Prussian-French treaty 1861 Prussian-French treaty 1861

On 4 April 1861, the negotiations between France and the Prussian government, which had lasted many years, led to the conclusion of the Prussian-French treaty with the resolution being reached on the construction of the Saar canal, also previously known as the Saar coal canal. The ship canal runs through Elsass and Lothringen and establishes a link between the Rhine-Marne canal and the Saar. This made it possible to create a direct shipping connection for the large coal ships between the French waterways and the Upper Rhine: A milestone of Saarland industrial history.
Transcription of the cover sheet of the agreement:
"Agreement between Prussia and France concerning the manufacture of the Saar coal canal/Convention entre la Pruße et la Sarre pour l’établißement du Canal des houillières de la Sarre
We, Wilhelm, King of Prussia by the Grace of God: hereby confer our ministers for trade, commerce and public works and our ministers for foreign affairs and finance with the assignment of submitting the treaty relating to the manufacture of a navigable connection between the Rhine-Marne canal and the Saar and concluded with the imperial French government in Paris on the fourth of April of this year to the two houses of the state parliament of our monarchy in our name for approval according to the constitution along with the associated final protocol from the same date.
Performed in Berlin, 30 April 1861"