This doctrine asserts that water in its natural course is public property and is not susceptible to private ownership. The right to its use may be acquired by appropriation and application to beneficial use. The first appropriator establishes a prior right to the use of the water, always provided that this water is put to beneficial use. If this doctrine was to be applied within an international context, it would certainly not favour the position of newly created States. On the contrary, it would benefit States which existed before.