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THE BALKAN PENINSULA, ETC.: TEXTS.

ing the Treaty are each represented by a delegate, and which was charged with the designation and execution of the works necessary below Isaktcha[1], to clear the mouths of the Danube, as well as the neighbouring parts of the Black Sea, from the sands and other impediments which obstruct them, in order to put that part of the river and the said parts of the sea in the best state for navigation, is maintained m its present composition[2]. The duration of that Commission is fixed for a further period of twelve years, counting from April 24, 1871, that is to say, till April 24, 1883[3], being the term of the redemption of the loan contracted by that Commission, under the guarantee of Great Britain, Germany, Austria-Hungary, France, Italy, and Turkey[4].

The Riverain Commission. Art. V. The conditions of the re-assembling of the Riverain Commission, established by Article XVII of the Treaty of Paris of March 30, 1856, shall he fixed by a previous understanding between the Riverain Powers, without prejudice to the clause relative to the three 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[5].

A tax for removal of Cataracts. 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 recognize 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
  1. ↑ Extended, by Art. 53 of the Treaty of Berlin, to Galatz; and by Art. 1 of the Treaty of 1883, to Ibraila.
  2. ↑ Roumania was added to it by Art. 53 of the Treaty of Berlin.
  3. ↑ This period was further prolonged, by Art. 2 of the Treaty of London of 1883 (Texts, No. VIII), to at least to 24th April, 1904. Cf. supra, p. 233.
  4. ↑ This guarantee was given by a Convention, signed at Galatz on 30th April, 1868, q. v. Parl. Papers, 1868; N. R. G. xviii, 156. By Art. 1, the loan was not to exceed £135,000, and by Art. 2 the duration of its redemption was not to exceed 13 years from 1st January, 1871.
  5. ↑ No such Convention has been made, and the duties originally entrusted to the Riverain Commission have been entrusted to the European Commission by the Treaty of 1883 (Texts, No. VIII).
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