Treaty of Durranmouth

Over half a millenium from its signing the Treaty of Durranmouth is widely regarded as having stabilised much of the politics of the region. Where other major river systems have become points of conflict and exploitation the Durran has become a highway and trade route to the benefit of all who live in its basin.

Purpose

By the early first century MD the Durran wound its way through the various nascent states beginning to establish themselves as the Mor expanded beyond their initial coastal settlements and by the end of the first century MD three main areas of conflict were apparent:-

1. The seasonal migrations of the Smollet - a fish valued by all who settled near rivers in northern Tarusia. Extensive net fishing in the regions around Durranmouth was impacting not just on the upstream communities supply of this vital resource but beginning to have a significant impact on the numbers returning each year.
2. The effects of pollution from the growing settlements on the river's banks were impacting on the river's use as a source of drinking water as well as beginning to change the ecology of the basin. The downstream inhabitants insisted that this was the prime reason for the reduction in the numbers of smollet, and not their "utterly responsible and highly sustainable" fishing.
3. Interruption of trade by the levying of tariffs along the river - increasing attempts were being made by towns and states to tax trade on the river. The desire to control the river for the security of their traders was one of the main cuases of conflict in the upper reaches of the Durran between the Moran Duchy and the Kingdom of Mor

The purpose of the treaty was to establish a set of rules such that trade could flourish for the better benefit of all the settlements along the river and so that these settlements would not compromise the food and water supplies of their neighbours by overexploitation or pollution.

Document Structure

Publication Status

Copies of the treaty are widely distributed across the Durran basin - indeed almost every settlement on the Durran and its tributaries has a copy of at least the provisions most applicable to their activites. Originals bearing the seals and signatures of 10MD are still to be found in the archives at Morton, Kingsholm, Durranmouth and Houghley.

The entire text was also engraved onto the south wall of Treaty Place in Durranmouth as part of the celebrations of the 500th anniversary of the treaty, though the provisions relating to fishing in the durran are regulary in need of repair due to defacing or alteration by the fishermen of that area.

Historical Details

History

The concept of a documented agreement between all parties affecting and affected by the Durran was first raised at the centenary of the founding of the Moran Duchy. Previous bipartite agreements had failed on several occasions due to the intervention of third parties and by including all parties it was suggested that this might be avoided.

Six years of negotiations followed, the process being driven to a conclusion by Duke Cadric the Second of Morton and the strains this induced were the main factor that resulted in his abdication and retreat to life as a hermit the following year. Nevertheless, the idea which started in Morton, was brought to fruition when the treaty was signed at Durranmouth on the third day of Appletime.

Public Reaction

Many were initially sceptical that the benefits would exceed the forgone taxes, catches and troubles of controlling pollution. As the benefits were realised, most especially from the freeing of trade from the near piratical taxation and tarriffs levied general opinion swung in its favour, though in the frishing community of Durranmouth it remains a detested limitation on their trade even to this day and in those quarters the word "treaty" is a term of abuse and a synonym for poverty.

Authoring Date

107MD

Summary of the Clauses

Clause 1 lays out the scope and purpose of the treaty.

Clause 2 requires the ongoing endorsement of the treaty by successive rulers of the areas covered.

Clause 3 relates to the control and limitations on fishing in the Durran and its tributaries - chiefly concerned with the smollet fishery, but occasionally applied to other significant species such as the mogfish.

Clause 4 relates to taking of water from the river, whether for drinking or irrigation.

Clause 5 relates to discharges into the river and its tributaries.

Clause 6 relates to freedom of trade along the river and the taxation of river traders.

Clause 7 deals with grievancies and breaches of the treaty.

Clause 8 defines the process for ammending the treaty in response to unforeseen issues at the time of writing.

These clauses run to as many as 20 sub clauses dealing with specifics and over the years there have been a number of ammendments brought under clause 8 to clarify points and regulate emerging technologies seen as a threat to the river.