Council of Foreign Ministers Files: Lot M–88: CFM London Documents
Memorandum by the Soviet Union Delegation to the Council of Foreign Ministers
Provisional Navigation Regime for European Inland Waterways
In view of the necessity for increasing traffic along the European Inland Waterways, the Governments of the U.S.S.R., the United Kingdom, the U.S.A. and France, being Governments charged with the responsibility for occupation and control of enemy states in Europe, have agreed to the following:—
on the rivers rhine, elbe, oder and danube
1. The right to navigate the rivers Rhine, Elbe, Oder and Danube for the duration of the regime of occupation shall be enjoyed by the [Page 325] merchant ships of the above-mentioned states and all the riparian states.
2. The securing of facilities for shipping for the duration of the occupation shall be carried out under the direction and control of the respective Allied Commanders-in-Chief.
on the kiel canal
3. The securing of facilities for shipping along the Kiel Canal shall be carried out under the direction of the Control Council for Germany which ought to consider this matter in the near future.