TRANSIT, PORTS, WATERWAYS.
Germany shall grant freedom of transit through her territories by mail
or water to persons, goods, from or to any of the Allied and
Associated Powers without customs or restrictions. The powers shall
have equal rights with her own nationals in her ports and waterways.
Free zones existing in German ports on August 1, 1914, must be
maintained with due facilities as to warehouses, etc., without charge
except for use and administration.
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, and will be
placed under international commissions.
The Rhine is placed under a central commission to meet at Strassburg,
within six months of the peace. Germany must give France all rights to
take water to feed canals between the two extreme points of her
frontiers. She must also hand over all drafts and designs for this
part of the river.
Belgium is permitted to build a Rhine-Meuse canal, Germany to
construct the part within her territory. The Central Rhine Commission
may extend its jurisdiction over the lower Moselle, upper Rhine and
lateral canals. Germany must cede to the Allied and Associated
Governments certain vessels and facilities on all these rivers as
specified by an arbiter named by the United States.
In addition to most-favored-nation treatment on her railways, Germany
agrees to cooperate in through-ticket services between Allied,
Associated, and other states, to allow the construction of
improvements and to conform her rolling stock to enable its
incorporation in trains of the Allied and Associated Powers.
CZECHO-SLOVAKIA.
To assure Czecho-Slovakia access to the sea toward the Adriatic she
may run her own through trains to Fiume and Trieste. Germany will
lease her spaces in Hamburg and Stettin, the detail to be worked out
by a commission.
THE KIEL CANAL.
The Kiel Canal shall be free and open to all ships of all nations at
peace with Germany; subjects, goods, ships to be treated on terms of
absolute equality, and no taxes may be imposed but those necessary for
upkeep and improvement.