whenever the neighboring powers of Switzerland are in a state of open or imminent hostilities, the troops of His Majesty the King of Sardinia that might be in these provinces will withdraw, and may for this purpose pass through Valais if necessary; that no other armed troops of any powers may station there or pass through, except those that the Swiss Confederation deems appropriate to place there. It is well understood that this state of affairs does not restrict the administration of these provinces, where the civil agents of His Majesty the King may also use the Municipal Guard to maintain good order.

2. That an exemption from all transit duties be granted for all goods, products, etc., that, coming from the States of His Majesty and the free port of Genoa, would cross the so-called Simplon road in its entirety through Valais and the State of Geneva.

It would be understood that this exemption only concerns transit and would not extend to the duties established for the maintenance of the road, nor to goods and products intended to be sold or consumed internally. This reservation also applies to the communication granted to the Swiss between Valais and the Canton of Geneva, and the governments will take, by mutual agreement, the measures they deem necessary, either for the Tax or to prevent smuggling each on their territory.

3. That the areas known as imperial fiefs, which had been annexed to the Ligurian Republic and are now temporarily administered by His Majesty the King of Sardinia, be definitively united to His Majesty's States in the same manner, as well as the rest of the States of Genoa.

4. That these conditions be part of the deliberations of the Congress and be guaranteed by all Powers.

5. That the High Allied Powers commit to using again their good offices and to lend themselves to adopting means to engage France to return to His Majesty the King of Sardinia at least a part of the Savoy it occupies, namely the Bauges, the city of Annecy, and the main road leading from this last city to Geneva, with a reservation to set the precise limits in a suitable manner. This part of the country just designated is necessary to complete the defense of the Alps and to facilitate the administration of the country of which His Majesty the King of Sardinia has remained in possession.

Vienna, March 26, 1815.

Signed: De St. MARSAN.

Approved in the session of March 29, 1815, by the Plenipotentiaries of the Powers signatories to the Treaty of Paris.

(Accepted by the Representative and Sovereign Council of the Canton of Geneva on July 8, 1815.)

(Accepted by the Diet of the Swiss Confederation on August 12, 1815.)