View source for International Waterway Pact

{{Infobox treaty
| name                    = International Waterway Pact
| long_name               = Agreement for the Governance of Waterways Vital to International Trade
| image                   = <!-- Example.png -->
| image_size              = 200px
| alt                     = <!-- alt-text here for accessibility; see [[MOS:ACCESS]] -->
| caption                 = <!-- A caption for my image would go here! IF I HAD ONE! -->
| type                    =
| context                 =
| date_drafted            =
| date_signed             = <!-- {{Start date|1747|04|12}} -->
| location_signed         = Giozzara, [[Ardaima]]
| date_sealed             =
| date_effective          =
| condition_effective     =
| date_expiration         = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} OR: -->
| date_expiry             = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| provisional_application = 
| mediators               = <!-- format this as a bullet list -->
| negotiators             = <!-- format this as a bullet list -->
| original_signatories    = {{flag|Ardaima}}<br>{{flag|Midrasia}}
| signatories             = 
| parties                 = <!-- format this as a bullet list -->
| ratifiers               = <!-- format this as a bullet list -->
| depositor               = Midrasian Government<br>Ardaiman Government
| depositories            = 
| citations               = <!-- format as XX [[Article on Treaty Series|TS]] YYY -->
| language                = <!-- OR: -->
| languages               = {{wp|Italian Language|Arday}}{{*}}[[Midrasian language|Midrasian]]
| wikisource              = <!-- OR: -->
| wikisource1             = <!-- Up to 5 wikisourceN variables may be specified -->
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}}

The '''International Waterway Pact''' is an international treaty governing certain waterways throughout [[Aeia]] that are considered vital to international trade. The pace was originally an agreement between the Kingdom of Ardaima and the Republic of Midrasia, governing ship traffic through the Atlantic Channel and the Troping Strait.  The treaty was signed in April of 1747 and over time was expanded to include other nations and waterways across Aeia.

== History ==
Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, the colonial empires of Midrasia and Ardaima were expanding beyond the south Asur continents of [[Arabekh]] and [[Majula]] and into the continents of [[Vestrim]] and [[Yidao]]. These far-flung colonies depended on ships for information and trade from the homelands in [[Asura]]. This period was wrought with constant naval battles fighting for control of these vital waterways; blockades, privateering, and sinking of civilian ships was a common occurrence which constantly threatened the expanding empires of both nations. 

In late 1746, the first Ardaima Prime Minister, Abramio Julio, operating under the new constitution adopted in 1741, proposed a meeting between the two nations. The premise for the meeting was simple, in order for the two nations to continue expanding an understanding of peace in the waterways in and out of the Asur must be agreed to. Over the process of several months, the treaty was drafted and signed in Pale in April of 1747.

The treaty allowed for unfettered access to the Atlantic Channel and the Troping Strait for ships flying the civilian ensigns of either nation. It also allowed for military vessels to sail through either waterway, in times of peace, so long as the vessels sailed through the territory without stopping. 

This treaty is one of the earliest examples of Mydro-Ardaiman cooperation and saw a marked decrease in naval conflict between the two nations and the beginning of a period of considerable cooperation and easing of tensions. The treaty continued to be enforced even throughout the Midrasian Revolution and was ratified by the new republican government in 1791.

== Signatories == 

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan=2|Original Signatories
|-
! Nation !! Year Signed
|-
| {{flag|Ardaima}} || 1747
|-
| {{flag|Midrasia}} || 1747
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan=2|Additional Signatories
|-
! Nation !! Year Signed
|-
| {{flag|Liiduria}} || 1900
|-
| {{flag|Renneque}} || 1902
|-
| {{flag|Vrnallia}} || 1902
|-
| [[File:Rigjord.png|23px]] [[Commonwealth of Rigjord|Rigjord]]|| 1904
|-
| {{flag|Nausikaa}}|| 1905
|-
| {{flag|Crylante}}|| 1915
|-
| {{flag|Cuirpthe}}|| 1919
|-
| {{flag|Navack}}|| 1921
|-
| {{flag|Aleia}} || 1927
|-
| {{flag|Mascylla}} || 1944
|-
| {{flag|Aramas}}|| 1960
|-
| {{flag|Brilliania}} || 1982
|-
| {{flag|Bevenia}} || 1990
|-
|}

== Waterways ==
===Atlantic Channel===
Between Ardaima and Midrasia the two nations controlled a vast number of trade ports throughout the entire Arabekhi coastline in the Atlantic Channel, and Midrasia controlled significant portions of the Majula coastline. The Channel was home to particularly bitter and brutal naval conflicts between the two nations that at some points in history resulted in the Channel being almost impossible for civilian ships to enter. Furthermore, privateering was commonplace throughout the channel which was particularly harmful to the Midrasian Oriental Charter Company which regularly ferried goods up from Majula to Midrasia.
===Troping Strait===
Ardaima controlled both sides of the Troping Strait at its narrowest points. Each successive administration in Ardaima has pledged to uphold the treaty and to treat the Strait as an international waterway. The Troping toll which had been instituted in 1210 was particularly harmful to Midrasian shipping and was one of the main reasons for the country's limited colonisation of Vestrim. Under the treaty, the toll was removed, provided Midrasia allow Ardaima access through the Atlantic Channel.
===Gulf of Alemannia===
The cold northern waters of the Gulf of Alemannia has been home to coastal raids and impressment of ships for centuries. Violent naval engagements was also a major issue in the Early Modern Era. Because of these issues, trade has been limited in this area for centuries. It is also a leading factor in the failure of many of these countries to control vast swaths of land overseas, in comparison to more Southern Asuran nations. These issues proved harmful to nations like Brilliania and Hytekia, due to the fact ships need to travel a great distance to reach their ports in the southernmost part of the gulf.  
===Lhedwin Channel===
The nations on either side of the Lhedwin Channel have been hostile towards each other for centuries, and this has made trade between nations such as Newrey and Cuirpthe and distant allies difficult. Recognizing the issues caused by the alliance of Cuirpthe and Lhedwin during the Great War, where control of the narrow entrance to the channel closed off all trade to Newrey Crylante and Cuirpthe agreed to open the Strait of Glostrup, making it free for all ships to pass through the western entrance of the channel.
{{Aeia}}
[[Category:Aeia]]
[[Category:Ardaima]]
[[Category:Midrasia]]