840.70/10–1244: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 12—1:15 p.m.]
8631. For Berle from EITO Delegation. The Soviet Delegation have suggested the omission of section 12 of Article VII of the draft EITO agreement which deals with international waterways. The French Delegation have proposed to amend it to read as follows:
“The organization would act in the manner indicated in section 11 in the matter of international waterways.”
In a meeting Monday night the Soviet Delegation stated that they objected to the proposed organization initiating the establishment of administrations for international waterways as in some cases international regimes for such waterways had not previously existed but in other cases, for example the Danube, the question of the rightful regime was a matter for separate consideration. The United Kingdom and United States Delegations have so far reserved their positions on this point.
The Foreign Office tells us that a short time ago it suggested, through the British Embassies in Washington and Moscow, that a provisional international administration be set up as soon as possible for the Danube52 and that such an administration would be required [Page 823] to take into account any future international agreements, presumably such as EITO, which might be made.
It is believed that the whole question of international waterways, including the Danube, has definite political implications and that the political aspects of the matter may be discussed at the coming EITO meetings. The Department’s instructions on this point are therefore urgently requested. [EITO Delegation.]