To Netherlands, Rhineland, Frankfurt, Westphalia
Bavaria rules extensive territory along the Rhine and its tributaries, as you do. It would be of profit to the countries down the Rhine to be able to trade freely along the upper Rhine and Main; similarly it would be useful for the countries further up the Rhine to be able to import New World products along the river and to export manufactured goods.
Therefore, we suggest to you that we might all agree to make the waters of the Rhine and Main within our territory open to each other's shipping without any duties or taxation, as this would be good for all merchants and industrialists throughout our lands. You might say that you cannot afford to lose the duties on the river, but it seems to us that such monies can be recouped through the increasing taxes derived from the traders who will benefit from our proposed measure. In any case, in the long term, it cannot but strengthen all our economies.
We hope that you will all consider carefully and agree to this proposal, as it could hardly work without all the nations along the Rhine and Main agreeing.
Ah, well. Deal with what you have. I hope those stats are fixed soon, so I know what I'm dealing with. 
