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Otago Daily Times, Issue 26841, 4 August 1948, Page 5

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CONTROL OF DANUBE SOVIET-PROPOSED PACT N.Z.P.A.—Copyright Rec. 9 p.m. LONDON, Aug. 3. The Russian draft convention for the future control of navigation on the Danube, which Mr Andrie Vyshinsky will submit to-day to the 10-nation Belgrade conference completely excludes Western Powers from administration of the river—a right they have possessed since the present convention was signed 27 years ago.. The Belgrade correspondent of the Daily Telegraph points out that although the Russian draft provides for traditional freedom of navigation, on equal terms, for vessels and commerce of all nations, the vital change introduced is that the application and safeguarding of the provisions would be left entirely to the Danubian States. A commission, consisting of Russia and her Danubian satellites—Bulgaria, Rumania Hungary, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia —would be set up for this purpose. It would supersede the 1921 commission and all property of the latter, of which Britain, France and Italy are members in addition to the Danubian States, would be transferred to the new commission. All credits advanced to the existing body by Britain, France and other countries, would be forfeited.

Reuter says that Mr Vyshinsky earlier accused the Austrian delegate, Count Arsoni Rosenberg, of sabotage because Count Rosenberg had asked the conference to reconsider its decision not to allow Austria voting rights. The conference unanimously adopted the rule of a simple majority for conference decisions. The French delegate, in face of Soviet opposition, withdrew a motion requiring a two-thirds majority.