The Age of George III

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The First Treaty of Paris, 30 May 1814

The Treaty of Paris was made between representatives of the allies and France following the restoration of Louis XVIII. The terms towards France were relatively lenient to assist the Bourbon restoration, although provisions were made for a strengthening of the states bordering France. The main provisions were:

• France retained her boundaries of 1792, representing 3,280 square miles more than those of 1790, including Avignon and the Venaissin, but surrendering the left bank of the Rhine, Belgium, and territory annexed or controlled in Italy, Germany, Holland and Switzerland.
• France was allowed to retain the art treasures plundered by Napoleon and the revolutionary armies
• France was to be returned most of the colonies she had lost with the exception of Malta, Tobago, St Lucia and the Isle of France
• Switzerland was to be independent
• Holland and Belgium were to be united under the House of Orange as an independent state
• Germany was to become a federation of independent states
• Italy was to consist of several independent states apart from territory ceded to Austria
• France promised Britain to abolish the slave trade
• It was agreed that the final settlement of Europe was to be made at a Congress to be held shortly at Vienna
• Secret clauses. Without reference to France, the allies agreed that Austria should receive the territory of Venetia and the Kingdom of Sardinia would receive Genoa