quotes the words in which that Plenipotentiary had recommended to the Conference in its first sitting the revision of the stipulations of the Treaty of Paris relative to the Black Sea, founding his argument in favour of the revision of these stipulations on their restrictive character, which is calculated to maintain a state of uneasiness between Russia and Turkey.

Count de Bernstorff replies, that he has not altered his views on the subject; but that the principal object of his Government has been to contribute in bringing about a general understanding between the Powers who signed the Treaty of Paris of 1856, and that his instructions direct him to make every effort to attain this object.

The Ambassador of Turkey, after having remarked that his instructions were very peremptory as regards the proposed amendment, declares that, deferring to the desire expressed by the other Plenipotentiaries, he will refer the matter to his Court.

Passing to the question of the freedom and navigation of the Danube, the Plenipotentiary of Austria-Hungary remarks that this question was settled by the Treaty of Paris at the same time as that of the neutralization of the Black Sea. He says that this circumstance confirms the close connection which exists between these two questions, and this it is which has induced the Austro-Hungarian Government to submit to the Conference two proposals, which he recommends the more to their attention as they are intended to facilitate the settlement of two questions equally urgent; one, that of the Riverain Commission, the meetings of which have been suspended for a number of years; the other that of the works to be executed at the passage of the "Iron Gates" and of the "Cataracts," and which are imperatively required by the interests of commerce and navigation.

Count d'Apponyi has thought it best to put these two proposals in the form of Articles, intended to modify those in the Treaty of Paris which relate to the question of the Danube.

These Articles would be of the following tenor, and should necessarily precede Article IV of the present Draft, which stipulates that all the arrangements of the Treaty of March 30, 1856, which have not been abrogated or modified, preserve their full validity:

"ARTICLE (A).

"The conditions of the re-assembling of the Riverain Commission, established by Article XVII of the Treaty of Paris of March 30, 1856, shall be fixed by a previous agreement between the Riverain Powers, and in so far as any modification of Article XVII of the said Treaty may be involved, by a special Convention between the 'co-signatory Powers.

"Having regard to the interests of commerce, to the urgency and magnitude of the works necessary to remove the impediments and dangers which interfere with the navigation of the Danube in the passage of the Cataracts and the Iron Gates, His Majesty the Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary will arrange with his co-riverains of that part of the river as to the technical and financial conditions of an operation designed to remove the above-mentioned impediments by means of works to be undertaken by the Imperial and Royal Government.

The rule established by Article XV of the Treaty of Paris, to wit, that there shall not be levied any toll founded solely upon the fact of the navigation of the river, is declared inapplicable to the works considered necessary in the above-mentioned part of the river, undertaken by the States possessing the shores of that part of the river at their own expense.

"The toll to be levied eventually shall be equal for all flags. Its produce shall only serve to cover the expenses of interest and redemption of the capital employed in the said works, and it shall cease to be levied as soon as the capital shall have been repaid."

The President proposes to substitute for the last sentence of Article (B) beginning with the words: "Its produce, &c.," the following amendment:

"Its amount and the conditions under which it shall be applied shall be arranged and fixed in agreement with the European Powers represented by their Delegates. It shall be fixed so as to cover the expenses of interest and redemption of the capital employed in the said works, and so as not to impose on commerce a burden greater than it now bears. It shall cease to be levied as soon as the capital shall have been repaid."

The Plenipotentiary of Italy observes that the toll being established to reimburse the expenses of the works to be executed in the Danube, it ought not to be imposed upon. ships which do not pass through the places where the works have been executed, and which would not profit by these same works. He inquires whether it is the intention of the Plenipotentiary who has proposed this Article, and of the Plenipotentiaries who may be disposed to accept it, to establish the toll so that it may not fall on ships which do not pass the parts of the river in which the works shall have been executed.

All the Plenipotentiaries acknowledge the justice of the principle laid down by the Plenipotentiary of Italy.

The Plenipotentiary of Russia stated that the works mentioned in Article (B) are contained in a district placed entirely without the habitual limits of the commercial and industrial activity of Russia, and that, consequently, the Imperial Government cannot undertake any share in the expenses of establishment or the financial guarantees which may result from those works.

This observation met with no objection on the part of the members of the Conference.

The Plenipotentiary of Great Britain proposes that the following Article, having for its object the prolongation of the European Commission of the Danube, shall also be inserted in the Draft of Treaty :

"ARTICLE.

"The Commission established by Article XVI of the Treaty of Paris, in which the Powers who joined in signing that Treaty are each represented by a Delegate, and which was charged with the designation and execution of the works necessary below Isaktcha, 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 in its present composition; the limits of its competence are extended up to the port of Ibraila, in order to provide for a for a purely commercial requirement, and without this extension being open to be interpreted as a precedent for future extensions. Its duration is fixed for a further period of twenty-six years, counting from the 24th April, 1871, being the term of the redemption of the loan contracted by that Commission under the guarantee of Germany, Austria, France, Great Britain, Italy, and Turkey, and of the repayment of the advances made by Turkey to the Commission."

Lord Granville, in proposing this Article, says that the combination which he would have preferred to any would have been the indefinite prolongation of the European Commission; but that as this opinion met with numerous objections, he confined himself to proposing a prolongation of twenty-six years, a term which he believes to be necessary to finish the great works which remain to be executed at the mouths of the Danube.

The Plenipotentiaries of Germany and Italy declare that they have no instructions as to the extension of the limits of the European Commission to Ibraila, and the Plenipo tentiary of Russia joins in this declaration.

As to the duration of the Commission, the Plenipotentiary of Italy says that he is authorized to give his vote for either of the two terms proposed by Lord Granville.

The Plenipotentiary of Germany declares that his instructions would also permit him to vote even for the indefinite prolongation of the term, if all the other Plenipotentiaries were of this opinion, but that since there are some of them who could only accept a prolongation of twelve years, he must confine himself to this latter term.

The Plenipotentiaries of Austria Hungary and of Russia, announce that their instructions direct them not to consent to a longer term than that of twelve years.

The Plenipotentiary of Turkey says that he accepts the principle of the prolongation of the powers of the European Commission of the Danube, but that he has no instructions as to the term of that prolongation. He is equally without instructions as regards the extension of the limits of the European Commission and with regard to the question of the works to be carried out in the Danube. He will request instructions from his Government on these various points.

The President then consents to the insertion of the term of twelve years in the Article in question, and proposes the Article in the shape in which it is reproduced in the Annex, expressing at the same time a hope that at the next meeting the other Plenipotentiaries will find themselves in a position to consent to the prolongation being for twenty-six years, as well as to the extension to Ibraila which has been discussed.

The President adds that he continues to regret greatly the absence of a French Plenipotentiary, and that he has done all in his power to obtain the co-operation of c

France. He has made use of the permission which the Conference has been so good as to grant him to inform the Chargé d'Affaires of France of all that has passed, as well before as after each of their sittings. He is inclined to hope that the French Government will give its assent subsequently to the decisions of the Conference; and, as regards the prolongation of the European Commission of the Danube, he knows that that Government only a short time ago made no objection to it. He has no reason to believe in any change of views in this respect.

To facilitate the labours of the Plenipotentiaries, the Draft of Treaty which has been under discussion in the present sitting, with the Additional Articles, and the amendments respectively proposed by Earl Granville and Count Apponyi, with the exception of the amendment proposed by Lord Granville at the end of Article (B), is annexed to the present Protocol. Besides the Additional Articles above mentioned, there are two others (IX and X) relating to the form and ratification of the Treaty, and to the invitation to be addressed to the French Government to accede to it, followed by an "Annex to the Treaty" on the abrogation of the stipulations of the Convention between Russia and the Sublime Porte, relative to the vessels of war of those two Powers in the Black Sea.

It is agreed that when the Articles of the Treaty have received the assent of the Powers represented in the Conference, they shall be signed by the Plenipotentiaries in a Protocol ad hoc, to be incorporated subsequently in a formal Treaty, according to the terms of Article IX of the Draft.

The further discussion of the Articles is deferred to Tuesday the 7th of February at 1 o'clock.

CADORNA.

BRUNNOW.

MUSURUS.

ANNEX.

Draft of Treaty.

ARTICLE I.

The Black Sea remains open, as heretofore, to the mercantile marine of all nations.

ARTICLE II.

The principle of the closing of the Straits of the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles in time of peace, invariably established as the ancient rule of the Ottoman Empire, and confirmed by the Treaty of Paris of March 30, 1856, remains in full force.

ARTICLE III.

His Imperial Majesty the Sultan, by virtue of the right of sovereignty which he exercises over the Straits of the Bosphorus and of the Dardanelles, reserves to himself in time of peace the power of opening them, by way of temporary exception, in case only that the interests of the security of his Empire should cause him to recognize the necessity of the presence of the vessels of war of the non-riverain Powers of the Black Sea.

ARTICLE IV.

It is agreed that the stipulation contained in the preceding Article shall for the future replace those of Articles XI, XIII, and XIV of the Treaty of Paris of March 30, 1856, as well as the Special Convention concluded between the Sublime Porte and Russia, and annexed to the said Article XIV.

ARTICLE V.

The Commission established by Article XVI of the Treaty of Paris, in which the Powers who joined in signing that Treaty are each represented by a delegate, and which was charged with the designation and execution of the works necessary below Isaktcha, 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 in its present composition; the limits of its competence are extended up to the port of Ibraila, in order to provide for a purely commercial requirement and without this extension being open to be interpreted as a precedent for future extensions. Its duration is fixed for a further period of twelve years, counting from the 24th of April, 1871, being the term of the redemption of the loan contracted by that Commission, under the guarantee of Germany, Austria, France, Great Britain, Italy, and Turkey.

ARTICLE VI.

The conditions of the re-assembling of the Riverain Commission, established by Article XVII of the Treaty of Paris of March 30, 1856, shall be fixed by a previous agreement between the riverain Powers, and, in so far as any modification of Article XVII of the said Treaty may be involved, by a Special Convention between the co-signatary Powers.

ARTICLE VII.

Having regard to the interests of commerce, to the urgency and magnitude of the works necessary to remove the impediments and dangers which interfere with the navigation of the Danube in the passage of the Cataracts and of the Iron Gates, His Majesty the Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary will arrange with his co-riverains of that part of the river as to the technical and financial conditions of an operation designed to remove the above-mentioned impediments, by means of works to be undertaken by the Imperial and Royal Government.

The rule established by Article XV of the Treaty of Paris, to wit, that there shall not be levied any toll founded solely upon the fact of the navigation of the river, is declared inapplicable to the works considered necessary in the above-mentioned part of the river, undertaken by the States possessing the shores of that part of the river at their own expense.

The toll to be levied eventually shall be equal for all flags. Its produce shall only serve to cover the expenses of interest and redemption of the capital employed in the said works, and it shall cease to be levied as soon as the capital shall have been repaid.

ARTICLE VIII.

The High Contracting Parties renew and confirm all the stipulations of the Treaty of March 30, 1856, as well as of its Annexes, which are not annulled or modified by the present Treaty.

ARTICLE IX.

The Courts represented by their Plenipotentiaries assembled in Conference in London reserve to themselves to embody the stipulations laid down above in a formal Treaty, the ratifications of which shall be exchanged in London in the space of six weeks after the re-establishment of peace between Germany and France, or sooner if possible.

ARTICLE X.

It is agreed that the Powers who sign it shall bring the said Treaty to the knowledge of the French Government with the invitation to accede to it.

ANNEX TO THE TREATY.

Convention concluded between Russia and the Sublime Porte to abrogate the Stipulations of that signed at Paris, March 18, 1856, relative to the Number and Force of the Vessels of War which the Powers possessing the Coasts shall maintain in the Black Sea.

M. le Président demande à ses collègues s'ils sont maintenant à même de se prononcer sur les Articles du Projet de Traité dont il a été question dans la séance précédente.

M. le Plénipotentiaire Austro-Hongrois répond qu'il est autorisé à donner son assentiment au Projet des Articles dans son ensemble. Dans le cas cependant où des modifications essentielles viendraient à y être apportées, il se réserve de formuler de nouvelles propositions.

M. le Plénipotentiaire de Russie a réitéré l'adhésion qu'il a reçu ordre de donner aux quatre Articles contenus dans le memorandum dont la rédaction a été concertée entre les Plénipotentiaires, à la fin de la séance du 24 Janvier.

Quant aux Articles relatifs à la navigation du Danube, le Baron de Brunnow donne son assentiment à leur insertion dans le texte du Traité, lorsque leur rédaction aura été definitivement arrêtée en Conférence. Mais il ajoute que ses instructions l'autorisent seulement à adhérer à la proposition qui concerne la prolongation de la Commission Européenne pour un espace de douze ans.

En ce qui regarde l'extension projetée de la compétence de la Commission jusqu'au Port d'Ibraila, M. le Baron de Brunnow a constaté qu'il ne possédait aucune instruction à cet égard, et qu'avant d'énoncer une opinion sur le mérite de ce projet, il devait se réserver le temps nécessaire pour solliciter les ordres de sa Cour.

M. le Plénipotentiaire Ottoman dit qu'il attend toujours les instructions de sa Cour, avant de pouvoir se prononcer sur les Articles du Projet.

M. le Plénipotentiaire d'Italie se dit autorisé à appuyer l'extension projetée de la compétence de la Commission Européenne jusqu'à Ibraila; et il confirme l'adhésion qu'il avait déjà donnée aux Articles du Projet de Traité.

M. le Plénipotentiaire d'Allemagne se déclare prêt à adhérer à l'ensemble du Projet de Traité, pourvu toujours que tous les autres membres de la Conférence se décident à l'accepter.

Après avoir paraphé le Projet de Protocole de la séance précédente, MM. les Plénipotentiaires se séparent, en priant M. le Président de vouloir bien fixer le jour de leur prochaine réunion, lorsqu'ils auront été munis des instructions qu'ils attendent de leurs Cours.

THE President inquires of his colleagues whether they are now in a position to pronounce on the Articles of the Draft of Treaty which was discussed in the preceding sitting.