870.811/208: Telegram
The Chargé in Germany (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 14—11 a.m.]
4006. My 3844, September 1, 1 p.m. The latest issue of the Foreign Office DDPK15 discusses the International Danube Commission which it states has now ceased to exist “by reason of a joint decision of the countries directly concerned.” It is emphasized that the participation of the Western Powers in the control of the Danube above Braila was a relic of Versailles which gave them an un justified political influence in the Balkans and enabled them to commit intolerable acts of sabotage early this year. Pending a final settlement of the Danubian problem it is stated that all necessary measures to insure the safety of [Page 511] shipping on this vital waterway are being taken by the experts who recently met at Vienna.
Similar comment in the Dienst aus Deutschland and the Frankfurter Zeitung also points out that the mouths of the Danube below Braila are subject to a separate arrangement which, since March 1939 has been placed almost entirely under the sovereign control of Rumania.16 It is further stated that the provisional measures taken at the Vienna meeting constitute a step toward the new order in this part of Europe and will be supplemented by further meetings.
As far as the Embassy is aware there has been no public mention of the delivery of a note on the matter by the Soviet Government to the German Government which has been repeated by radio.17
- Deutsche diplomatisch-politische Korrespondenz, press releases of the German Foreign Ministry.↩
- For information regarding the modifications made at this time in the European Commission of the Danube, see Foreign Relations, The Paris Peace Conference, 1919, vol. xiii, p. 667.↩
- For report of the first public announcement, see telegram No. 1157, September 13, from the Chargé in the Soviet Union, p. 507.↩