Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 60 Part 2.djvu/841

 INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS OTHER THAN TREATIES [60 STAT. October 4 and 29, and November, 1945 Arrangement providingfor participationby the United States of America IT.LA.s.171] in the Central Commission of the Rhine. Effected by exchange of notes signed at London October 4 and 29, and November 5, 1945. The British Secretary of State for ForeignAffairs to the American Ambassador FOREIGN OFFICE, S. W. 1. No. W 12978/142/803. 4th October,1945. Immediate. YouI ExcELLENCY, As Your Excellency is aware, informal discussions have recently taken place in London between representatives of the Governments of the United Kingdom, United States, France, Belgium and the Nether- lands regarding the urgent need for the immediate coordination of all activities undertaken with a view to restoring navigation on the Rhine. As a result of these discussions the representatives agreed to recom- mend to their Governments that the necessary steps should be taken to invite the Central Commission of the Rhine to resume its functions without delay on an emergency and interim basis. It was, of course, understood that the resumption by the Commission of its pre-war func- tions would in no way prejudice the future determination of the per- manent regime of the Rhine. 2. The above mentioned representatives also recommended that while the Commission operated on an interim basis it should include a repre- sentative of the United States Government. They proposed, for the consideration of the Governments concerned, either that the Allied military authorities controlling German riparian territory should be represented at the meetings of the Commission by liaison officers or that the Commission should include a representative of the Allied Control Commission in Germany. Lastly, they proposed that all the Governments and bodies represented on the Commission should have an equal voice in its decisions. 3. I have the honour to enquire whether Your Excellency's Govern- ment are prepared to endorse these recommendations and to propose that, in the event of all the Governments concerned signifying their agreement, His Majesty's Government should on their behalf address a communication to the Chairman of the Central Commission of the Rhine inviting him to summon a meeting of the Commission at an early date. 1932

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