[Black Sea and Danube.] of the 30th March, 1856 (No. 264), shall be fixed by a previous understanding between the Riverain Powers, without prejudice to the clause relative to the 3 Danubian Principalities; and in so far as any modification of Article XVII of the said Treaty may be involved, this latter shall form the subject of a special Convention between the co-signatory Powers. Provisional Tax on Vessels in the Danube, until extinction of Debt. ART. VI. As the Powers which possess the shores of that part of the Danube where the Cataracts and the Iron Gates offer impediments to navigation reserve to themselves to come to an understanding with the view of removing those impediments, the High Contracting Parties recognise from the present moment their right to levy a Provisional Tax on Vessels of commerce of every flag which may henceforth benefit thereby, until the extinction of the Debt contracted for the execution of the Works; and they declare Article XV of the Treaty of Paris of 1856 (No. 264), to be inapplicable to that part of the River for a space of time necessary for the repayment of the debt in question. Neutrality of Works and Establishments created by European Commission of the Danube. ART. VII. All the Works and Establishments of every kind created by the European Commission in execution of the Treaty of Paris of 1856 (No. 264), or of the present Treaty, shall continue to enjoy the same Neutrality which has hitherto protected them, and which shall be equally respected for the future, under all circumstances, by the High Contracting Parties. The benefits of the immunities which result therefrom shall extend to the whole administrative and engineering staff of the Commission. It is, however, well understood that the provisions of this Article shall in no way affect the right of the Sublime Porte to send, as heretofore, its Vessels of War into the Danube in its character of Territorial Power. Confirmation of Stipulations of Treaty of 30th March, 1856. ART. VIII. The High Contracting Parties renew and confirm all the stipulations of the Treaty of the 30th March, 1856 (No. 264), as well as of its annexes, which are not annulled or modified by the present Treaty. [Black Sea and Danube.] Ratifications. ART. IX. The present Treaty shall be ratified, and the Ratifications shall be exchanged at London in the term of 6 weeks,* or sooner if possible. In witness whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the same, and have affixed thereto the Seal of their Arms. Done at London, the 13th day of the month of March, in the year 1871. (L.S.) GRANVILLE. (L.S.) APPONYI. (L.S.) BROGLIE. (L.S.) CADORNA. (L.S.) MUSURUS. * This period was afterwards extended to the 15th of May, on which day the Ratifications were exchanged. [Black Sea.] No. 440.-CONVENTION between Russia and Turkey, relative to the Black Sea. Signed at London, 13th March, 1871. [Communicated to the Conference on the 15th May, 1871, on the exchange of the Ratifications of the General Treaty of the 13th March.] 1. Abrogation of Special Conventions of 30th March, 1856, relative to the Black Sea. 2. Ratifications. (Translation as laid before Parliament.*) In the Name of Almighty God. His Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias and His Imperial Majesty the Sultan, being mutually animated with the desire to consolidate the relations of Peace and good understanding happily existing between their Empires, have resolved to conclude for this purpose a Convention, and have named to that effect as their Plenipotentiaries, that is to say: His Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias, the Sieur Philip Baron de Brunnow, his Actual Privy Councillor and his Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Her Britannic Majesty, &c.; And His Imperial Majesty the Sultan, Constantine Musurus Pasha, Muchir and Vizir of the Empire, his Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Her Britannic Majesty, &c.; Who, after having exchanged their Full Powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon the following Articles: Abrogation of Special Convention of 30th March, 1856, relative to the Black Sea. ART. I. The Special Convention concluded at Paris between His Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias and His Imperial Majesty the Sultan, on the 18th March, in the year 1856 (No. 266), relative to the number and force of the Vessels of War of the two High Contracting Parties in the Black Sea, is and remains abrogated. [Black Sea.] Ratifications.* ART. II. The present Convention shall be ratified, and the Ratifications thereof shall be exchanged at London in the space of 6 weeks, or sooner if possible. In witness whereof, the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the same, and have affixed thereto the Seal of their Arms. 1st 13th Done at London, the day of the month of March, in the year 1871. (L.S.) BRUNNOW. (L.S.) MUSURUS. [A Convention between Turkey and Russia, mutatis mutandis, signed and ratified on the same days, was also communicated to the Conference at the same time.] * Ratifications exchanged on the 15th May, 1871. [Black Sea and Danube.] No. 441.-PROTOCOLS OF CONFERENCES between the Plenipotentiaries of Great Britain, Austria-Hungary, France, Italy, North Germany (Germany), Russia, and Turkey, for the Revision of the Treaty of 30th March (Black Sea and Danube), 1856. London, 17th January— 14th March, 1871.* Protocol. No. 1. Choice of President. Full Powers. Absence of Plenipotentiaries. Declaration of Adhesion. Russian Reasons for Revising Stipulations of Treaty of 1856, relative to the Neutrality of the Black Sea. Objections of Turkey. Prussian reasons for proposing Conference. London, 17th January, 1871. Annex. Declaration as to Non-alteration of Treaties without consent of Contracting Parties. (No. 432). London, 17th January, 1871. No. 2. Recognition of King of Prussia's Title of Emperor of Germany. Plenipotentiaries to be styled Plenipotentiaries of Germany. Russian Reasons for wishing Revision of Treaty of 1856, relative to the Neutrality of the Black Sea. Articles of Treaty to be Revised. Conditional Adhesion of Turkey. Austria, Great Britain, and Italy support Turkish view. Other Plenipotentiaries wait instrucLondon, 24th January, 1871.No. 3. Discussion of proposed New Articles. Black Sea, Dardanelles, and Bosphorus. Turkish Objection to Art. II. Austria supports Original Reading with Verbal Alteration. Original. Great Britain advises Austria to Articles under reserve. Acceptance by Italy. many. Austrian Reservations. Adhesion of Russia. Observations on Turkish views. Additional Article proposed by Great Britain and accepted. Riverain Commission of the Danube. Duration of European Commission of the Danube. Extension of its competency to Ibraila. London, 3rd February, 1871. tions. Annex. Project of Treaty. No. 4. Qualified Adhesions to Project of Treaty. Prussia supports accede to proposed Acceptance by Ger London, 7th February, 1871. No. 5. Introduction of French Plenipotentiary. His Adhesion. Decision of Conference. Signs. Declaration annexed to Protocol No. 1 respecting Inviolability of Treaties (No. 433). Proposed extension of European Commission of the Danube to Ibraila abandoned. Articles of Treaty as amended, agreed to. New Convention between Russia and Turkey respecting number and force of Vessels of War in the Black Sea, to be signed and ratified at the same time, as General Treaty. Duration of European Commission of the Danube extended to 24th April, 1883. London, 13th March, 1871. No. 6. Signature of Treaty. Close of Conference. * See Note, page 1900. Thanks to President. London, 14th March, 1871. |