Office of the Historian

C.F.M. Files: Lot M–88: Box 2061: CFM Documents

Proposal by the United Kingdom Delegation at the Council of Foreign Ministers24

secret
C.F.M.(46) 148
Paris, 25 June, 1946.

The Danube

declaration to be made by the governments of the u.s.a., u.k., u.s.s.r. and france

The Government of the U.S.A., U.K., U.S.S.R. and France hereby declare their intention that, in the interests of world peace and world commerce, navigation on the Danube, its navigable tributaries and the canals connected therewith, shall be maintained in such a way as to be free and open on terms of complete equality to the nationals, vessels of commerce and goods of all states. So long however as Allied forces protecting the lines of communication to Austria are stationed on the Danube this principle shall be operated in accordance with such navigational instructions as may be issued by the officers commanding such forces in the respective zones of occupation.

[Page 630]

The four Governments will accordingly for their part act in conformity with this principle and will also take the necessary steps to secure the adherence of all the riparian states of the Danube to this Declaration.

  1. Considered by the Council of Foreign Ministers at its 27th and 30th Meetings, June 26 and June 29, 1946; see the United States Delegation Records of those meetings, pp. 630 and 683, respectively.↩