NAVIGATION ON DANUBE

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24913, 28 June 1946, Page 7

NAVIGATION ON DANUBE

PROPOSAL BY BEVIN TO MINISTERS RUMANIAN TREATY DISCUSSED (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, June 26. “The Big Four Foreign Ministers, at an afternoon meeting, discussed freedom of navigation on the Danube, restitution for United Nations property in Rumania, restoration of United Nations property, and a general economic clause,” says Reuter’s Paris correspondent. “Mr Bevin proposed that the Big Four sign a declaration that commercial navigation on the Danube and its tributaries would be free and open to all nations. He qualified it by saying that as long as the Allied forces remained in the Danubian countries the principle should be operated in accordance with the zonal commanders’ navigational instructions. “Mr Bevin proposed that the Big Four should be pledged to take all necessary steps to secure the Danubian States’ adherence to such a four-Power declaration. He said his proposal had been made following consideration of Russian objections to the inclusion of a freedom of navigation clause in the Rumanian treaty. He hoped his suggestion would be a satisfactory compromise. “Mr Byrnes said he would agree to Mr Bevin’s proposal If Russia and France also agreed. He added that if the British proposal were not accepted he would continue to insist on the inclusion of a freedom of navigation clause in the Rumanian treaty. “Mr Molotov said he would need more time to study the British proposal, but said he thought the matter should not be decided by the Big Four without hearing the views of the Danubian States. “The matter was then deferred to b .ve Mr Molotov an opportunity of studying it. “On the question of restitution for United Nations property in Rumania, Mr Molotov suggested that the clause should merely state that restitution would be accomplished in accordance with any past or future bilateral agreements on the subject between Rumania and any. of the United Nations. Mr Byrnes objected, on the ground that the Rumanian treaty would have to be ratified by the United States Senate, which would be unwilling to commit itself to undefined past or future bilateral agreements. Mr Molotov finally amended his proposal and suggested that Rumania should be pledged to the restitution of all identifiable United Nations property. The Ministers agreed to this in principle. When the general economic clause of the Rumanian draft treaty came up for discussion, Mr Molotov asked that the States bordering Rumania be excepted from the most-favoured-natlons clause which was included in the parallel item of the Italian treaty Mr Byrnes said he was opposed to giving any nation a privileged economic position in a former enemy satellite country. Mr Molotov pointed out that the United States had special trade arrangements with Cuba and the Philhppines. Mr Byrnes replied that those arrangements were designed to help Cuba and the" Philippines and contained provisions for the Eventual elimination of privileged status. No agreement was reached on the economic clause.