840.70/12–944: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
London, December 9,
1944.
[Received December 9—4:45 p.m.]
10927. The following is draft of optional annex to EITO agreement:
- “1. Every member government signatory hereto undertakes,
subject to paragraph 5,18 to assume and
maintain such powers of control over all inland vessels which
belong to persons or bodies under its authority as will enable
it to direct each vessel’s use so as to give effect to paragraph
6 of Article VIII of the agreement.19
- “2. Every member government signatory hereto undertakes to
assume and maintain such powers of control over the facilities
for inland shipping available in territories under their
authority in Continental Europe as may be necessary to achieve
the general purposes of the organization.
- “3. So far as is consistent with the recommendations of the
organization in respect of the provision of inland vessels
required for traffic of common concern, every member government
signatory hereto may allocate inland vessels under its own
authority wholly to cover the essential requirements of its own
domestic trade or of its own imports.
- “4. The allocation of inland shipping and, if necessary,
shipping space for purposes of traffic of common concern shall
be determined by the organization in consultation with the
governments concerned and shall be appropriate to meet the
requirements prevailing in each particular area of Continental
Europe. Due account shall be taken in making this allocation of
the particulars of the vessel, its equipment and crew.
- “5. Every member government signatory hereto agrees not to
release from control any inland vessels under its authority or
permit them to be employed in international traffic for purposes
outside the scope of the organization, except by agreement with
the organization, and then only in accordance with a mutually
acceptable formula which shall not discriminate against the
commercial inland shipping interests of any member government
signatory hereto and shall extend
[Page 902]
to all these countries an equitable
opportunity for their inland vessels to engage in commercial
trades.
- “6. The terms of remuneration to be paid by the users of
inland vessels for traffic of common concern shall be worked out
by the organization in agreement with the governments and/or the
authorities concerned on a fair and reasonable basis in such
manner as to give effect to the following two principles:
- (a)
- inland vessels of all flags performing the same or
similar services should receive the same
freights;
- (b)
- inland vessels must be employed as required by the
organization without regard to financial
considerations.”
