[Sound Dues.] No.278.-TREATY between Great Britain, Austria, Belgium, France, Hanover, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Oldenburg, the Netherlands, Prussia, Russia, Sweden and Norway, and the Hans Towns, on the one part, and Denmark, on the other part, for the Redemption of the Sound Dues.* Signed at Copenhagen, 14th March, 1857. 1. Abolition of Sound Duties on Vessels passing from the North Sea to the Baltic. Reservation as to Powers not Parties to Treaty. Abolition of all Taxes on Commerce and Navigation. 2. Maintenance of Lights and Lighthouses. Change and Increase of Lights, Lighthouses, Buoys, Beacons, and Sea-marks when necessary. Pilotage to be Optional, and Charges the same as for Danish Vessels. Permission to Danes and foreigners to establish Tugs for Towing Vessels. List of Articles to be Exempt from Duties. Fixed Transit Duties. Reduction of Transit Duties. Convention to be concluded with Sweden and Norway for the Maintenance of Lighthouses. 3. Engagements to commence on the 1st April, 1857. 4. Compensation to be made to Denmark. 5. Payments to be made by Instalments. 6. Separate Engagements to be made by each Contracting Power. 7. Execution of Reciprocal Engagements. 8. Ratifications. Protocol. Right of Denmark to charge Duties on Vessels of such Powers as shall not have concluded separate Treaties on the 1st April. Verification of Nationality. Provisional Reduction of Transit Dues to commence from 1st April, 1857. (Translation as laid before Parliament.†) HER Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, His Majesty the Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary and Bohemia, His Majesty the King of the Belgians, * Separate Treaties were also signed with Portugal, on the 12th November, 1858; with Sardinia, on the 25th November, 1857; with the Sicilies, on the 2nd January, 1858; with Spain, on the 25th February, 1860; with Turkey, on the 15th March, 1859; and with The United States, on the 11th April, 1857. For French Version, see "State Papers," vol. xlvii, p. 24. |