MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the European Commission of the Danube continues to perform the duties imposed on it by Article 16 of the Treaty of Paris, 1856, and Article 53 of the Treaty of Berlin, 1878, to clear the mouths of the Danube and the neighbouring parts of the sea from sands or other impediments, to facilitate the navigation, and to exercise its powers as far as Galatz in complete independence of the territorial authorities; whether there is any foundation for the statements recently made in the Press that Russia, as one of the territorial authorities on one of the banks of the Kilia arm of the river, has objected to the Commission exercising its powers in complete independence of her, and has proposed to exclude it altogether from independent action in the Kilia arm: whether, in view of the great importance of the Kilia arm as commanding the whole trade of the Danube, and as affecting the prosperity of Roumania, Her Majesty's Government will use its influence to cause that arm to be kept clear 342 and open for navigation; and whether any Papers relating to the subject can be laid upon the Table of the House?
§ * SIR E. GREYI am afraid I can only again refer the hon. Member to the Treaty of London of 1883 for details connected with the Kilia branch of the Danube. We have no reason to suppose that the Russians intend to undertake any operations as regards the Kilia mouth, and Her Majesty's Government see no reason for raising any question connected with the European Commission of the Danube at the present time. Reports are received from Her Majesty's Representative on the Commission from time to time, but they deal mainly with details connected with the navigation of the river, and there will be no object in laying them upon the Table of the House.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESAm I to understand that under the Berlin Act of 1883 the general powers of the Commission are maintained? Is it not a fact that a, Protocol attached to the Treaty especially affirms this right?
§ * SIR E. GREYI have not a copy of the Treaty before me. If the hon. Member has read the Treaty I will accept his statement that he is quoting it correctly.