Commissions of the Danube River facts for kids
The Commissions of the Danube River were special groups created after the Crimean War ended in 1856. They were set up by the Treaty of Paris (1856). One of the most important of these was the European Commission of the Danube, often called the CED. This commission was in charge of the three main river mouths where the Danube flows into the sea: the Chilia, Sulina, and St. George. It was only supposed to last for two years, but it ended up working for 82 years!
Another group, the International Danube Commission (IDC), was meant to manage trade and improvements further up the river, beyond the Danube Delta. This commission was supposed to be permanent, but it didn't really get started until after 1918.
Contents
- Why the Commissions Were Important
- How the Commissions Started
- Money Matters
- The Public Act of 1865
- London Conference of 1871
- Treaty of Berlin of 1878
- Additional Public Act of 1881
- Treaty of London of 1883
- First World War and After
- Reorganizing the Commissions
- Rebuilding the River
- Romania's Fight for Control
- The End of the Pre-War Commissions
- See also
Why the Commissions Were Important
The European Commission of the Danube (CED) was very special. For a long time, it was the only international group that had real power over ships and people. It could make rules and even judge cases, almost like a small country itself!
In the 1930s, a history professor named Glen A. Blackburn from the United States called it a "unique" organization. He said that even though it didn't own land, it had power over the Danube River. He also noted that the CED had its own hospital for sailors from all countries and even flew its own flag. This flag had five stripes: red, white, blue, white, and red, with the letters 'C.E.D.' in white on the blue stripe.
Another professor, Edward Krehbiel, thought in 1918 that more groups like the Danube Commission would be created to solve specific problems between countries. He believed these groups could help nations work together instead of competing. He also pointed out that the CED could make decisions by majority vote, which meant that even if some countries disagreed, they had to follow the rules.
Joanne Yao, a researcher, explained that the Danube Commission wanted to connect Europe more closely with the East, especially Russia. By making trade easier on the Danube, they hoped to help Eastern Europe grow and become more modern.
How the Commissions Started
The CED started its work by setting up its main office in the port of Galatz. It quickly began making improvements to the Sulina Branch of the river. Sir John Stokes, a British officer, led the commission. They had a big job: to clear the river mouths and the nearby sea from sand and other things that blocked ships. They were told to finish this work within two years.
After two years, the countries that signed the treaty were supposed to end the CED. The "permanent" IDC, which was for the upper river, was then supposed to take over the Lower Danube too. The IDC was meant to include countries like Austria-Hungary, Bavaria, Turkey, Württemberg, and the two Danubian Principalities (Moldavia and Wallachia).
The IDC did create some rules for the Upper Danube in 1857. However, most countries didn't agree to them, except for Austria. The countries along the river wanted to control it themselves, but other powerful countries didn't want to lose their influence. Because of this, the CED became stronger, and the IDC never really got going.
The CED slowly gained more power. At first, it had no money and didn't know the best way to fix the river problems. Shipping was also very difficult. After two years, Sir Charles Hartley became the chief engineer, a job he held for 49 years! But large ships still struggled to sail easily. So, the countries decided to extend the CED's work for another two years, even though Austria didn't agree.
Money Matters
The CED borrowed money from Turkey to pay for river improvements. But the money didn't always come on time, so the commission sometimes had to take out expensive short-term loans. By 1860, however, more ships were using the river. This allowed the commission to charge a fee for using the river, which brought in a good amount of money.
The Treaty of Paris allowed each country to have two small ships at the Danube's mouth. This helped ensure that ships paid their fees without problems. The CED became a strong financial group that could even borrow money on its own.
In 1866, the commission faced money problems because of the Austro-Prussian War that had just ended. But it managed to get money by selling bonds, using the river tolls as a guarantee. Even though the interest rate was high, it showed that the CED was becoming a truly independent organization. It managed its money well and became financially stable.
The Public Act of 1865
On November 2, 1865, Austria, Britain, France, Italy, Prussia, Russia, and Turkey signed an important agreement called a "public act." This act put the CED, its workers, and its projects "under the protection of international law." This meant they were protected by rules that all countries agreed to follow.
This act also included rules for navigation and a list of fees for using the river. A special part of the 1865 act was that the commission could change these rules and fees by a majority vote. These changes would then automatically apply to all member countries without needing their extra approval. The act also made sure the CED's buildings, records, and money were neutral and protected. The CED's term was extended for another five years, though Russia thought this should be the very last extension.
London Conference of 1871
In 1871, at a meeting in London, Russia, Austria-Hungary, Britain, Germany, Italy, and Turkey agreed to extend the CED's term for another twelve years. This matched the time it would take to pay back a large loan from 1865. At this conference, they also:
- Did not agree to Britain's idea of extending the commission's power further up the river.
- Agreed to have the "Riverain Commission" (the IDC) meet again, but didn't set a date.
- Gave Austria the power to collect tolls at the dangerous Iron Gates section to pay for improvements there.
- Extended the neutrality rules from the 1865 treaty to the CED's staff, buildings, and projects.
Treaty of Berlin of 1878
In 1878, Romania became a free country after the Treaty of Berlin (1878). It joined the CED and took Turkey's place as the main power in the Danube Delta. Turkey remained a member of the commission.
Russia, which won the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878), took back a piece of land called Bessarabia that it had lost in 1856. This meant Russia was once again on the banks of the Danube. Other agreements about the Danube were made:
- The CED's power was extended from Isatcha to Galatz.
- The countries agreed that rules would be made for the river stretch from Galatz to the Iron Gates by a "mixed" European commission. This commission would include representatives from the countries along the river. In the end, a new plan for the IDC was adopted. Austria, Romania, Serbia, and Bulgaria each had a representative. Members of the CED would also take turns serving on the IDC for six months. Austria would lead, but without a tie-breaking vote.
Additional Public Act of 1881
In 1881, the countries involved met in Galatz to sign another agreement, or public act. This act explained in detail how the CED would work with Romania, which wanted more power. It was at this time that Russia removed its territory from the CED's control. This was the left bank of the Kilia branch, where the CED had not yet used its right to control. Russia made this change at the last minute by adding a special note to the treaty.
Treaty of London of 1883
In 1883, another meeting took place in London with representatives from Austria, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, and Turkey. Most countries decided to let Romania and Serbia join only as advisors, and Bulgaria could only be represented through Turkey. Serbia accepted, but Romania and Bulgaria protested and didn't take part in the meeting.
After a month of talks, the delegates decided to:
- Extend the CED's power from Galatz about 20 miles upstream to Ibraila (now Brăila).
- Allow the creation of the reorganized "mixed" commission (the IDC), hoping Romania and Bulgaria would agree.
- Extend the CED's term for 21 years. After that, it would continue for three-year periods unless a major power suggested changes.
- Agree to Russia's request about the Kilia branch. This meant Russia and Romania would share control over it, as long as the CED reviewed any plans for improvements.
Detailed rules for the Danube between Ibraila and the Iron Gate were never fully put into practice. Romania didn't agree, so each country along that part of the river managed it, but they still tried to allow free navigation.
As conditions in the delta improved, more ships used the river, and the CED received more money. Things got much safer: there were 111 shipwrecks between 1861 and 1881, but only five between 1909 and 1929.
First World War and After
The European Commission of the Danube (CED) kept working for at least the first two years of World War I. Representatives from both sides of the war (the Allies and the Central Powers) continued to meet. After Romania joined the war against Austria-Hungary in 1916, the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey) kept the commission running for a short time, but without Britain and France. Germany even tried to make a new commission that would always exclude the Allied powers.
On May 7, 1918, Germany made a separate peace treaty with Romania. This treaty changed the CED into a "Commission of the Mouth of the Danube." It still had power, but only countries along the Danube or the Black Sea could be members. Control of the river above Braila was given to the countries bordering the river: Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Austria-Hungary, and Germany. These countries also got the right to keep warships on the river.
However, these treaties were canceled when the Allies won the war. In November 1918, the winners set up a new group called the Commandement de la Navigation du Danube. The Allies decided that traffic on the Danube should return to normal as soon as possible. An Inter-Allied Danube Commission was formed, and later, non-enemy countries were allowed to join. This group had some success in reopening the river, despite many challenges.
The peace treaties after the war created new rules for the river. The old European Commission got its power back over the river mouths, but its members were temporarily limited to Britain, France, Italy, and Romania (Russia and Turkey were excluded). Also, an International Commission was set up to manage traffic on the Upper Danube from Ulm to Braila. A larger meeting was planned for the future.
Reorganizing the Commissions
The big meeting happened in Paris in September 1920 to create a final set of rules for the river. Countries like Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Romania, and Yugoslavia were there. Russia, which was then under Bolshevik rule, and Turkey were not present for the first time at such a major Danube meeting. It took six months, but on July 23, 1921, the main agreement was signed. It largely followed the temporary rules made right after the war. The European Commission of the Danube was re-established, and all the old treaties and rules were confirmed.
The International Danube Commission (for the upper river) finally became a permanent group. It was given legal standing, like the CED, and had rules that allowed it to operate. However, it didn't have its own courts. It had to send people who broke the rules to the local authorities for trial and punishment. Its members included all the countries along the river, as well as Great Britain, France, Italy, and Romania.
John C. Campbell, an expert on Eastern Europe from the U.S. State Department, wrote in 1949 that just as the 1856 Paris conference tried to stop Russia from dominating Southeastern Europe, the 1921 agreement tried to prevent Germany or Russia from becoming too powerful again.
Rebuilding the River
The European Commission, back in its offices at Galatz, found the Danube mouths in very bad shape after the war. Silt had clogged the channel again, and it seemed difficult to improve the situation.
Economic problems along the entire river were so severe that the League of Nations started an investigation in 1922. A special committee, led by an American named Walker D. Hines, found that while the river fleet could carry more goods than before the war, the actual amount of traffic was much lower. This was mainly due to an economic slowdown and the breakup of Austria-Hungary's large area where goods could move freely without taxes. Hines criticized the "petty attitudes" of the many new governments and complained about border checks and rules that kept non-citizens out of international trade. He noted that despite the CED and IDC, the situation had not changed much since the war ended.
This report led to suggestions, including lowering the fees charged by the CED. British companies had gained a lot of control over the Danube after 1918. Before the war, countries along the river controlled most of the shipping. But after the war, a large British shipping company, Furness, Withy and Co., gained almost complete control. They did this by helping to finance the pre-war companies, many of which were owned by Austrian or Hungarian interests (who lost the war). This gave Furness, Withy practical control over most of the Danube's shipping.
Romania's Fight for Control
Meanwhile, Romania wanted to get rid of the CED completely. It first suggested this in 1881, when King Carol said he wanted Romanian officials to control the river mouths. This caused problems with Austria-Hungary, and King Carol later had to apologize.
Romania brought up its demands again in 1919 at the Paris Peace Conference and in 1921 at the Danube Conference, but it was overruled both times. Romania then changed its approach at the Conference of Lausanne in 1923, where Middle East issues were discussed. This time, Romania suggested that the CED's powers should be expanded to include control over the Bosporus and the Dardanelles. Joseph D. Somogyi wrote in 1948 that accepting this idea would have meant the CED, being far from the Danube mouths and having new tasks, would not have been able to do its main job. This would have given Romania actual control of the Lower Danube.
In 1924, Romania suggested limiting the commission's activities. Romania wanted to be in charge of judging and punishing shipping rule-breakers, similar to how the newer International Danube Commission worked. This idea was also rejected by the other countries. When international efforts failed, the Romanian government started a campaign in 1926 to take control of the Sulina channel, even without other nations' agreement. They claimed the CED had failed to keep the channel clear, making it difficult for ships to pass. The commission replied that the silt had built up during the war when Romania had full control.
Romania even took a lawsuit to assert its control over a part of the river upstream. It pointed out that the CED's power had been extended from Galatz to Ibraila by the 1883 Treaty of London, which Romania had not signed. In 1921, two ships crashed in this disputed area, and the CED's inspector took charge, despite Romania's protests. The case went to the League of Nations, which sent it to the Permanent Court of International Justice in 1926 at the request of Britain, France, Italy, and Romania. Romania lost the case, and the court decided that the CED's powers covered the entire "maritime Danube."
Romania finally gained effective control of the Lower Danube in May 1939, when the Sinaia Agreement (signed on August 18, 1938) became active.
The End of the Pre-War Commissions
In 1938, experts checked the Sulina channel and found it was almost impossible for ships to pass. In August of that same year, the power of the two commissions was taken over by Germany. Germany controlled the river until the Nazi retreat in 1944 and their final defeat in 1945. In 1948, a new meeting about the Danube River was held. A new treaty was adopted, which put the river's management under commissions made up only of the countries along the river. This ended more than 40 years of Western European countries controlling this important waterway.
See also
- Internationalization of the Danube River, for events from the earliest times to the Treaty of Paris in 1856
- Nazi rule over the Danube River, for events during World War II
- Danube River Conference of 1948
- Danube Commission, for events since 1948
- International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River, for the organization established in 1998 that works on environmental issues
