FREEDOM OF TRANSIT.
[Sidenote: Germany may not discriminate against allied or associated
powers.]
Germany must grant freedom of transit through her territories by mail or
water to persons, goods, ships, carriages, and mails from or to any of
the allied or associated powers, without customs or transit duties,
undue delays, restrictions, or discriminations based on nationality,
means of transport, or place of entry or departure. Goods in transit
shall be assured all possible speed of journey, especially perishable
goods. Germany may not divert traffic from its normal course in favor of
her own transport routes or maintain "control stations" in connection
with transmigration traffic. She may not establish any tax
discrimination against the ports of allied or associated powers; must
grant the latter's seaports all factors and reduced tariffs granted her
own or other nationals, and afford the allied and associated powers
equal rights with those of her own nationals in her ports and waterways,
save that she is free to open or close her maritime coasting trade.
FREE ZONES IN PORTS
[Sidenote: Existing free zones to be maintained.]
Free zones existing in German ports on August 1, 1914, must be
maintained with due facilities as to warehouses, packing, and shipping,
without discrimination, and without charges except for expenses of
administration and use. Goods leaving the free zones for consumption in
Germany and goods brought into the free zones from Germany shall be
subject to the ordinary import and export taxes.
INTERNATIONAL RIVERS.
The Elbe from the junction of the Ultava, the Ultava from Prague, the
Oder from Oppa, the Niemen from Grodno, and the Danube from Ulm are
declared International, together with their connections.
[Sidenote: Appeal to a special tribunal under international
commissions.]
The riparian states must ensure good conditions of navigation within
their territories unless a special organization exists therefor.
Otherwise appeal may be had to a special tribunal of the League of
Nations, which also may arrange for a general international waterways
convention.
The Elbe and the Oder are to be placed under international commissions
to meet within three months, that for the Elbe composed of four
representatives of Germany, two from Czecho-Slovakia, and one each from
Great Britain, France, Italy, and Belgium; and that for the Oder
composed of one each from Poland, Russia, Czecho-Slovakia, Great
Britain, France, Denmark, and Sweden. If any riparian state on the
Niemen should so request of the League of Nations, a similar commission
shall be established there. These commissions shall upon request of any
riparian state meet within three months to revise existing international
agreement.
THE DANUBE.
[Sidenote: Representatives in European Danube Commission.]
The European Danube Commission reassumes its pre-war powers, but for the
time being with representatives of only Great Britain, France, Italy,
and Rumania. The upper Danube is to be administered by a new
international commission until a definitive statute be drawn up at a
conference of the powers nominated by the allied and associated
governments within one year after the peace.
The enemy governments shall make full reparations for all war damages
caused to the European Commission; shall cede their river facilities in
surrendered territory, and give Czecho-Slovakia, Serbia, and Rumania any
rights necessary on their shores for carrying on improvements in
navigation.
THE RHINE AND THE MOSELLE
[Sidenote: The Rhine is under the Central Commission.]
The Rhine is placed under the Central Commission to meet at Strassbourg
within six months after the peace, and to be composed of four
representatives of France, which shall in addition select the President,
four of Germany, and two each of Great Britain, Italy, Belgium,
Switzerland, and the Netherlands. Germany must give France on the course
of the Rhine included between the two extreme points of her frontiers
all rights to take water to feed canals, while herself agreeing not to
make canals on the right bank opposite France. She must also hand over
to France all her drafts and designs for this part of the river.
RHINE-MEUSE CANAL
[Sidenote: Plan for a Rhine-Meuse Canal.]
Belgium is to be permitted to build a deep draft Rhine-Meuse canal if
she so desires within twenty-five years, in which case Germany must
construct the part within her territory on plans drawn by Belgium,
similarly the interested allied governments may construct a Rhine-Meuse
canal, both, if constructed, to come under the competent international
commission. Germany may not object if the Central Rhine Commission
desires to extend its jurisdiction over the lower Moselle, the upper
Rhine, or lateral canals.
[Sidenote: Facilities for navigation to be ceded.]
Germany must cede to the allied and associated governments certain tugs,
vessels, and facilities for navigation on all these rivers, the specific
details to be established by an arbiter named by the United States.
Decision will be based on the legitimate needs of the parties concerned
and on the shipping traffic during the five years before the war. The
value will be included in the regular reparation account. In the case
of the Rhine shares in the German navigation companies and property such
as wharves and warehouses held by Germany in Rotterdam at the outbreak
of the war must be handed over.
RAILWAYS.
[Sidenote: Communication by rail to be assured.]
Germany, in addition to most favored nation treatment on her railways,
agrees to cooperate in the establishment of through ticket services for
passengers and baggage; to ensure communication by rail between the
allied, associated, and other States; to allow the construction or
improvement within twenty-five years of such lines as necessary; and to
conform her rolling stock to enable its incorporation in trains of the
allied or associated powers. She also agrees to accept the denunciation
of the St. Gothard convention if Switzerland and Italy so request, and
temporarily to execute instructions as to the transport of troops and
supplies and the establishment of postal and telegraphic service, as
provided.
CZECHO-SLOVAKIA
[Sidenote: Access to the sea on north and south.]
To assure Czecho-Slovakia access to the sea, special rights are given
her both north and south. Toward the Adriatic she is permitted to run
her own through trains to Fiume and Trieste. To the north, Germany is to
lease her for ninety-nine years spaces in Hamburg and Stettin, the
details to be worked out by a commission of three representing
Czecho-Slovakia, Germany, and Great Britain.
THE KIEL CANAL.
[Sidenote: Open to ships of all nations at peace with Germany.]
The Kiel Canal is to remain free and open to war and merchant ships of
all nations at peace with Germany, subjects, goods and ships of all
States are to be treated on terms of absolute equality, and no taxes to
be imposed beyond those necessary for upkeep and improvement for which
Germany is to be responsible. In case of violation of or disagreement as
to those provisions, any State may appeal to the League of Nations, and
may demand the appointment of an international commission. For
preliminary hearing of complaints Germany shall establish a local
authority at Kiel.