No country was prepared to tolerate British interference with her commerce. However, the suggestion was not accepted on account of the jealousy of the naval strength of Great Britain. In order to suppress slave trade, Great Britain suggested that the European States should exercise a mutual right of search for slaves. As Great Britain had invested a lot of money in those colonies, Casdereagh, the British Foreign Minister, refused to agree to any proposal either to bring them back under Spain or even to mediate between them and Spain unless British interests in those colonies were safeguarded beforehand. Those were due to the divergent interests and mutual jealousy of the Powers concerned.Īs regards the question of the rebellious colonies of Spain in South America, there was going on a lot of trade between England and those colonies from the time of the French Revolution. In spite of the above achievements of the Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle certain differences arose among the Powers and those differences increased with the passage of time. The position of the Jewish citizens in Austria and Russia was also discussed. The Congress also dealt with the question of the disputed succession to the Duchy of Baden. The Elector of Hesse petitioned to the Congress that he be allowed to take up the title of king, but it was refused. The ruler of Monaco was ordered to improve the administrative system of his country. The Congress also called upon the King of Sweden to explain why he had ignored the treaty rights with regard to Norway and Denmark. It was intended to observe strictly the rights of the people, protect the arts of peace increase the prosperity of State, awaken sentiments of religion and morality and set an example of justice and concord. However, to please Czar Alexander, a high-sounding statement was issued regarding the aims and objects of the moral pentarchy. The Quadruple Alliance was renewed separately with a view to meeting any danger that might arise from France. However, the view of England and Austria was that France should be admitted by means of a treaty alliance with the four Powers and that was done. Russia proposed to follow the principles as embodied in the Holy Alliance. There was a difference of opinion between Russia on the one hand and England and Austria on the other regarding the basis on which France was to be admitted into the Quadruple Alliance. It was in this way that the Quadruple Alliance was transformed into the Quintuple Alliance which was called by Metternich as “moral pentarchy.” As France had paid off the whole of war indemnity, it was decided to withdraw the Allied Army of Occupation from the French soil and to admit France into the Concert of Europe. The most important question before the Congress was that of France and happily a compromise was arrived at on that point.
The Congress was recognized as the Supreme Council of Europe and accordingly it entertained appeals in all kinds of cases. Regarding this Congress, Metternich is said to have remarked that he had “never seen a prettier little Congress.” This Congress marked the zenith of the system by which the Allied Powers endeavored to establish a joint control over the affairs of all continental States. The first Congress meets in 1818 at Aix-la-Chapelle where Napoleon had once put forward his own scheme for the welfare of Europe. However, the Concert of Europe broke up in 1823 after holding four conferences at Aix-la-Chapelle in 1818, at Troppau in 1820, at Laibach in 1821, and at Verona in 1822. In these Congresses, the dominating personality was the Austrian Chancellor, Metternich Under his leadership and guidance, the Quadruple Alliance practically established a dictatorship of the Powers.
On many occasions, the members of the European Concert met at different places to discuss questions that needed collective deliberations. The period that followed the Quadruple Alliance is known as the Era of Congresses. This system of diplomacy by conferences was one of the most interesting experiments of 19th century. The Powers also agreed to hold periodical meetings “either under the immediate auspices of sovereigns or through their ministers.” Those meetings were to be “devoted to the grand interests they have in common, and to the discussion of measures which shall be judged to be most salutary for the repose and prosperity of the nations and for the maintenance of peace of Europe.” It was in this way that the Concert of Europe was formed. With that object in view, Great Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia entered on 20 November 1815 into the Quadruple Alliance for the maintenance of the treaties with France and for the consolidation “of the intimate relations now uniting the four sovereigns for the welfare of the world.”
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