The Treaty of Versailles — Articles 31–117
Articles 31 - 117 and Annexes.
Political Clauses for Europe.
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.
Germany recognises the full sovereignty of Belgium over the whole of the contested territory of.
Moresnet (called Moresnet neutre)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
LEFT BANK OF THE RHINE.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Crown property and the property of the former Emperor or other German sovereigns shall be.
assimilated to property of the public domain.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The German Government undertakes to continue and complete without delay the execution of the.
financial clauses regarding Alsace- Lorraine contained in the Armistice Conventions.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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"
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.
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.
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.
With regard to the execution of judgments, appeals and prosecutions, the following rules shall be.
(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.
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.
(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.
(5) All other questions as to competence, procedure or administration of justice shall be determined.
by a special Convention between France and Germany.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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,.
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.
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.
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.
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,.
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.
Subsequent agreements will decide all questions not decided by the present Treaty which may arise.
in consequence of the cession of the said territory.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
(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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
All other questions which may arise from the cession of the territory referred to in Article 100 shall.
be settled by further agreements.
The frontier between Germany and Denmark shall be fixed in conformity with the wishes of the.
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.
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.
(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.
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.
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;
(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.
Every person will vote in the commune (Gemeinde) where he is domiciled or of which he is a.
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.
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)
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.
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.
The decisions of the Commission will be taken by a majority of votes and shall be binding on the.
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.
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.
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.
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)
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.
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.
RUSSIA AND RUSSIAN STATES.
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.
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.
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.