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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government
[B]
NORTHERN AND WESTERN EUROPE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[3451]
No. 1.
[January 30.]
SECTION 3.
1.
h
Memorandum by Mr. Parker respecting the proposal to fortify
Flushing.
THE proposal to fortify Flushing, as contemplated in the Dutch Defence Bill, raises certain questions of international interest as to the effect of such a measure upon the free navigation of the River Scheldt and the maintenance of Belgian neutrality, which is guaranteed individually and collectively by Great Britain, Prussia, Russia, Austria, and France; while, incidentally, the proposal has led to discussion respecting the precise status, according to treaty stipulations, of Antwerp.
The whole subject will, as has been pointed out elsewhere, require careful consideration from strategical and political aspects under prevailing conditions; this memorandum deals solely with the historical and juridical position, the aim in view being to summarise the policy of Great Britain during the present century, and to draw attention to international conventions in so far as they affect the points at issue.
The question is discussed under the following headings:-
1. The free navigation of the River Scheldt.
2. The status of Antwerp.
3. The position at Flushing.
4. The neutrality of Belgium.
For facility of reference a map, showing a portion of the River Scheldt and the boundary between Holland and Belgium in the region in question, is annexed.
1. The free navigation of the River Scheldt.
During the Congress of Vienna general regulations were drawn up (in March 1815) for the free navigation of rivers, and special regulations were drawn up for the navigation of the Rhine, it being expressly laid down that the same freedom of navigation which was granted for the Rhine should be extended to the Scheldt and other rivers, specifically named, from the point where each become navigable, to the sea.
Article 2 of the general regulations was as follows:-
'The navigation of rivers along their whole course, from the point where each of them becomes navigable to their mouth, shall be entirely
[1848 99-3]
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