Page:The European Concert in the Eastern Question.djvu/278

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THE BALKAN PENINSULA, ETC.: TEXTS.

Art. I. The line of frontier of Bussia and of Turkey in Bessarabia is, and remains determined in conformity/ with, the topographic map prepared hy the Boundary Commissioners at Kichenew on the 30th of March, 1857 ; which map is annexed to the present Treaty, after having been initialled.

Art. II. The Contracting Powers agree that the islands included between the different branches of the Danube at its mouth, and forming the Delta of that river, as shown by the plan annexed to the Protocol of the 6th of January, 1857, shall, instead of being annexed to the Principality of Moldavia, as implied in the stipulations of Article XXI of the Treaty of Paris, be replaced under the immediate sovereignfy^ of the Sublime Porte, of which they formerly held[1].

Art. III. The Treaty of the 30th of March, 1856, having, like the Treaties previously concluded between Russia and Turkey, been silent with regard to the Isle of Serpents, and the High Contracting Parties having agreed that it teas proper to consider that island as a dependency of the Delta of the Danube, its destination is fixed according to the arrangements of the preceding Article.

Art. IV. In the general interest of maritime commerce, the Sublime Porte engages to maintain on the Isle of Serpents a lighthouse destined to afford security to the navigation of vessels proceeding to the Danube and to the port of Odessa. The Biverain Commission established by Article XVII of the Treaty of the 30th of March, 1856, for the purpose of maintaining the mouths of that river and the neighbouring parts of the sea in a navigable state, will see to the regular performance of the service of such lighthouse[2].

Art. V. The present Treaty shall be ratified, and the ratifications shall be exchanged in four iveeks, or sooner if possible[3].

In witness whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the same, and have affixed thereto the seal of their arms.

  1. See now Art, 46 of the Treaty of Berlin, the Additional Act, Texts, No. VII, and the Treaty of 1883, Texts, No. VIII.
  2. Cf. Art. 56 of the Treaty of Berlin, and Art. 5 of the Additional Act, Texts, No. VII.
  3. The ratifications were exchanged on 31st December, 1857.