372 NOETH-EAST APEICA. 



period of more tliaii three days, nor during their stay commit any acts of 

 hostility against the vessels of their antagonists. 



The terms of this important international agreement are briefly resumed in the 

 subjoined series of articles, adopted after much discussion by the Suez Canal Com- 

 mission : — 



"Article 1. The Canal shall remain open both in time of peace and war to 

 merchant and war ships without distinction of flags. The contracting parties 

 undertake to place no obstacle in the way of free passage through the Canal either 

 in time of peace or war, nor to blockade the Canal, nor to subject it to any other 

 measure of war. Article 2. As a sweetwater canal is recognised to be indispens- 

 able for a maritime canal, cognizance is taken of the Khedive's obligations to the 

 Suez Canal Company in that respect, and the Powers are pledged not to compromise 

 in any way the safety of the sweetwater canal. Article 3. All parties agree not 

 to damage the material for building and repairing purposes. Article 4. It is 

 agreed that no fortifications shall be erected on such points as could command or 

 threaten the Canal and serve as the basis for offensive operations, nor shall any such 

 point be occupied by troops. The maritime entrances to the Canal, as also the 

 territorial waters, shall be excluded from all military operations. Article 5. 

 Although in time of war the Canal will be open to the passage of the belligerent 

 fleets, no acts of hostilities and no measure preparatory to the same shall be carried 

 out in the Canal or in the territorial waters of Egypt, even should Turkey be one 

 of the belligerents- No troops, provisions, ammunition, nor war material shall be 

 landed there. The passage of ships must be as rapid as possible, and the stop- 

 page at Port Said or Suez must not exceed twenty- four hours. There must be an 

 interval of twenty-four hours between the departure of ships belonging to nations 

 at war. Articles 6 and 7 refer to captured vessels, which will be treated as belonging 

 to belligerents. For all damage to the Canal or to the material belonging to it, 

 the Power whose ship has caused the damage will be held responsible, though the 

 right of appeal is reserved. Article 8. No Power will be entitled to have more 

 than one war ship at a time in the Canal, and more than two at Port Said and Suez. 

 Article 9 provides for the rights of the Sultan and of the Khedive. The measures 

 required for the defence of Egypt in case of need must not affect the safety of the 

 Canal. Article 10. A Commission composed of representatives of the signatory 

 Powers at London, on March 17, 1885, to whom shall be added an Egyptiaïi 

 delegate with a consultative voice, will sit under the presidency of a special Turkish 

 delegate, and make arrangements with the Suez Canal Company for the enforce- 

 ment of the present regulations for the Canal navigation and police. The said 

 Commission shall, within the limits of its attributions, see to the execution of the 

 present treaty and submit to the Powers proposals for securing its observance. It 

 is understood that the Commission shall not infringe the Sultan's rights. Article 11 

 prescribes that Egypt shall within the limits of its rights take measures to ensure 

 respect for the treaty, and in case of need shall appeal to Turkey and to the 

 signatory Powers. Article 12 stipulates that none of the signatory Powers shall 

 seek territorial or commercial advantages or privileges of any kind in connection 



