tended the powers of the European Commission for five years from 24th April of that year[1], and also sanctioned the Public Act relating to the navigation of the mouths of the Danube, which had been signed by that Commission at Galatz on 2nd November, 1865, amending and consolidating the Acts previously issued by it[2].
In 1868 the Commissioners contracted a loan, to be paid off before 1st January, 1884, which was guaranteed by all the Powers except Russia, by a Convention signed at Galatz on 30th April of that year[3].
The Treaty of London. By the Treaty of London of 1871[4], Articles 4-7, the powers of the Commission were prolonged to 24th April, 1883, and the neutral character claimed for its establishments and works, by the Navigation Act of 1865, and allowed by the Conference of 1866, was solemnly confirmed.
The Treaty of Berlin. The Treaty of Berlin[5], Articles 52-57, ordered the Danube fortresses to be razed[6], added a representative of Roumania to the European Commission, and extended its powers to Galatz. It also authorized the Commission, with the assistance of Delegates of the Riverain States, to frame regulations for the river above Galatz, as far as the Iron Gates.
The action of the Commission as to the lower Danube, The European Commission lost no time in acting under the powers given to it by the Treaty.
I. With reference to the lower river, it amended the Navigation Act of 1865 by an 'Additional Act,' signed on 28th
- ↑ Prot. (3), Parl. Papers, 1867, United Principalities, p. 20; N.R.G. xviii, p. 178.
- ↑ See the Act in Parl. Papers, 1878, Turkey, No. 29, p. 22; N.R.G. xviii, 144; infra, Texts, No. IV. As modified by the 'Acte Additionel' of 1881 (Texts, No. VII) it is still in force. The règlements annexed to the Act have been modified, in 1870 (N.R.G. xx, 401) and 1875 (N.R.G., 2me Série, vi, 573). Jurisdiction for the purposes of the Act was conferred upon British Consuls by an Order in Council, under the Foreign Jurisdiction Acts, of 9th April, 1866.
- ↑ Parl. Papers, 1868; N.R.G. xviii, 156. The Stat. 31 and 32 Vict. c. 126 authorizes Her Majesty to carry out this Convention.
- ↑ Texts, No. V.
- ↑ Texts, No. VI.
- ↑ The Congress (Prot. 11) had rejected the proposal of Austria that the whole river below the Iron Gates should be 'neutralised.'
