[Navigation of the Rhine.]

CLOSING PROTOCOL.

On proceeding to the signature of the revised Convention for the Navigation of the Rhine, concluded between them by virtue of their Full Powers, the undersigned have made the following Reserves and Declarations:

Privileges to Boats belonging to the Navigation of the Rhine.

1. Relative to Article I of the Convention. It is understood that the Right to the Free Navigation of the Rhine and its Mouths does not extend to the Privileges which are only granted to Boats belonging to the Navigation of the Rhine, or to those which are assimilated to them.

Exceptions as to Free Navigation of the Rhine and Levying of certain Dues.

2. Relative to Article III of the Convention. A. It has been unanimously recognised that the Stipulations of the first Paragraph of that Article do not apply to Fees for the opening and closing of the Bridges which are levied on other navigable Waters than the Rhine, or to the Duties to be levied for the use of Artificial Navigable Waters or Works of Art, such as Sluices, &c.

B. The Prussian Plenipotentiary remarks that on the Ruhr a small Duty is levied on Navigation; that his Government intend shortly to abolish that Duty, but that he must reserve to his Government the appointment of the time at which such abolition shall take place. The Netherlands Plenipotentiary stated that the Overseers of the Buoys on a part of the Meuse, in the Duchy of Luxemburg, still levy small Buoy Dues which cannot be abolished without the co-operation of Belgium, and that for that reason he must reserve for his Government the execution of the Stipulations contained in the Second Paragraph of Article III, as far as regards that part of the Meuse. No objection was made to these Reserves by the other Plenipotentiaries.

Free Ports.

The Free

3. Relative to Article VIII of the Convention. Ports actually existing are the following:-In France, Strasburg; in Baden, Kehl, Maxau, Leopoldshafen, Mannheim; in Bavaria, Neubourg, Spire, Ludwigshafen; in Hesse, Mayence; in

[Peace. Treaty of Prague.]

Dissolution of the Germanic Confederation. Assent of Austria to her exclusion from New Organisation of Germany, and to the formation of a North German Confederation.

ART. IV. His Majesty the Emperor of Austria acknowledges the dissolution of the Germanic Confederation* as hitherto constituted, and gives his consent to a new organisation of Germany without the participation of the Imperial Austrian State. His Majesty likewise promises to recognise the more restricted Federal relations which His Majesty the King of Prussia will establish to the north of the line of the Main; and he declares his concurrence in the formation of an Association of the German States situated to the south of that line, whose national connection with the North German Confederation is reserved for further arrangement between the parties, and which will have an independent international existence.†

Transfer by Austria to Prussia of all rights over Duchies of Holstein and Schleswig, acquired by Treaty of 30th October, 1864, on condition of Populations of Northern Districts of Schleswig being ceded to Denmark, if, by free vote, they should express a wish to be united to Denmark.

ART. V. His Majesty the Emperor of Austria transfers to His Majesty the King of Prussia all the rights which he acquired by the Vienna Treaty of Peace of 30th October, 1864 (No. 367), over the Duchies of Holstein and Schleswig, with the condition that the populations of the Northern Districts of Schleswig shall be ceded to Denmark if, by a free vote, they express a wish to be united to Denmark.

Existing Territorial condition of Saxony to remain as before.

Special Treaty to be concluded between Prussia and Saxony respecting expenses of the War, and future position of Saxony in North German Confederation.

ART. VI. At the desire of His Majesty the Emperor of Austria,

At the sitting of the German Diet of 14th June, 1866, Prussia formally declared the Germanic Confederation to be dissolved, which Declaration was protested against by the President of the Diet at the same sitting, as being contrary to Art. V of the Vienna Congress Treaty of 9th June, 1815. See also Prussian Declaration of 14th June, 1866, p. 1652.

+ The Constitution of the North German Confederation was promulgated on the 14th June, 1867; but it was altered by the German Constitution of 16th April, 1871.

[Peace. Treaty of Prague.]

His Majesty the King of Prussia declares his willingness to let the present Territorial condition of the Kingdom of Saxony remain to the same extent as before, in the alterations which are about to be made in Germany; but he reserves to himself the right of arranging the contribution of Saxony to the expenses of the War, and the future position of the Kingdom of Saxony in the North German Confederation, by a special Treaty to be concluded with His Majesty the King of Saxony.*

On the other hand, His Majesty the Emperor of Austria promises to recognise the new arrangements that will be made by His Majesty the King of Prussia in North Germany, including the Territorial alterations.

Appointment of Commission to determine as to disposal of late Federal Property.

ART. VII. For the purpose of making arrangements respecting the late Federal Property, a Commission will meet at Frankforton-the-Main within 6 weeks at farthest from the Ratification of this Treaty, to which Commission all claims and demands on the German Confederation are to be sent in, and they will be liquidated within 6 months. Austria and Prussia will send Representatives to that Commission, and all the other late Federal Governments are at liberty to do the same.

Disposal of Imperial Property in Federal Fortresses.

ART. VIII. Austria has the right of removing or otherwise disposing of the Imperial Property in the Federal Fortresses, and the part of the movable Federal Property belonging to Austria, according to specification; the same is the case with all the movable effects of the Confederation.

Pensions to Officials and others.

ART. IX. The Pensions to which the regular Officials, Servants, and Pensioners of the Confederation are entitled, or which have already been granted, will be secured to them pro rata of the register.

Pensions to Officers, &c., of former Schleswig-Holstein Army to be paid by Prussia.

The Royal Prussian Government, however, undertakes the Pensions and Allowances hitherto paid out of the Federal matri* See Treaty of 21st October, 1866.

[Wounded in War.]

(Translation.)

Persons engaged in Ambulances and Hospitals to continue their Duties towards the Wounded after occupation by the Enemy.

ART. I. The Persons designated in Article II of the Convention (No. 365) shall, after the occupation by the Enemy, continue to fulfil their Duties, according to their wants, to the Sick and Wounded in the Ambulance or the Hospital which they

serve.

Commander of occupying Troops to give permission for withdrawal. When they request to withdraw, the Commander of the occupying Troops shall fix the time of Departure, which he shall only be allowed to delay for a short time in case of Military necessity.

Pay to be continued to Neutralised Persons whilst in the power of the Enemy.

ART. II. Arrangements will have to be made by the Belligerent Powers to ensure to the Neutralised Person, fallen into the hands of the Army of the Enemy, the entire enjoyment of his Salary.

Interpretation of the word Ambulance.

ART. III. Under the conditions provided for in Articles I and IV of the Convention (No. 365), the name Ambulance applies to Field Hospitals and other Temporary Establishments which follow the Troops on the Field of Battle to receive the Sick and Wounded.

Privileges to Inhabitants entertaining Wounded Men.

ART. IV. In conformity with the spirit of Article V of the Convention (No. 365) and to the reservations contained in the Protocol of 1864, it is explained, that for the apportionment of the charges relative to the Quartering of Troops and of the Contributions of War, account only shall be taken in an equitable manner of the charitable zeal displayed by the Inhabitants.

Wounded, with the exception of Officers, whether capable or incapable of serving, to be sent to their Country on condition of not bearing Arms during the remainder of the War.

ART. V. In addition to Article VI of the Convention (No.

[Peace, Treaty of Prague.]

Prussian Evacuation of Austrian Territories.

ART. XII. The Evacuation of the Austrian Territories held by the Royal Prussian troops shall be completed within 3 weeks after the exchange of the Ratifications of the Treaty of Peace. From the day of the exchange of the Ratifications the Prussian General Governments will confine their functions to the purely military sphere of operations.

The special stipulations according to which the Evacuation is to take place are settled in a separate Protocol which forms an Appendix to the present Treaty.*

Renewal of Treaties. Proposed Abrogation of Monetary Convention of 24th January, 1857.

ART. XIII. All the Treaties and Conventions concluded between the High Contracting Parties before the War are hereby again brought into force, in so far as they by their nature, must not lose their effect by the dissolution of the relations of the Germanic Confederation. The General Cartel Convention between the German Federal States, of the 10th February, 1831, together with the supplementary stipulations belonging thereto, will especially retain its validity between Austria and Prussia. The Imperial Royal Austrian Government declares, however, that the Monetary Treaty concluded the 24th January, 1857, loses its most essential value for Austria by the dissolution of the German Federal relations, and the Royal Prussian Government declares its willingness to enter into negotiations with Austria and the other participators in that Treaty for the abrogation thereof.

Zollverein Treaty of 11th April, 1865, to be revised.

In like manner, the High Contracting Parties reserve to themselves to enter into a negotiation as soon as possible for the Revision of the Commercial and Customs Treaty of the 11th April, 1865, for the further facilitation of their reciprocal traffic. Meanwhile the said Treaty shall again come into force, on the condition that each of the High Contracting Parties reserves the right of putting an end to its operation after 6 months' notice.

Ratifications.t

ART. XIV. The Ratifications of the present Treaty shall be

*See next page.

+ Ratifications exchanged at Prague, 30th August, 1866.