Convention on the Turkish Straits

[Darman]

Gathered here today this 22nd of May 1897 to sign and ratify each signatory nations' acceptance of the terms of this treaty regarding limitations on the transit of warships through the Dardanelles and Bosporus Straits. 

Article 1:
The High Contracting Parties recognize and affirm the principle of freedom of passage and navigation by sea in the Straits.

Article 2:
In time of peace, merchant vessels shall enjoy complete freedom of passage and navigation in the Straits, by day and by night, under any flag with any kind of cargo, although vessels may be required to stop at a station upon entering the straits for the purposes of sanitary and health control.  A transit fee may be assessed only by the Ottoman government or its agents for the purpose of marking channels etc etc. 
During times of war when the Ottoman Empire remains neutral, neither agents of the Ottoman government nor agents of any other government may stop neutral-flagged vessels for any reason other than the collection of transit fees or for the purposes of sanitary and health control.  Vessels flying the flags of belligerent nations may be stopped and their cargo manifests checked for military contraband or armaments.  All commercial vessels, regardless of national origin, that have weapons mounts, shall be stopped and inspected by agents of the Ottoman government. 
During times of war when the Ottoman Empire is engaged in hostilities, all vessels belonging to Ottoman allies can expect passage through the Straits after payment of the appropriate transit fees and sanitary and health inspections.  Neutral vessels shall expect to be inspected and charged the appropriate transit fees and otherwise shall not be hindered.  Vessels belonging to belligerent nations that are at war with the Ottoman Empire shall be impounded as a prize of war and the ship and its cargo shall be appropriated by the Ottoman government as spoils of war. 

Article 3:
Warships of any nation save those of the Ottoman Empire shall not be allowed to travel through the Straits during peacetime.  During times of war in which the Ottoman Empire is neutral the same policy for foreign warships (i.e. no transit) shall be in force.  During wars in which the Ottoman Empire is a belligerent then warships of the Ottoman Empire and those of her allies only may transit the Straits. 

[Darman]

Signed the Twenty-Second of May in the year Eighteen Hundred and Ninety Seven
Halil Rifat Pasha, Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire

[Delta Force]

Signed seventh May, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven
Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias

[Tanthalas]

Signed at Rome in the name and by the order of his Magisty Umberto I di Savoia King of Italia, and Lord Protector of the Italian Empire. This the Fourth of day of June,  one thousand eight hundred and ninty-seven.
Benedetto Cairoli Prime Minister of his Magisties Goverment

*Codicil and statement atached to the Draft Treaty returnd to the Otomans*
Italia recognizes this treaty in all its parts, However protests the treatment of People of the faith in the Otoman empire in general and the holy lands in specific and questions the validity of the Otoman Empire holding what is obviously Italian soil.  Specificly his Magisties Goverment questions the legitimacy of the Ottomans holding Palestine, and proposes a meeting of equals in neutral location to Discuss it.

[snip]

Signed second June, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven
Her Highness, Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

[Jefgte]

Signed the first August, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-seven,
By the
"Ministre des Affaires Etrangères
de la République Française"
Son Exellence
Théophile Delcassé

[Logi]

Signed the 29th of May 1897
Francisco Silvela Le Vielleuze, Prime Minister of Iberia