[Navigation of the Danube.]

No. 600.-DECLARATION of the Plenipotentiaries of Great Britain, Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, and Turkey,* for the Maintenance of the European Commission of the Danube, between the 24th April, 1883, and the date of the exchange of the Ratifications of the Treaty of 10th March, 1883. London, 23rd April, 1883.

(Translation.)

THE Powers who were Parties to the Treaties of the 13th July, 1878 (No. 530), and of the 10th March, 1883 (No. 599), being desirous of removing all doubts with regard to the maintenance of the European Commission of the Danube between the 24th April, 1883,† and the date of the exchange of the ratifications of the Treaty of the 10th March, 1883 (No. 599);

The Plenipotentiaries of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the French Republic, Great Britain and Ireland, Italy, Russia, and Turkey, have assembled this day in Conference at the Foreign Office in London, and have determined upon the following Declaration:

"The Powers, who were Parties to the Treaty of 13th July 1878 (No. 530), having agreed, under the terms of the 54th Article of the said Treaty, on the prolongation of the powers of the European Commission of the Danube, and on the modifications which it is necessary to introduce therein, have come to an understanding that the European Commission of the Danube is maintained in its functions and in the exercise of all its powers, as they existed at the date of the Treaty of the 10th March, 1883 (No. 599), up to the date of the exchange of the ratifications of this last named Treaty."

In faith whereof the said Plenipotentiaries have signed the

* Rendered nugatory by the exchange of the Ratifications of the Treaty of 10th March, 1883 (No. 599).

The date fixed by Art. IV of the Treaty of 13th March, 1871 (No. 439).

The Turkish Plenipotentiary did not sign this Declaration.

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present Declaration, and have affixed thereto the Seal of their Arms.

Done at London, the 23rd April, 1883.

(L.S.) MÜNSTER.

(L.S.) KÁROLYI.

(L.S.) TISSOT.

(L.S.) GRANVILLE.

(L.S.) NIGRA.

(L.S.) MOHRENHEIM.

[The Ratifications were exchanged between Great Britain, Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, and Italy, on the 21st August, 1883 (page 3120); between Great Britain, &c., and Russia, on the 24th August, 1883 (page 3121); and between Great Britain, &c., and Turkey. on the 25th October, 1883 (page 3122).]

[Railways.]

No. 601.-RAILWAY CONVENTION between AustriaHungary, Turkey, Servia, and Bulgaria, in execution of Articles X, XXI, and XXXVIII of the Treaty of Berlin (No. 530). Signed at Vienna, 9th May, 1883.

6. Technical Studies. Preparatory Works. Concessions or Tenders.

7. Customs Control. Passengers and Goods Traffic. Frontier and Transit Stations.

8. Uniformity, of Systems.

9. Transport Rates. Public Taxes. Treatment of Goods Imported.

10. Traffic for Conveyance of Goods, &c.

11. Direct Communication between Principal Stations. Charges.

12. Indirect Communications.

13. Guarantee of Service against all Obstruction or Hindrance.

THE Government of His Imperial Majesty the Sultan, the Government of His Majesty the Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, &c., and Apostolic King of Hungary, the Government of His Majesty the King of Servia, and the Government of His Highness the Prince of Bulgaria, actuated by a desire to favour and regulate the traffic between their territories by completing the railway junctions contemplated by Articles X, XXI, and XXXVIII of the Treaty of Berlin (No. 530) have resolved to conclude a Convention, and, with this view, have named as their Plenipotentiaries respectively:-[Here follow the names of the Plenipotentiaries.]

Lines to be Constructed.

ART. I. In pursuance of the stipulations laid down in Articles X, XXI, and XXXVIII of the Treaty of Berlin

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(No. 530), the Contracting Parties undertake to construct and unite, and open for traffic simultaneously on the 15th October, 1886, the lines set forth in Articles II, III, IV, and V, hereinafter recited, in conformity with the provisions of the present Convention.

Austrian Undertaking.

ART. II. The Imperial and Royal Government of AustriaHungary undertakes to construct and unite and open for traffic simultaneously on the above-mentioned date, the 15th October, 1886, a junction from Buda-Pesth, by Semlin, to the ServoHungarian frontier at Belgrade.

Turkish Undertaking.

ART. III. The Imperial Ottoman Government undertakes to construct and unite and open for traffic simultaneously on the above-mentioned date, the 15th October, 1886:

§1. The connection of the line already existing from Constantinople-Bellova with the line to be made from Nisch, by Sophia, to the Turco-Bulgarian frontier.

§2. A branch line which shall break off near Pristina, or from such other point of the already existing Salonica-Mitrovitza line as shall be found suitable by the Imperial Ottoman authorities, and which shall lead, according to a route judged most suitable by common consent, to the Turco-Servian frontier so as to join the Servian line shown in §3 of Article IV following.

Servian Undertaking.

ART. IV. The Imperial and Royal Servian Government undertakes to construct and unite and open for traffic simultaneously on the above-mentioned date, the 15th October, 1886:

§1. The line from Belgrade to Nisch, joining the Hungarian line near Belgrade.

§2. A connecting line from Nisch to the Servo-Bulgarian frontier, viâ Pirot, to Bellova, in the direction of Constantinople.

§3. A connecting line from Nisch by Vranja to a point on the Servo-Turkish frontier, to be settled by common consent, so as to effect a junction with the Turkish line shown in Section 2 of Article III.

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Bulgarian Undertaking.

ART. V. The Government of the Bulgarian Principality undertakes to construct and unite and open for traffic simultaneously on the above-mentioned date, the 15th October, 1886, a railway connecting the line to be constructed by Servia from Nisch, viâ Pirot, to the Servo-Bulgarian frontier, and which shall lead from the aforesaid frontier by Tzaribrod and Sophia to the Turco-Bulgarian frontier, so as to join the ConstantinopleBellova line which shall be brought up to this point.

ART. VI. Technical Studies. Preparatory Works. Concessions on Tenders.

ART. VII. Customs Control. Passengers and Goods Traffic. Frontier and Transit Stations.

ART. VIII. Uniformity of Systems.

ART. IX. Transport Rates.

Goods Imported.

Public Taxes.

Treatment of

ART. X. Tariff for Conveyance of Goods, &c.

ART. XI. Direct Communication between Principal Stations.

Charges.

ART. XII. Indirect Communications.

ART. XIII. Guarantee of Service against all Obstruction or Hindrance.

ART. XIV. Sanitary Regulations.

ART. XV. Arrangements for Working and Traffic.

ART. XVI. Customs Formalities. Facilities for Traffic.

ART. XVII. Posts and Telegraphs.

ART. XVIII. Frontier Police.

ART. XIX. Local Control.

Revision of Convention.

ART. XX. In the case where one of the Contracting Parties, after the expiration of the tenth year reckoning from the day of the exchange of ratifications, should demand a revision of the present Convention, the Delegates of the Contracting Parties shall meet for this purpose at Vienna, at the invitation of the Imperial and Royal Government.

It is understood that the Contracting Parties reserve the right to introduce at any time, by common consent, into this * Ratifications exchanged 23rd October, 1883.