1. The geographical position of the three northern States, is such,
that they might, with a larger military and commercial naval power
than they now possess, hold the keys of the Baltic:
2. Whilst the very weakness of these States probably removes all
danger of their using the advantages of this position against Europe,
the same weakness may one day expose them, either by force or fraud,
to be plundered by their powerful neighbours:
3. The inviolability of the three northern States, and their
independence of every foreign influence, is in the true interest of
all Europe, and their neutralization would tend to the general order.
4. Their independence, which is indeed a common right of all nations,
can only be secured to the northern nations by their neutralization.