Coll 28/65 ‘Persia. Perso-Soviet Commercial Relations.’ [‎6v] (13/482)

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Each of the high contracting parties agrees to grant to the other most
favoured-nation treatment, both in respect of the fares, freight rates and all
other charges connected with transport, and in respect of the ordering, arrange
ment and speed of transport on all the routes mentioned above.
Article 12.
(1) Vessels plying in the Caspian under the flag of either of the high
contracting parties shall be treated in all ways in the same manner as the national
vessels when in the ports of the other high contracting party, whether during
arrival, stay in port, or departure.
(2) The vessels in question shall pay no port dues other than those imposed
by law upon the national vessels, under the same conditions and with the same
exemptions.
For purposes of collection of the above dues, the following articles shall
not be deemed to be imports or exports : —
(a) Passengers’ baggage not forming part of the cargo; that is to say, every
thing conveyed in virtue of a registration ticket and small hand
packages.
(b) Fuel and provisions for crews and passengers and the necessary equipment
of the vessel, up to the amount required for the voyage, on condition
that the aforesaid necessaries are not landed from the vessel and left
in port.
(c) Cargo landed by reason of damage sustained by the vessel or of some
other accidental stop, on condition that such cargo is re-embarked for
forwarding to the port of destination.
(d) Cargo carried by vessels of under 3^ tons burden.
(e) Cargo transhipped for the purpose of continuing its voyage.
( 3 ) Cabotage is the exclusive right of the national vessels of the high con
tracting party; nevertheless, it is agreed that each of the high contracting parties
shall grant the right of cabotage for the transport of passengers and baggage
on the Caspian Sea to vessels plying under the flag of the other party.
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions set forth above, each of the high con
tracting parties reserves for its own vessels the exclusive right of fishing in its
coastal waters up to a limit of 10 nautical miles, and reserves the right to grant
special reliefs and privileges in connexion with imports of fish caught by vessels
plying under its own flag.
(5) Vessels plying under the flag of one of the high contracting parties in
seas others than the Caspian shall enjoy most-favoured-nation treatment in the
territorial waters and ports of the other high contracting party, in the matter
of navigation and dues of all kinds.
( 6 ) Towing vessels having other craft in tow shall be exempt from payment
of port dues (calculated on a tonnage basis).
Article 13.
The high contracting parties are agreed that, according to the fundamental
principles set forth in the treaty of the 26th February, 1921, concluded between
Iran and the R.S.F.S.R., no vessels other than those belonging to Iran or to
the U.S.S.R. or to the subjects or the commercial or national transport organisa
tions of one of the high contracting parties, flying the flag of Iran or of the
U.S.S.R., may exist in the whole of the Caspian Sea.
Article 14.
Tonnage certificates for shipping, given by the competent authorities of
the hig'h contracting parties to vessels plying under the flag of Iran or of the
U.S.S.R. in the Caspian Sea, and notified by those authorities on behalf of
either of the high contracting parties to the other high contracting party, shall
be officially accepted on a basis of reciprocity in the ports of the two Govern
ments. Vessels holding such certificates shall not be subject to further assess
ment in the ports of the other party. Furthermore, certificates of seaworthiness,