TROPPAU, CONGRESS OF, a conference of the allied sovereigns or their representatives to discuss a concerted policy with regard to the questions raised by the revolution in Naples of July 182o. At this congress, which met on Oct. 20, 182o, the Emperor Alexander I. of Russia and Francis I. of Austria were present in person; King Frederick William III. of Prussia was represented by the crown prince (afterwards Frederick William IV.). The three eastern powers were further represented by the ministers responsible for their foreign policy : Austria by Prince Metternich, Russia by Count Capo d'Istria, Prussia by Prince Hardenberg. Great Britain, on the other hand, which objected on principle to the suggested concerted action against the Neapolitan Liberals, sent no plenipotentiary, but was represented by Lord Stewart, ambassador in Vienna. France, too, had given no plenary powers to her representatives.
In a series of conferences—to which the representatives of Great Britain and France were not admitted, on the excuse that they were only empowered to "report," not to "decide"—was drawn up the famous preliminary protocol signed by Austria, Russia and Prussia on Nov. 19. The main pronouncement of the
"Troppau protocol" is as f ollows: "States which have undergone a change of government due to revolution, the results of which threaten other States, ipso facto cease to be members of the European Alliance, and remain excluded from it until their situa tion gives guarantees for legal order and stability. If, owing to such alterations, immediate danger threatens other States the powers bind themselves, by peaceful means, or if need be, by arms, to bring back the guilty State into the Great Alliance.
No effort was made by the powers to give immediate effect to the principles enunciated in the protocol; and after its promul gation the conferences were adjourned, it being decided to re sume them at Laibach in the following January (see LAIBACH, CONGRESS OF).