§ LORD E. FITZMAURICE (Wilts, Cricklade)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can inform the House how far the works contemplated by Article 57 of the Treaty of Berlin for the removal of the obstacles which the Iron Gates of the Danube place in the way of navigation are now complete; and if the Foreign Office have any report from our Consuls that the charges proposed to be raised by the Austro-Hungarian Government from 1st May on the navigation coming; 1113 up stream are prohibitory; and whether the charges in question purport to be the provisional tax to cover the cost of the works, which the Austro-Hungarian Government is enabled to levy by Article VI. of the Treaty of London, 1871, and Article 57 of the Treaty of Berlin, as a temporary exception to the provisions of Article XV. of the Treaty of Paris, 1856, which declared that there should not be any toll levied solely on the part of the navigation of the river, nor any duty on the goods which may be found on board of vessels; and, if any communications have been received from foreign Powers on the subject?
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. ST. JOHN BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordA communication has been received from the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador at this Court, in which it is stated that the works for regulating the rapids at the Iron Gates on the Danube, which were entrusted to Austria-Hungary under the Treaty of Berlin, were completed in the autumn of last year and opened for navigation. A draft tariff of dues, which the Austro-Hungarian Government proposes to levy in accordance with Article VI. of the Treaty of London of 13th March 1871, was submitted with this communication for the consideration of Her Majesty's Government. These proposals have been submitted to careful examination with a view to their bearing upon treaty stipulations and upon the interests of British shipping, and it is not found that they violate any treaty rights. A dispatch has been received from Her Majesty's Consul-General at Budapesth reporting a discussion which took place on 10th April in the Vienna Chamber of Commerce, when criticisms were passed on the proposed tariff; and it is understood that the date of imposition of the new dues has been postponed by the Hungarian Government. These dues are only of temporary application pending repayment of the cost of the works.