Articles 31 - 117 and Annexes
Political Clauses for Europe
ARTICLE 31.
Germany, recognising that the Treaties of April 19, 1839, which established the status of Belgium
before the war, no longer conform to the requirements of the situation, consents to the abrogation of
the said Treaties and undertakes immediately to recognise and to observe whatever conventions may
be entered into by the Principal Allied and Associated Powers, or by any of them, in concert with
the Governments of Belgium and of the Netherlands, to replace the said Treaties of 1839. If her
formal adhesions should be required to such conventions or to any of their stipulations, Germany
undertakes immediately to give it.
ARTICLE 32.
Germany recognises the full sovereignty of Belgium over the whole of the contested territory of
Moresnet (called Moresnet neutre).
ARTICLE 33
Germany renounces in favour of Belgium all rights and title over the territory of Prussian Moresnet
situated on the west of the road from Liege to Aix-la-Chapelle; the road will belong to Belgium
where it bounds this territory.
ARTICLE 34
Germany renounces in favour of Belgium all rights and title over the territory comprising the whole
of the Kreise of Eupen and of Malmedy. During the six months after the coming into force of this
Treaty, registers will be opened by the Belgian authority at Eupen and Malmedy in which the
inhabitants of the above territory will be entitled to record in writing a desire to see the whole or part
of it remain under German sovereignty. The results of this public expression of opinion will be
communicated by the Belgian Government to the League of Nations, and Belgium undertakes to
accept the decision of the League.
ARTICLE 35 .
A Commission of seven persons, five of whom will be appointed by the Principal Allied and
Associated Powers, one by Germany and one by Belgium, will be set up fifteen days after the
coming into force of the present Treaty to settle on the spot the new frontier line between Belgium
and Germany, taking into account the economic factors and the means of communication. Decisions
will be taken by a majority and will be binding on the parties concerned.
ARTICLE 36.
When the transfer of the sovereignty over the territories referred to above has become definite,
German nationals habitually resident in the territories will definitively acquire Belgian nationality
ipso facto, and will lose their German nationality. Nevertheless, German nationals who became
resident in the territories after August 1, 1914, shall not obtain Belgian nationality without a permit
from the Belgian Government.
ARTICLE 37.
Within the two years following the definitive transfer of the sovereignty over the territories assigned
to Belgium under the present Treaty, German nationals over 18 years of age habitually resident in
those territories will be entitled to opt for German nationality. Option by a husband will cover his
wife, and option by parents will cover their children under 18 years of age. Persons who have
exercised the above right to opt must within the ensuing twelve months transfer their place of
residence to Germany. They will be entitled to retain their immovable property in the territories
acquired by Belgium. They may carry with them their movable property of every description. No
export or import duties may be imposed upon them in connection with the removal of such
property.
ARTICLE 38.
The German Government will hand over without delay to the Belgian Government the archives,
registers, plans, title deeds and documents of every kind concerning the civil, military, financial,
judicial or other administrations in the territory transferred to Belgian sovereignty. The German
Government will likewise restore to the Belgian Government the archives and documents of every
kind carried off during the war by the German authorities from the Belgian public administrations,
in particular from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Brussels.
ARTICLE 39.
The proportion and nature of the financial liabilities of Germany and of Prussia with Belgium will
have to bear on account of the territories ceded to her shall be fixed in conformity with Articles 254
and 256 of Part IX (Financial Clauses) of the present Treaty.
SECTION II.
LUXEMBURG.
ARTICLE 40.
With regard to the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, Germany renounces the benefit of all the
provisions inserted in her favour in the Treaties of February 8, 1842, April 2, 1847, October 20-25,
1865, August 18, 1866, February 21 and May 11, 1867, May 10, 1871, June 11, 1872, and
November 11, 1902, and in all Conventions consequent upon such Treaties. Germany recognises
that the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg ceased to form part of the German Zollverein as from January
1, 1919, renounces all rights to the exploitation of the railways, adheres to the termination of the
regime of neutrality of the Grand Duchy, and accepts in advance all international arrangements
which may be concluded by the Allied and Associated Powers relating to the Grand Duchy.
ARTICLE 41.
Germany undertakes to grant to the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, when a demand to that effect is
made to her by the Principal Allied and Associated Powers, the rights and advantages stipulated in
favour of such Powers or their nationals in the present Treaty with regard to economic questions, to
questions relative to transport and to aerial navigation.
SECTION III
LEFT BANK OF THE RHINE.
ARTICLE 42.
Germany is forbidden to maintain or construct any fortifications either on the left bank of the Rhine
or on the right bank to the west of a line drawn 50 kilometres to the East of the Rhine.
ARTICLE 43
In the area defined above the maintenance and the assembly of armed forces, either permanently or
temporarily, and military maneuvers of any kind, as well as the upkeep of all permanent works for
mobilization, are in the same way forbidden.
ARTICLE 44
In case Germany violates in any manner whatever the provisions of Articles 42 and 43, she shall be
regarded as committing a hostile act against the Powers signatory of the present Treaty and as
calculated to disturb the peace of the world.
SECTION IV.
SAAR BASIN.
ARTICLE 45
As compensation for the destruction of the coal-mines in the north of France and as part payment
towards the total reparation due from Germany for the damage resulting from the war, Germany
cedes to France in full and absolute possession, with exclusive rights of exploitation,
unencumbered and free from all debts and charges of any kind, the coal-mines situated in the Saar
Basin as defined in Article 48.
ARTICLE 46.
In order to assure the rights and welfare of the population and to guarantee to France complete
freedom in working the mines, Germany agrees to the provisions of Chapters I and II of the Annex
hereto.
ARTICLE 47.
In order to make in due time permanent provision for the government of the Saar Basin in
accordance with the wishes of the populations, France and Germany agree to the provisions of
Chapter III of the Annex hereto.
ARTICLE 48.
The boundaries of the territory of the Saar Basin, as dealt with in the present stipulations, will be
fixed as follows: On the south and south-west: by the frontier of France as fixed by the present
Treaty. On the north-west and north: by a line following the northern administrative boundary of the
Kreis of Merzig from the point where it leaves the French frontier to the point where it meets the
administrative boundary separating the commune of Saarholzbach from the commune of Britten;
following this communal boundary southwards and reaching the administrative boundary of the
canton of Merzig so as to include in the territory of the Saar Basin the canton of Mettlach, with the
exception of the commune of Britten; following successively the northern boundaries of the cantons
of Merzig and Haustedt, which are incorporated in the aforesaid Saar Basin, then successively the
administrative boundaries separating the Kreise of Sarrelouis, Ottweiler, and Saint-Wendel from the
Kreise of Merzig, Treves (Trier), and the Principality of Birkenfeld as far as a point situated about
500 metres north of the village of Furschweiler (viz., the highest point of the Metzelberg). On the
north-east and east: from the last point defined above to a point about 3 1/2 kilometres east-
north-east of Saint-Wendel: a line to be fixed on the ground passing east of Furschweiler, west of
Roschberg, east of points 418, 329 (south of Roschberg) west of Leitersweiler, north-east of point
464, and following the line of the crest southwards to its junction with the administrative boundary
of the Kreis of Kusel thence in a southerly direction the boundary of the Kreis of Kusel, then the
boundary of the Kreis of Homburg towards the south-south- east to a point situated about 1000
metres west of Dunzweiler; thence to a point about 1 kilometre south of Hornbach- a line to be fixed
on the ground passing through point 424 (about 1000 metres south-east of Dunzweiler), point 363
(Fuchs-Berg), point 322 (south-west of Waldmohr), then east of Jagersburg and Erbach, then
encircling Homburg, passing through the points 361 (about 2-1/2 kilometres north-east by east of
that town), 342 (about 2 kilometres south-east of that town), 347 (Schreiners-Berg), 356, 350
(about 1-1/2 kilometres south-east of Schwarzenbach), then passing east of Einod, south-east of
points 322 and 333, about 2 kilometres east of Webenheim, about 2 kilometres east of Mimbach,
passing east of the plateau which is traversed by the road from Mimbach to Bockweiler (so as to
include this road in the territory of the Saar Basin), passing immediately north of the junction of the
roads from Bockweiler and Altheim situated about 2 kilometres north of Altheim, then passing
south of Ringweilerhof and north of point 322, rejoining the frontier of France at the angle which it
makes about 1 kilometre south of Hornbach (see Map No. 2 scale 1/100,000 annexed to the present
treaty). [See Introduction ]
A Commission composed of five members, one appointed by France, one by Germany, and three
by the Council of the League of Nations, which will select nationals of other Powers, will be
constituted within fifteen days from the coming into force of the present Treaty, to trace on the spot
the frontier line described above.
In those parts of the preceding line which do not coincide with administrative boundaries, the
Commission will endeavour to keep to the line indicated, while taking into consideration, so far as
is possible, local economic interests and existing communal boundaries.
The decisions of this Commission will be taken by a majority, and will be binding on the parties
concerned.
ARTICLE 49.
Germany renounces in favour of the League of Nations, in the capacity of trustee, the government
of the territory defined above.
At the end of fifteen years from the coming into force of the present Treaty the inhabitants of the
said territory shall be called upon to indicate the sovereignty under which they desire to be placed.
ARTICLE 50.
The stipulations under which the cession of the mines in the Saar Basin shall be carried out,
together with the measures intended to guarantee the rights and the well-being of the inhabitants and
the government of the territory, as well as the conditions in accordance with which the plebiscite
herein before provided for is to be made, are laid down in the Annex hereto. This Annex shall be
considered as an integral part of the present Treaty, and Germany declares her adherence to it.
Agree upon the following Articles:
ARTICLE 5l.
The territories which were ceded to Germany in accordance with the Preliminaries of Peace signed
at Versailles on February 26, 187l, and the Treaty of Frankfort of May lo, 1871, are restored to
French sovereignty as from the date of the Armistice of November 11, 1918.
The provisions of the Treaties establishing the delimitation of the frontiers before 1871 shall be
restored.
ARTICLE 52.
The German Government shall hand over without delay to the French Government all archives,
registers, plans, titles and documents of every kind concerning the civil, military, financial, judicial
or other administrations of the territories restored to French sovereignty. If any of these documents,
archives, registers, titles or plans nave been misplaced, they will be restored by the German
Government on the demand of the French Government.
ARTICLE 53.
Separate agreements shall be made between France and Germany dealing with the interests of the
inhabitants of the territories referred to in Article 51, particularly as regards their civil rights, their
business and the exercise of their professions, it being understood that Germany undertakes as from
the present date to recognise and accept the regulations laid down in the Annex hereto regarding the
nationality of the inhabitants or natives of the said territories, not to claim at any time or in any place
whatsoever as German nationals those who shall have been declared on any ground to be French, to
receive all others in her territory, and to conform, as regards the property of German nationals in the
territories indicated in Article 51, with the provisions of Article 297 and the Annex to Section IV of
Part X (Economic Clauses) of the present Treaty.
Those German nationals who without acquiring French nationality shall receive permission from the
French Government to reside in the said territories shall not be subjected to the provisions of the
said Article.
ARTICLE 54.
Those persons who have regained French nationality in virtue of paragraph 1 of the Annex hereto
will be held to be Alsace- Lorrainers for the purposes of the present Section.
The persons referred to in paragraph 2 of the said Annex will from the day on which they have
claimed French nationality be held to be Alsace-Lorrainers with retroactive effect as from November
11, 1918. For those whose application is rejected, the privilege will terminate at the date of the
refusal.
Such juridical persons will also have the status of AlsaceLorrainers as shall have been recognised as
possessing this quality whether by the French administrative authorities or by a judicial decision.
ARTICLE 55.
The territories referred to in Article 5l shall return to France free and quit of all public debts under
the conditions laid down in Article 255 of Part IX (Financial Clauses) of the present Treaty.
ARTICLE 56.
In conformity with the provisions of Article 256 of Part IX (Financial Clauses) of the present
Treaty, France shall enter into
possession of all property and estate, within the territories referred to in Article 5l, which belong to
the German Empire or German States, without any payment or credit on this account to any of the
States ceding the territories.
This provision applies to all movable or immovable property of public or private domain together
with all rights whatsoever belonging to the German Empire or German States or to their
administrative areas.
Crown property and the property of the former Emperor or other German sovereigns shall be
assimilated to property of the public domain.
ARTICLE 57.
Germany shall not take any action, either by means of stamping or by any other legal or
administrative measures not applying equally to the rest of her territory, which may be to the
detriment of the legal value or redeemability of Germany monetary instruments or monies which, at
the date of the signature of the present Treaty, are legally current, and at that date are in the
possession of the French Government.
ARTICLE 58.
A special Convention will determine the conditions for repayment in marks of the exceptional war
expenditure advanced during the course of the war by Alsace-Lorraine or by the public bodies in
Alsace- Lorraine on account of the Empire in accordance with German law, such as payment to the
families of persons mobilised, requisitions, billeting of troops, and assistance to persons who have
been evacuated. In fixing the amount of these sums Germany shall be credited with that portion
which Alsace-Lorraine would have contributed to the Empire to meet the expenses resulting from
these payments, this contribution being calculated according to the proportion of the Imperial
revenues derived from Alsace-Lorraine in l913.
ARTICLE 59.
The French Government will collect for its own account the Imperial taxes, duties and dues of every
kind leviable in the territories referred to in Article 5l and not collected at the time of the Armistice of
November 11, 19l8.
ARTICLE 60.
The German Government shall without delay restore to AlsaceLorrainers (individuals, juridical
persons and public institutions) all property, rights and interests belonging to them on November
11, 1918, in so far as these are situated in German territory.
ARTICLE 61.
The German Government undertakes to continue and complete without delay the execution of the
financial clauses regarding Alsace- Lorraine contained in the Armistice Conventions.
ARTICLE 62.
The German Government undertakes to bear the expense of all civil and military pensions which
had been earned in Alsace. Lorraine on date of November 11, 1918, and the maintenance of which
was a charge on the budget of the German Empire.
The German Government shall furnish each year the funds necessary for the payment in francs, at
the average rate of exchange for that year, of the sums in marks to which persons resident in
Alsace- Lorraine would have been entitled if Alsace-Lorraine had remained under German
jurisdiction.
ARTICLE 63.
For the purposes of the obligation assumed by Germany in Part VIII (Reparation) of the present
Treaty to give compensation for damages caused to the civil populations of the Allied and
Associated countries in the form of fines, the inhabitants of the territories referred to in Article 51
shall be assimilated to the above- mentioned populations.
ARTICLE 64.
The regulations concerning the control of the Rhine and of the Moselle are laid down in Part XII
(Ports, Waterways and Railways) of the present Treaty.
ARTICLE 65.
Within a period of three weeks after the coming into force of the present Treaty, the port of
Strasburg and the port of Kehl shall be constituted, for a period of seven years, a single unit from
the point of view of exploitation.
The administration of this single unit will be carried on by a manager named by the Central Rhine
Commission, which shall also have power to remove him.
This manager shall be of French nationality.
He will reside in Strasburg and will be subject to the supervision of the Central Rhine Commission.
There will be established in the two ports free zones in conformity with Part XII (Ports, Waterways
and Railways) of the present Treaty.
A special Convention between France and Germany which shall be submitted to the approval of the
Central Rhine Commission, will fix the details of this organisation, particularly as regards finance.
It is understood that for the purpose of the present Article the port of Kehl includes the whole of the
area necessary for the movement of the port and the trains which serve it, including the harbour,
quays and railroads, platforms, cranes, sheds and warehouses, silos, elevators and hydro-electric
plants, which make up the equipment of the port.
The German Government undertakes to carry out all measures which shall be required of it in order
to assure that all the making-up and switching of trains arriving at or departing from Kehl, whether
for the right bank or the left bank of the Rhine, shall be carried on in the best conditions possible.
All property rights shall be safeguarded. In particular the administration of the ports shall not
prejudice any property rights of the French or Baden railroads.
Equality of treatment as respects traffic shall be assured in both ports to the nationals, vessels and
goods of every country.
In case at the end of the sixth year France shall consider that the progress made in the improvement
of the port of Strasbourg still requires a prolongation of this temporary regime, she may ask for
such prolongation from the Central Rhine Commission, which may grant an extension for a period
not exceeding three years.
Throughout the whole period of any such extension the free zones above provided for shall be
maintained.
Pending appointment of the first manager by the Central Rhine Commission a provisional manager
who shall be of French nationality may be appointed by the Principal Allied and Associated Powers
subject to the foregoing provisions.
For all purposes of the present Article the Central Rhine Commission will decide by a majority of
votes.
ARTICLE 66.
The railway and other bridges across the Rhine now existing within the limits of Alsace-Lorraine
shall, as to all their parts and their whole length, be the property of the French State, which shall
ensure their upkeep.
The French Government is substituted in all the, rights of the German Empire over all the railways
which were administered by the Imperial railway administration and which are actually working or
under construction.
The same shall apply to the rights of the Empire with regard to railway and tramway concessions
within the territories referred to in Article 51.
This substitution shall not entail any payment on the part of the French State.
The frontier railway stations shall be established by a subsequent agreement, it being stipulated in
advance that on the Rhine frontier they shall be situated on the right bank.
ARTICLE 68.
In accordance with the provisions of Article 268 of Chapter I of Section I of Part X (Economic
Clauses) of the present Treaty, for a period of five years from the coming into force of the present
Treaty, natural or manufactured products originating in and coming from the territories referred to in
Article 51 shall, on importation into German customs territory, be exempt from all customs duty.
The French Government may fix each year, by decree communicated to the German Government,
the nature and amount of the products which shall enjoy this exemption.
The amount of each product which may be thus sent annually into Germany shall not exceed the
average of the amounts sent annually in the years 1911-1913.
Further, during the period of five years above mentioned, the German Government shall allow the
free export from Germany and the free reimportation into Germany, exempt from all customs,
duties and other charges (including internal charges), of yarns, tissues, and other textile materials or
textile products of any kind and in any condition, sent from Germany into the territories referred to
in Article 51, to be subjected there to any finishing process, such as bleaching, dyeing, printing,
mercerization, gassing, twisting or dressing.
During a period of ten years from the coming into force of the present Treaty, central electric supply
works situated in German territory and formerly furnishing electric power to the territories referred
to in Article 51 or to any establishment the working of which passes permanently or temporarily
from Germany to France, shall be required to continue such supply up to the amount of
consumption corresponding to the undertakings and contracts current on November 11, 1918.
Such supply shall be furnished according to the contracts in force and at a rate which shall not be
higher than that paid to the said works by German nationals.
ARTICLE 70.
It is understood that the French Government preserves its right to prohibit in the future in the
territories referred to in Article 51 all new German participation:
(1) In the management or exploitation of the public domain and of public services, such as railways,
navigable waterways, water works, gas works, electric power, etc. ;
(2) In the ownership of mines and quarries of every kind and in enterprises connected therewith;
(3) In metallurgical establishments, even though their working may not be connected with that of
any mine.
ARTICLE 71.
As regards the territories referred to in Article 51, Germany renounces on behalf of herself and her
nationals as from November 11, 1918, all rights under the law of May 25, 1910, regarding the
trade in potash salts, and generally under any stipulations for the intervention of German
organisations in the working of the potash mines. Similarly, she renounces on behalf of herself and
her- nationals all rights under any agreements, stipulations or laws which may exist to her benefit
with regard to other products of the aforesaid territories.
ARTICLE 72.
The settlement of the questions relating to debts contracted before November 11, 1918, between the
German Empire and the German States or their nationals residing in Germany on the one part and
Alsace- Lorrainers residing in Alsace-Lorraine on the other part shall be effected in accordance with
the provisions of Section III of Part X (Economic Clauses) of the present Treaty, the expression
"before the war" therein being replaced by the expression "before November 11, 1918,. The rate of
exchange applicable in the case of such settlement shall be the average rate quoted on the Geneva
Exchange during the month preceding November 11, 1918.
There may be established in the territories referred to in Article 51, for the settlement of the
aforesaid debts under the conditions laid down in Section III of Part X (Economic Clauses) of the
present Treaty, a special clearing office, it being understood that this office shall be regarded as a
"central office" under the provisions of paragraph 1 of the Annex to the said Section.
ARTICLE 73.
The private property, rights and interests of Alsace-Lorrainers in Germany will be regulated by the
stipulations of Section IV of Part X (Economic Clauses) of the present Treaty.
ARTICLE 74.
The French Government reserves the right to retain and liquidate all the property, rights and
interests which German nationals or societies controlled by Germany possessed in the territories
referred to in Article 51 on November 11, 1918, subject to the conditions laid down in the last
paragraph of Article 53 above. Germany will directly compensate her nationals who may have been
dispossessed by the aforesaid liquidations. The product of these liquidations shall be applied in
accordance with the stipulations of Sections III and IV of Part X (Economic Clauses) of the present
Treaty.
ARTICLE 75.
Notwithstanding the stipulations of Section V of Part X (Economic Clauses) of the present Treaty,
all contracts made before the date of the promulgation in Alsace-Lorraine of the French decree of
November 30, 1918, between Alsace-Lorrainers (whether individuals or juridical persons) or others
resident in Alsace-Lorraine on the one part and the German Empire or German States and their
nationals resident in Germany on the other part, the execution of which has been suspended by the
Armistice or by subsequent French legislation, shall be maintained.
Nevertheless, any contract of which the French Government shall notify the cancellation to
Germany in the general interest within a period of six months from the date of the coming into force
of the present Treaty, shall be annulled except in respect of any debt or other pecuniary obligation
arising out of any act done or money paid thereunder before November 11, 1918. If this dissolution
would cause one of the parties substantial prejudice, equitable compensation, calculated solely on
the capital employed without taking account of loss of profits, shall be accorded to the prejudiced
party.
With regard to prescriptions, limitations and forfeitures in Alsace-Lorraine, the provisions of
Articles 300 and 301 of Section V of Part X (Economic Clauses) shall be applied with the
substitution for the expression "outbreak of war" of the expression "November 11, 1918", and for
the expression "duration of the war" of the expression "period from November 11, 1918, to the
date of the coming into force of the present Treaty".
ARTICLE 76.
Questions concerning rights in industrial, literary or artistic property of Alsace-Lorrainers shall be
regulated in accordance with the general stipulations of Section VII of Part X (Economic Clauses)
of the present Treaty, it being understood that Alsace-Lorrainers holding rights of this nature under
German legislation will preserve full and entire enjoyment of those rights on German territory.
ARTICLE 77
The German Government undertakes to pay over to the French Government such proportion of all
reserves accumulated by the Empire or by public or private bodies dependent upon it, for the
purposes of disability and old age insurance, as would fall to the disability and old age insurance
fund at Strasbourg.
The same shall apply in respect of the capital and reserves accumulated in Germany falling
legitimately to other social insurance funds, to miners, superannuation funds, to the fund of the
railways of Alsace-Lorraine, to other superannuation organisations established for the benefit of the
personnel of public administrations and institutions operating in Alsace- Lorraine and also in respect
of the capital and reserves due by the insurance fund of private employees at Berlin, by reason of
engagements entered into for the benefit of insured persons of that category resident in
Alsace-Lorraine. A special Convention shall determine the conditions and procedure of these
transfers.
ARTICLE 78.
With regard to the execution of judgments, appeals and prosecutions, the following rules shall be
applied:
(1) All civil and commercial judgments which shall have been given since August 3, 1914, by the
Courts of Alsace-Lorraine between Alsace-Lorrainers, or between Alsace-Lorrainers and
foreigners, or between foreigners, and which shall not have been appealed from before November
11, 1918, shall be regarded as final and susceptible of immediate execution without further
formality.
When the judgment has been given between Alsace-Lorrainers and Germans or between
Alsace-Lorrainers and subjects of the allies of Germany, it shall only be capable of execution after
the issue of an exequatur by the corresponding new tribunal in the restored territory referred to in
Article 51.
(2) All judgments given by German Courts since August 3, 1914, against Alsace-Lorrainers for
political crimes or misdemeanors shall be regarded as null and void.
(3) All sentences passed since November 11, 1918, by the Court of the Empire at Leipzig on
appeals against the decisions of the Courts of Alsace-Lorraine shall be regarded as null and void and
shall be so pronounced. The papers in regard to the cases in which such sentences have been given
shall be returned to the Courts of Alsace-Lorraine concerned.
All appeals to the Court of the Empire against decisions of the Courts of Alsace-Lorraine shall be
suspended. The papers shall be returned under the aforesaid conditions for transfer without delay to
the French Cour de Cassation, which shall be competent to decide them.
(4) All prosecutions in Alsace-Lorraine for offences committed during the period between
November 11, 1918, and the coming into force of the present Treaty will be conducted under
German law except in so far as this has been modified by decrees duly published on the spot by the
French authorities.
(5) All other questions as to competence, procedure or administration of justice shall be determined
by a special Convention between France and Germany.
ARTICLE 79.
The stipulations as to nationality contained in the Annex hereto shall be considered as of equal force
with the provisions of the present Section.
All other questions concerning Alsace-Lorraine which are not regulated by the present Section and
the Annex thereto or by the general provisions of the present Treaty will form the subject of further
conventions between France and Germany.
SECTION VI.
AUSTRIA.
ARTICLE 80.
Germany acknowledges and will respect strictly the independence of Austria, within the frontiers
which may be fixed in a Treaty between that State and the Principal Allied and Associated Powers;
she agrees that this independence shall be inalienable, except with the consent of the Council of the
League of Nations.
SECTION VII.
CZECH0-SLOVAK STATE.
ARTICLE 81.
Germany, in conformity with the action already taken by the Allied and Associated Powers,
recognises the complete independence of the Czecho-Slovak State which will include the
autonomous territory of the Ruthenians to the south of the Carpathians. Germany hereby recognises
the frontiers of this State as determined by the Principal Allied and Associated Powers and the other
interested States.
ARTICLE 82.
The old frontier as it existed on August 3, 1914, between Austria- Hungary and the German Empire
will constitute the frontier between Germany and the Czecho-Slovak State.
ARTICLE 83.
Germany renounces in favour of the Czecho-Slovak State all rights and title over the portion of
Silesian territory defined as follows: starting from a point about 2 kilometres south-east of
Katscher, on the boundary between the Kreise of Leobschutz and Ratibor: the boundary between
the two Kreise; then, the former boundary between Germany and Austria-Hungary up to a point on
the Oder immediately to the south of the Ratibor-Oderberg railway; thence, towards the north-west
and up to a point about 2 kilometres to the south-east of Katscher: a line to be fixed on the spot
passing to the west of Kranowitz. A Commission composed of seven members, five nominated by
the Principal Allied and Associated Powers, one by Poland and one by the Czecho-Slovak State,
will be appointed fifteen days after the coming into force of the present Treaty to trace on the spot
the frontier line between Poland and the Czecho-Slovak State. The decisions of this Commission
will be taken by a majority and shall be binding on the parties concerned. Germany hereby agrees to
renounce in favour of the Czecho-Slovak State all rights and title over the part of the Kreis of
Leobschutz comprised within the following boundaries in case after the determination of the frontier
between Germany and Poland the said part of that Kreis should become isolated from Germany:
from the south-eastern extremity of the salient of the former Austrian frontier at about 5 kilometres
to the west of Leobschutz southwards and up to the point of junction with the boundary between the
Kreise of Leobschutz and Ratibor: the former frontier between Germany and Austria-Hungary;
then, northwards, the administrative boundary between the Kreise of Leobschutz and Ratibor up to
a point situated about 2 kilometres to the south-east of Katscher; thence, north-westwards and up to
the starting-point of this definition: a line to be fixed on the spot passing to the east of Katscher,
ARTICLE 84.
German nationals habitually resident in any of the territories recognised as forming part of the
Czecho-Slovak State will obtain Czecho-Slovak nationality ipso facto and lose their German
nationality.
ARTICLE 85.
Within a period of two years from the coming into force of the present Treaty, German nationals
over eighteen years of age habitually resident in any of the territories recognized as forming part of
the Czecho-Slovak State will be entitled to opt for German. nationality. Czecho-Slovaks who are
German nationals and are habitually resident in Germany will have a similar right to opt for
Czecho-Slovak nationality.
Option by a husband will cover his wife and option by parents will cover their children under
eighteen years of age.
Persons who have exercised the above right to opt must within the succeeding twelve months
transfer their place of residence to the State for which they have opted.
They will be entitled to retain their landed property in the territory of the other State where they had
their place of residence before exercising the right to opt. They may carry with them their movable
property of every description. No export or import duties may be imposed upon them in connection
with the removal of such property.
Within the same period Czecho-Slovaks, who are German nationals and are in a foreign country
will be entitled, in the absence of any provisions to the contrary in the foreign law, and if they have
not acquired the foreign nationality, to obtain Czecho-Slovak nationality and lose their German
nationality by complying with the requirements laid down by the Czecho-Slovak State.
ARTICLE 86.
The Czecho-Slovak State accepts and agrees to embody in a Treaty with the Principal Allied and
Associated Powers such provisions as may be deemed necessary by the said Powers to protect the
interests of inhabitants of that State who differ from the majority of the population in race,
language, or religion.
The Czecho-Slovak State further accepts and agrees to embody in a Treaty with the said Powers
such provisions as they may deem necessary to protect freedom of transit and equitable treatment of
the commerce of other nations.
The proportion and nature of the financial obligations of Germany and Prussia which the
Czecho-Slovak State will have to assume on account of the Silesian territory placed under its
sovereignty will be determined in accordance with Article 254 of Part IX (Financial Clauses) of the
present Treaty.
Subsequent agreements will decide all questions not decided by the present Treaty which may arise
in consequence of the cession of the said territory.
SECTION VIII.
POLAND.
ARTICLE 87.
Germany, in conformity with the action already taken by the Allied and Associated Powers,
recognises the complete independence of Poland, and renounces in her favour all rights and title
over the territory bounded by the Baltic Sea, the eastern frontier of Germany as laid down in Article
27 of Part II (Boundaries of Germany) of the present Treaty up to a point situated about 2
kilometres to the east of Lorzendorf, then a line to the acute angle which the northern boundary of
Upper Silesia makes about 3 kilometres north-west of Simmenau, then the boundary of Upper
Silesia to its meeting point with the old frontier between Germany and Russia, then this frontier to
the point where it crosses the course of the Niemen, and then the northern frontier of East Prussia
as laid down in Article 28 of Part II aforesaid.
The provisions of this Article do not, however, apply to the territories of East Prussia and the Free
City of Danzig, as defined in Article 28 of Part II (Boundaries of Germany) and in Article 100 of
Section XI (Danzig) of this Part.
The boundaries of Poland not laid down in the present Treaty will be subsequently determined by
the Principal Allied and Associated Powers.
A Commission consisting of seven members, five of whom shall be nominated by the Principal
Allied and Associated Powers, one by Germany and one by Poland, shall be constituted fifteen
days after the coming into force of the present Treaty to delimit on the spot the frontier line between
Poland and Germany. The decisions of the Commission will be taken by a majority of votes and
shall be binding upon the parties concerned.
ARTICLE 88.
In the portion of Upper Silesia included within the boundaries described below, the inhabitants will
be called upon to indicate by a vote whether they wish to be attached to Germany or to Poland:
starting from the northern point of the salient of the old province of Austrian Silesia situated about 8
kilometres east of Neustadt, the former frontier between Germany and Austria to its junction with
the boundary between the Kreise of Leobschutz and Ratibor; thence in a northerly direction to a
point about 2 kilometres south-east of Katscher: the boundary between the Kreise of Leobschutz
and Ratibor; thence in a south-easterly direction to a point on the course of the Oder immediately
south of the Ratibor- Oderberg railway: a line to be fixed on the ground passing south of
Kranowitz; thence the old boundary between Germany and Austria, then the old boundary between
Germany and Russia to its junction with the administrative boundary between Posnania and Upper
Silesia; thence this administrative boundary to its junction with the administrative boundary between
Upper and Middle Silesia, thence westwards to the point where the administrative boundary turns in
an acute angle to the south-east about 3 kilometres north- west of Simmenau: the boundary between
Upper and Middle Silesia; then in a westerly direction to a point to be fixed on the ground about 2
kilometres east of Lorzendorf: a line to be fixed on the ground passing north of Klein Hennersdorf:
thence southwards to the point where the boundary between Upper and Middle Silesia cuts the
Stadtel-Karlsruhe road: a line to be fixed on the ground passing west of Hennersdorf, Polkowitz,
Noldau, Steinersdorf, and Dammer, and east of Strehlitz, Nassadel, Eckersdorf, Schwirz, and
Stadtel; thence the boundary between Upper and Middle Silesia to its junction with the eastern
boundary of the Kreis of Falkenberg; then the eastern boundary of the Kreis of Falkenberg to the
point of the salient which is 3 kilometres east of Puschine; thence to the northern point of the salient
of the old province of Austrian Silesia situated about 8 kilometres east of Neustadt: a line to be fixed
on the ground passing east of Zulz.
The regime under which this plebiscite will be taken and given effect to is laid down in the Annex
hereto.
The Polish and German Governments hereby respectively bind themselves to conduct no
prosecutions on any part of their territory and to take no exceptional proceedings for any political
action performed in Upper Silesia during the period of the regime laid down in the Annex hereto
and up to the settlement of the final status of the country.
Germany hereby renounces in favour of Poland all rights and title over the portion of Upper Silesia
lying beyond the frontier line fixed by the Principal Allied and Associated Powers as the result of
the plebiscite.
ARTICLE 89.
Poland undertakes to accord freedom of transit to persons, goods, vessels, carriages, wagons, and
mails in transit between East Prussia and the rest of Germany over Polish territory, including
territorial waters, and to treat them at least as favourably as the persons, goods, vessels, carriages,
wagons and mails respectively of Polish or of any other more favoured nationality, origin
importation, starting point, or ownerships as regards facilities, restrictions and all other matters.
Goods in transit shall be exempt from all customs or other similar duties.
Freedom of transit will extend to telegraphic and telephonic services under the conditions laid down
by the conventions referred to in Article 98.
ARTICLE 90.
Poland undertakes to permit for a period of fifteen years the exportation to Germany of the products
of the mines in any part of Upper Silesia transferred to Poland in accordance with the present
Treaty.
Such products shall be free from all export duties or other charges or restrictions on exportation.
Poland agrees to take such steps as may be necessary to secure that any such products shall be
available for sale to purchasers in Germany on terms as favourable as are applicable to like products
sold under similar conditions to purchasers in Poland or in any other country.
ARTICLE 91.
German nationals habitually resident in territories recognised as forming part of Poland will acquire
Polish nationality ipso facto and will lose their German nationality. German nationals, however, or
their descendants who became resident in these territories after January 1, 1908, will not acquire
Polish nationality without a special authorisation from the Polish State.
Within a period of two years after the coming into force of the present Treaty, German nationals
over 18 years of age habitually resident in any of the territories recognised as forming part of
Poland will be entitled to opt for German nationality.
Poles who are German nationals over 18 years of age and habitually resident in Germany will have
a similar right to opt for Polish nationality.
Option by a husband will cover his wife and option by parents will cover their children under 18
years of age.
Persons who have exercised the above right to opt may within the succeeding twelve months
transfer their place of residence to the State for which they have opted.
They will be entitled to retain their immovable property in the territory of the other State where they
had their place of residence before exercising the right to opt.
They may carry with them their movable property of every description. No export or import duties
or charges may be imposed upon them in connection with the removal of such property.
Within the same period Poles who are German nationals and are in a foreign country will be
entitled, in the absence of any provisions to the contrary in the foreign law, and if they have not
acquired the foreign nationality, to obtain Polish nationality and to lose their German nationality by
complying with the requirements laid down by the Polish State.
In the portion of Upper Silesia submitted to a plebiscite the provisions of this Article shall only
come into force as from the definitive attribution of the territory.
ARTICLE 92.
The proportion and the nature of the financial liabilities of Germany and Prussia which are to be
borne by Poland will be determined in accordance with Article 254 of Part IX (Financial Clauses) of
the present Treaty.
There shall be excluded from the share of such financial liabilities assumed by Poland that portion
of the debt which, according to the finding of the Reparation Commission referred to in the
above-mentioned Article, arises from measures adopted by the German and Prussian Governments
with a view to German colonisation in Poland.
In fixing under Article 256 of the present Treaty the value of the property and possessions
belonging to the German Empire and to the German States which pass to Poland with the territory
transferred above, the Reparation Commission shall exclude from the valuation buildings, forests,
and other State property which belonged to the former Kingdom of Poland; Poland shall acquire
these properties free of all costs and charges.
In all the German territory transferred in accordance with the present Treaty and recognised as
forming definitively part of Poland, the property, rights, and interests of German nationals shall not
be liquidated under Article 297 by the Polish Government except in accordance with the following
provisions:
(1) The proceeds of the liquidation shall be paid direct to the owner;
(2) If on his application the Mixed Arbitral Tribunal provided for by Section VI of Part X
(Economic Clauses) of the present Treaty, or an arbitrator appointed by that Tribunal, is satisfied
that the conditions of the sale or measures taken by the Polish Government outside its general
legislation were unfairly prejudicial to the price obtained, they shall have discretion to award to the
owner equitable compensation to be paid by the Polish Government.
Further agreements will regulate all questions arising out of the cession of the above territory which
are not regulated by the present Treaty.
ARTICLE 93.
Poland accepts and agrees to embody in a Treaty with the Principal Allied and Associated Powers
such provisions as may be deemed necessary by the said Powers to protect the interests of
inhabitants of Poland who differ from the majority of the population in race, language, or religion.
Poland further accepts and agrees to embody in a Treaty with the said Powers such provisions as
they may deem necessary to protect freedom of transit and equitable treatment of the commerce of
other nations.
SECTION IX.
EAST PRUSSIA.
ARTICLE 94.
In the area between the southern frontier of East Prussia, as described in Article 28 of Part II
(Boundaries of Germany) of the present Treaty, and the line described below, the inhabitants will
be called upon to indicate by a vote the State to which they wish to belong:
The western and northern boundary of Regierungsbezirk Allenstein to its junction with the
boundary between the Kreise of Oletsko and Angerburg; thence, the northern boundary of the Kreis
of Oletsko to its junction with the old frontier of East Prussia.
ARTICLE 95.
The German troops and authorities will be withdrawn from the area defined above within a period
not exceeding fifteen days after the coming into force of the present treaty. Until the evacuation is
completed they will abstain from all requisitions in money or in kind and from all measures
injurious to the economic interests of the country.
On the expiration of the above-mentioned period the said area will be placed under the authority of
an International Commission of five members appointed by the Principal Allied and Associated
Powers. This Commission will have general powers of administration and, in particular, will be
charged with the duty of arranging for the vote and of taking such measures as it may deem
necessary to ensure its freedom, fairness, and secrecy. The Commission will have all necessary
authority to decide any questions to which the execution of these provisions may give rise. The
Commission will make such arrangements as may be necessary for assistance in the exercise of its
functions by officials chosen by itself from the local population. Its decisions will be taken by a
majority.
Every person, irrespective of sex, will be entitled to vote who:
(a) Is 20 years of age at the date of the coming into force of the present Treaty, and
(b) Was born within the area where the vote will take place or has been habitually resident there
from a date to be fixed by the Commission.
Every person will vote in the commune where he is habitually resident or, if not habitually resident
in the area, in the commune where he was born.
The result of the vote will be determined by communes (Gemeinde) according to the majority of the
votes in each commune.
On the conclusion of the voting the number of votes cast in each commune will be communicated by
the Commission to the Principal Allied and Associated Powers, with a full report as the taking of
the vote and a recommendation as to the line which ought to be adopted as the boundary of East
Prussia in this region . In this recommendation regard will be paid to the wishes of the inhabitants
as shown by the vote and to the geographical and economic conditions of the locality. The Principal
Allied and Associated Powers will then fix the frontier between East Prussia and Poland in this
region.
If the line fixed by the Principal Allied and Associated Powers is such as to exclude from East
Prussia any part of the territory defined in Article 94, the renunciation of its rights by Germany in
favour of Poland, as provided in Article 87 above, will extend to the territories so excluded.
As soon as the line has been fixed by the Principal Allied and Associated Powers, the authorities
administering East Prussia will be notified by the International Commission that they are free to take
over the administration of the territory to the north of the line so fixed, which they shall proceed to
do within one month of such notification and in the manner prescribed by the Commission. Within
the same period and as prescribed by the Commission, the Polish Government must proceed to take
over the administration of the territory to the south of the line. The administration of the territory by
the East Prussian and Polish authorities respectively has been provided for, the powers of the
Commission will terminate.
Expenditure by the Commission, whether in the discharge of its own functions or in the
administration of the territory, will be borne by the local revenues East Prussia will be required to
bear such proportion of any deficit as may be fixed by the Principal Allied and Associated Powers.
ARTICLE 96.
In the area comprising the Kreise of Stuhm and Rosenberg and the portion of the Kreis of
Marienburg which is situated east of the Nogat and that of Marienwerder east of the Vistula, the
inhabitants will be called upon to indicate by a vote, to be taken in each commune (Gemeinde),
whether they desire the various communes situated in this territory to belong to Poland or to East
Prussia.
ARTICLE 97.
The German troops and authorities will be withdrawn from the area defined in Article 96 within a
period not exceeding fifteen days after the coming into force of the present Treaty. Until the
evacuation is completed they will abstain from all requisitions in money or in kind and from all
measures injurious to the economic interests of the country.
On the expiration of the above-mentioned period, the said area will be placed under the authority of
an International Commission of five members appointed by the Principal Allied and Associated
Powers. This Commission, supported if occasion arises by the necessary forces, will have general
powers of administration and in particular will be charged with the duty of arranging for the vote
and of taking such measures as it may deem necessary to ensure its freedom, fairness, and secrecy.
The Commission will conform as far as possible to the provisions of the present Treaty relating to
the plebiscite in the Allenstein area; its decisions will be taken by a majority.
Expenditure by the Commission, whether in the discharge of its own functions or in the
administration of the territory, will be borne by the local revenues.
On the conclusion of the voting the number of votes cast in each commune will be communicated by
the Commission to the Principal Allied and Associated Powers with a full report as to the taking of
the vote and a recommendation as to the line which ought to be adopted as the boundary of East
Prussia in this region. In this recommendation regard will be paid to the wishes of the inhabitants as
shown by the vote and to the geographical and economic conditions of the locality. The Principal
Allied and Associated Powers will then fix the frontier between East Prussia and Poland in this
region, leaving in any case to Poland for the whole of the section bordering on the Vistula full and
complete control of the river including the east bank as far east of the river as may be necessary for
its regulation and improvement, Germany agrees that in any portion of the said territory which
remains German, no fortifications shall at any time be erected. The Principal Allied and Associated
Powers will at the same time draw up regulations for assuring to the population of East Prussia to
the fullest extent and under equitable conditions access to the Vistula and the use of it for
themselves, their commerce, and their boats.
The determination of the frontier and the foregoing regulations shall be binding upon all the parties
concerned.
When the administration of the territory has been taken over by the East Prussian and Polish
authorities respectively, the powers of the Commission will terminate.
ARTICLE 98.
Germany and Poland undertake, within one year of the coming into force of this Treaty, to enter
into conventions of which the terms, in case of difference, shall be settled by the Council of the
League of Nations, with the object of securing, on the one hand, to Germany full and adequate
railroad, telegraphic and telephonic facilities for communication between the rest of Germany and
East Prussia over the intervening Polish territory, and on the other hand to Poland full and adequate
railroad, telegraphic and telephonic facilities for communication between Poland and the Free City
of Danzig over any German territory that may, on the right bank of the Vistula, intervene between
Poland and the Free City of Danzig.
SECTION X.
MEMEL.
ARTICLE 99.
Germany renounces in favour of the Principal Allied and Associated Powers all rights and title over
the territories included between the Baltic, the north-eastern frontier of East Prussia as defined in
Article 28 of Part II (Boundaries of Germany) of the present Treaty and the former frontier between
Germany and Russia. Germany undertakes to accept the settlement made by the Principal Allied and
Associated Powers in regard to these territories, particularly in so far as concerns the nationality of
the inhabitants.
SECTION XI.
FREE CITY OF DANZIG.
ARTICLE 100.
Germany renounces in favour of the Principal Allied and Associated Powers all rights and title over
the territory comprised within the following limits:
from the Baltic Sea southwards to the point where the principal channels of navigation of the Nogat
and the Vistula (Weichsel) meet:
the boundary of East Prussia as described in Article 28 of Part II (Boundaries of Germany) of the
present Treaty;
thence the principal channel of navigation of the Vistula downstream to a point about 6-1/2
kilometres north of the bridge of Dirschau;
thence north-west to point 5-1/2 kilometres south-east of the church of Guttland:
a line to be fixed on the ground,
thence in a general westerly direction to the salient made by the boundary of the Kreis of Berent
8-1/2 kilometres north-east of Schoneck:
a line to be fixed on the ground passing between Muhlbanz on the south and Rambeltsch on the
north;
thence the boundary of the Kreis of Berent westwards to the re- entrant which it forms 6 kilometres
north-north-west Schoneck; thence to a point on the median line of Lonkener See:
a line to be fixed on the ground passing north of Neu Fietz and Schatarpi and south of Barenhutte
and Lonken;
thence the median line of Lonkener See to its northernmost point;
thence to the southern end of Pollenziner See:
a line to be fixed on the ground;
thence the median line of Pollenziner See to its northernmost point;
thence in a north-easterly direction to a point about 1 kilometre south of Koliebken church, where
the Danzig-Neustadt railway crosses a stream:
a line to be fixed on the ground passing south-east of Kamehlen, Krissau, Fidlin, Sulmin
(Richthof), Mattern, Schaferei, and to the north-west of Neuendorf, Marschau, Czapielken, Hoch-
and Klein- Kelpin, Pulvermuhl, Renneberg, and the towns of Oliva and Zoppot;
thence the course of the stream mentioned above to the Baltic Sea. The boundaries described above
are drawn on a German map, scale 1/100,000, attached to the present Treaty (Map No. 3).
ARTICLE 101.
A Commission composed of three members appointed by the Principal Allied and Associated
Powers, including a High Commissioner as President, one member appointed by Germany and one
member appointed by Poland, shall be constituted within fifteen days of the coming into force of the
present Treaty for the purpose of delimiting on the spot the frontier of the territory as described
above, taking into account as far as possible the existing communal boundaries.
ARTICLE 102.
The Principal Allied and Associated Powers undertake to establish the town of Danzig, together
with the rest of the territory described in Article 100, as a Free City. It will be placed under the
protection of the League of Nations.
ARTICLE 103.
A constitution for the Free City of Danzig shall be drawn up by the duly appointed representatives
of the Free City in agreement with a High Commissioner to be appointed by the League of Nations.
This constitution shall be placed under the guarantee of the League of Nations.
The High Commissioner will also be entrusted with the duty of dealing in the first instance with all
differences arising between Poland and the Free City of Danzig in regard to this Treaty or any
arrangements or agreements made thereunder.
The High Commissioner shall reside at Danzig.
ARTICLE 104.
The Principal Allied and Associated Powers undertake to negotiate a Treaty between the Polish
Government and the Free City of Danzig, which shall come into force at the same time as the
establishment of the said Free City, with the following objects:
(1) To effect the inclusion of the Free City of Danzig within the Polish Customs frontiers, and to
establish a free area in the port;
(2) To ensure to Poland without any restriction the free use and service of all waterways, docks,
basins, wharves and other works within the territory of the Free City necessary for Polish imports
and exports;
(3) To ensure to Poland the control and administration of the Vistula and of the whole railway
system within the Free City, except such street and other railways as serve primarily the needs of
the Free City, and of postal, telegraphic and telephonic communication between Poland and the port
of Danzig;
(4) To ensure to Poland the right to develop and improve the waterways, docks, basins, wharves,
railways and other works and means of communication mentioned in this Article, as well as to lease
or purchase through appropriate processes such land and other property as may be necessary for
these purposes,
(5) To provide against any discrimination within the Free City of Danzig to the detriment of citizens
of Poland and other persons of Polish origin or speech;
(6) To provide that the Polish Government shall undertake the conduct of the foreign relations of the
Free City of Danzig as well as the diplomatic protection of citizens of that city when abroad.
ARTICLE 105.
On the coming into force of the present Treaty German nationals ordinarily resident in the territory
described in Article 100 will ipso facto lose their German nationality in order to become nationals of
the Free City of Danzig.
ARTICLE 106.
Within a period of two years from the coming into force of the present Treaty, German nationals
over 18 years of age ordinarily resident in the territory described in Article 100 will have the right to
opt for German nationality.
Option by a husband will cover his wife and option by parents will cover their children less than 18
years of age.
All persons who exercise the right of option referred to above must during the ensuing twelve
months transfer their place of residence to Germany.
These persons will be entitled to preserve the immovable property possessed by them in the territory
of the Free City of Danzig. They may carry with them their movable property of every description.
No export or import duties shall be imposed upon upon them in this connection.
ARTICLE 107.
All property situated within the territory of the Free City of Danzig belonging to the German Empire
or to any German State shall pass to the Principal Allied and Associated Powers for transfer to the
Free City of Danzig or to the Polish State as they may consider equitable.
ARTICLE 108.
The proportion and nature of the financial liabilities of Germany and of Prussia to be borne by the
Free City of Danzig shall be fixed in accordance with Article 254 of Part IX (Financial Clauses) of
the present Treaty.
All other questions which may arise from the cession of the territory referred to in Article 100 shall
be settled by further agreements.
SECTION XII.
SCHLESWIG.
ARTICLE 109.
The frontier between Germany and Denmark shall be fixed in conformity with the wishes of the
population.
For this purpose, the population inhabiting the territories of the former German Empire situated to
the north of a line, from East to West, (shown by a brown line on the map No. 4, annexed to the
present Treaty):
leaving the Baltic Sea about 13 kilometres east-north-east of Flensburg,
running south-west so as to pass south-east of: Sygum, Ringsberg, Munkbrarup, Adelby, Tastrup,
Jarplund, Oversee, and northwest of: Langballigholz, Langballig, Bonstrup, Rullschau, Weseby,
Kleinwolstrup, Gross-Solt,
thence westwards passing south of Frorup and north of Wanderup,
thence in a south-westerly direction passing south-east of Oxlund, Stieglund and Ostenau and
north-west of the villages on the Wanderup-Kollund road,
thence in a north-westerly direction passing south-west of Lowenstedt, Joldelund, Goldelund, and
north-east of Kolkerheide and Hogel to the bend of the Soholmer Au, about 1 kilometre east of
Soholm, where it meets the southern boundary of the Kreis of Tondern, following this boundary to
the North Sea,passing south of the islands of Fohr and Amrum and north of the islands of Oland
and Langeness, shall be called upon to pronounce by a vote which will be taken under the following
conditions:
(1) Within a period not exceeding ten days from the coming into force of the present Treaty, the
German troops and authorities (including the Oberprasidenten, Regierungs-prasidenten, Landrathe,
Amtsvorsteher, Oberburgermeister) shall evacuate the zone lying to the north of the line above
fixed.
Within the same period the Workmen's and Soldiers', Councils which have been constituted in this
zone shall be dissolved; members of such councils who are natives of another region and are
exercising their functions at the date of the coming into force of the present Treaty, or who have
gone out of office since March 1, 1919, shall also be evacuated.
The said zone shall immediately be placed under the authority of an International Commission,
composed of five members, of whom three will be designated by the Principal Allied and
Associated Powers; the Norwegian and Swedish Governments will each be requested to designate a
member; in the event of their failing to do so, these two members will be chosen by the Principal
Allied and Associated Powers.
The Commission, assisted in case of need by the necessary forces, shall have general powers of
administration. In particular, it shall at once provide for filling the places of the evacuated German
authorities, and if necessary shall itself give orders for their evacuation, and proceed to fill the
places of such local authorities as may be required. It shall take all steps which it thinks proper to
ensure the freedom, fairness, and secrecy of the vote. It shall be assisted by German and Danish
technical advisers chosen by it from among the local population. Its decisions will be taken by a
majority.
One-half of the expenses of the Commission and of the expenditure occasioned by the plebiscite
shall be paid by Germany.
(2) The right to vote shall be given to all persons, without distinction of sex, who:
(a) Have completed their twentieth year at the date of the coming into force of the present Treaty;
and
(b) Were born in the zone in which the plebiscite is taken, or have been domiciled there since a date
before January 1, 1900, or had been expelled by the German authorities without having retained
their domicile there.
Every person will vote in the commune (Gemeinde) where he is domiciled or of which he is a
native.
Military persons, officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the German army, who are
natives of the zone of Schleswig in which the plebiscite is taken, shall be given the opportunity to
return to their native place in order to take part in the voting there.
(3) In the section of the evacuated zone lying to the north of a line, from East to West (shown by a
red line on map No. 4 which is annexed to the present Treaty). [See Introduction]:
passing south of the island of Alsen and following the median line of Flensburg Fjord,
leaving the fjord about 6 kilometres north of Flensburg and following the course of the stream
flowing past Kupfermuhle upstream to a point north of Niehuus,
passing north of Pattburg and Ellund and south of Froslee to meet the eastern boundary of the Kreis
of Tondern at its junction with the boundary between the old jurisdiction of Slogs and Kjaer (Slogs,
Herred, and Kaer Herred),
following the latter boundary to where it meets the Scheidebek, following the course of the
Scheidebek (AIte Au), Suder Au, and Wied Au downstream successively to the point where the
latter bends northwards about 1,500 metres west of Ruttebull
thence, in a west-north-westerly direction to meet the North Sea north of SieItoft,
thence, passing north of the island of Sylt,
the vote above provided for shall be taken within a period not exceeding three weeks after the
evacuation of the country by the German troops and authorities.
The result will be determined by the majority of votes cast in the whole of this section. This result
will be immediately communicated by the Commission to the Principal Allied and Associated
Powers and proclaimed.
If the vote results in favour of the reincorporation of this territory in the Kingdom of Denmark, the
Danish Government in agreement with the Commission will be entitled to effect its occupation with
their military and administrative authorities immediately after the proclamation.
(4) In the section of the evacuated zone situated to the south of the preceding section and to the
north of the line which starts from the Baltic Sea 13 kilometres from Flensburg and ends north of
the islands of Oland and Langeness, the vote will be taken within a period not exceeding five weeks
after the plebiscite shall have been held in the first section.
The result will be determined by communes (Gemeinden), in accordance with the majority of the
votes cast in each commune (Gemeinde).
ARTICLE 110.
Pending a delimitation on the spot, a frontier line will be fixed by the Principal Allied and
Associated Powers according to a line based on the result of the voting, and proposed by the
International Commission, and taking into account the particular geographical and economic
conditions of the localities in question.
From that time the Danish Government may effect the occupation of these territories with the Danish
civil and military authorities, and the German Government may reinstate up to the said frontier line
the German civil and military authorities whom it has evacuated.
Germany hereby renounces definitely in favour of the Principal Allied and Associated Powers all
rights of sovereignty over the territories situated to the north of the frontier line fixed in accordance
with the above provisions. The Principal Allied and Associated Powers will hand over the said
territories to Denmark.
ARTICLE 111.
A Commission composed of seven members, five of whom shall be nominated by the Principal
Allied and Associated Powers, one by Denmark, and one by Germany, shall be constituted within
fifteen days from the date when the final result of the vote is known, to trace the frontier line on the
spot.
The decisions of the Commission will be taken by a majority of votes and shall be binding on the
parties concerned.
ARTICLE 112.
All the inhabitants of the territory which is returned to Denmark will acquire Danish nationality ipso
facto, and will lose their German nationality.
Persons, however, who had become habitually resident in this territory after October 1, 1918, will
not be able to acquire Danish nationality without permission from the Danish Government.
ARTICLE 113.
Within two years from the date on which the sovereignty over the whole or part of the territory of
Schleswig subjected to the plebiscite is restored to Denmark:
Any person over 18 years of age, born in the territory restored to Denmark not habitually resident in
this region, and possessing German nationality, will be entitled to opt for Denmark;
Any person over 18 years of age habitually resident in the territory restored to Denmark will be
entitled to opt for Germany.
Option by a husband will cover his wife and option by parents will cover their children less than 18
years of age.
Persons who have exercised the above right to opt must within the ensuing twelve months transfer
their place of residence to the State in favour of which they have opted.
They will be entitled to retain the immovable property which they own in the territory of the other
State in which they were habitually resident before opting. They may carry with them their movable
property of every description. No export or import duties may be imposed upon them in connection
with the removal of such property.
ARTICLE 114.
The proportion and nature of the financial or other obligations of Germany and Prussia which are to
be assumed by Denmark will be fixed in accordance with Article 254 of Part IX (Financial Clauses)
of the present Treaty.
Further stipulations will determine any other questions arising out of the transfer to Denmark of the
whole or part of the territory of which she was deprived by the Treaty of October 30, 1864.
SECTION XIII.
HELIGOLAND.
ARTICLE 115.
The fortifications, military establishments, and harbours, of the Islands of Heligoland and Dune
shall be destroyed under the supervision of the Principal Allied Governments by German labour and
at the expense of Germany within a period to be determined by the said Governments.
The term "harbours,, shall include the north-east mole, the west wall, the outer and inner
breakwaters, and reclaimed land within them, and all naval and military works, fortifications, and
buildings, constructed or under construction, between lines connecting the following positions
taken from the British Admiralty chart No. 126 of April 19, 1918:
(a) lat. 54° 10' 49" N.; long. 7° 53' 39" E.;
(b) –54° 10' 35" N.; – 7° 54' 18" E.;
(c) –54° 10' 14" N.; – 7° 54' 00" E.;
(d) –54° 10' 17" N.; – 7° 53' 37" E.;
(e) –54° 10' 44" N.; – 7° 53' 26" E.
These fortifications, military establishments, and harbours shall not be reconstructed nor shall any
similar works be constructed in future.
SECTION XIV.
RUSSIA AND RUSSIAN STATES.
ARTICLE 116.
Germany acknowledges and agrees to respect as permanent and inalienable the independence of all
the territories which were part of the former Russian Empire on August 1, 1914.
In accordance with the provisions of Article 259 of Part IX (Financial Clauses) and Article 292 of
Part X (Economic Clauses) Germany accepts definitely the abrogation of the Brest-Litovsk Treaties
and of all other treaties, conventions, and agreements entered into by her with the Maximalist
Government in Russia.
The Allied and Associated Powers formally reserve the rights of Russia to obtain from Germany
restitution and reparation based on the principles of the present Treaty.
ARTICLE 117.
Germany undertakes to recognise the full force of all treaties or agreements which may be entered
into by the Allied and Associated Powers with States now existing or coming into existence in
future in the whole or part of the former Empire of Russia as it existed on August 1, 1914, and to
recognise the frontiers of any such States as determined therein.
|
