Points of Peace Treaty.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IX, Issue 171, 5 July 1919, Page 5

Points of Peace Treaty.

.SUMMARY USEFUL FOR REFERENCE.

The Treaty of Peace handed to the Germans, tbe full terms of wineli were given in the ‘Tribune’’ <>u May 9th, was designed in the fust instance to set forth the condition., upon which alone the Allied anil associated Powers would make peace with German! ; and m the second place to establish those iuterinitiomu arrangements whicn the Allies have devised for the prevention of wars m future and the betterment of mankind. For this latter reason it includes Lhe. Coi enant of the League of Nations and the International Labour Convention.

The Treaty, however, . does not deal, except incidentally, with the problems arising out ot the liquidation of the Austrian Empire, no: witti ttie territories of the two other enemy Powers, Tin key and Bulgani. except in so tar as it binds Germany tv accept whatever subsequent s<-i tlement may be decided upon by t ic Allies in the case, of those belligerents.

•The League of Nations is empowered by the Covenant to adopt measures affecting, among other matters, armaments, the prevention of war, the administration under mandatories of nations not yet able to stand by themselves, and fan con d’tioi.s of labour for men. women and children. TERRI TOR IA L LIIA N GES.

Alsace-Lorraine is restored to Fiam-e, and the 1 ranco-Germao frontier is that of July lb, 1870, with a reservation regarding the Saur basin. I w o new States- I zeeho-Slovakm and Poland and new systems of governmenL in Luxemburg and the Saar basin are established. The frontier with Austria is the s-inic as that of August 3, 1911, up to the point where that of the new State of Czecho-Sloeakia begins. Germany cedes to France fuii ownership of the mines in the Saar basin, which territory will be govern ed I>y a commission appointed by the I.eague of Nations.

After 15 years a plebiscite will be held by the communes in this territorv to decide between the League of Nations regime or union with Frame or German). Poland obtains from Germany tire err U«-r part «>f I’pper Silesia. Posen, and the province of West Prussia on the left Lack of the Vistula. I’he southern and eastern Irontier of East Prussia, as facing Poland, is to be fixed by plebiscites. "The l-’ree’i'ity of Danzig" is to be constituted under tlie guarantee of the League of Nations.

Th»- frontier between Germany ami Denmark will be determined in av.-ordaiic- witii the wislies of the population. t.lermany is to recognise the inde pendenee of all territories which formed part of the former Russian Empire. Tire independence of German Austria is recognised by Germany. There is a general renunciation on the part of Germany of her po~sessions and rights abroad. to-rmany yields her colonies tn Africa and in the Pacific to the .V together with her rishis in Africa under the various international conventions.

International recognition is given to the British protectorate in Egyp'. Germany cedes to Japan all rights, notably as to Kiau-chati. and the railroad and cables acquired by her treat-.- with China of March 6. J 592. imd bv h«-r -igreemer’s as to >b.an--I‘‘ 'NAVAL AND MILITARY Tho fortificatioti.-. military e.-taj--'.l-hmrnt s. and harbours of the islands of Heligoland and Dane are tn be destroyed under rhe superv isior of 'he Allies Ly German .abour.

Compulsory military service is to be abolished in Germany, the total number of effectives being fixed at 100,000, including not more than 400 officers.

There will not be more than seven infantry and fhree cavalry divisions, and not more than two staff corps.

No reserve of officers with war service will be permitted. Within two months the German naval forces in commission must not exceed six battleships, six light cruisers. 12 destroyers, and I'2 tor-pedo-boats, and the personnel (also volunteers) must not exceed 15,000. including a maximum of 1500 officers and warrant-officers. Germany is forbidden to construct or acquire any warships. A fixed number of minesweepers inay be kept in commission until the mines within certain specified area® in the North Sea and the Baltic have been swept up. The armed forces of Germany must not include any military or naval air forces. Germany must not maintain or construct any fortifications less than 50 kilometers to the east of the Rhine, and must maintain no armed force within this area. REPATRIATION AND RESTITUTION.

Germany accepts on behalf of herself and of her allies, responsibility for causing all loss and damage to which the Allied and associated Governments and their nationals have been subjected as a consequence of the war imposed upon them by the aggression of the enemy States. An Interallied commission will fix the amount of damages, and report the same to Germany before May I. 1921, announcing at the same time the total claims which Germany must meet and the scheme of payment. spiead over a period of 30 vears thereafter.

Germane must pav before May 1. 1921. £1.600.000.000 ‘ worth of gold, goods, or ships, the first charge thereon to be the cost of the armies of occupation and supplies forwarded to Germany to enable her to meet her obligations. Germany must issue immediately and surrender to the Interallied commission on account £1.000,000,000 Treasury bearer bonds as a guaran toe of the instalment payable beforeMay 1. 1921. There must also be a further issue of bonds for £2.000,DOO.OOO before 1926, and for £2.000.nno.ooo more at a date to he fixed. The ruling rate of interest is 5 per cent.

An Allied commission will fix the remainder of the indemnity to be paid by Germany, and the form that it shall take. COMMERCE.

The German Government recognises the right of the Allies to the replacement., ton for ton and class for class, of all merchant ships and fishing boats lost or damaged owing to the war.

An undertaking is given by Germany that she will build 1,000,000 tons of .shipping for the Allies, spread over five vears. Germany is to hand over all ships over 1600 tons, one-half of her ships between 1000 tons and 1600 tons, and one-fourth of her trawlers and fishing boats. The vessels of the Allies are to enjoy the treatment extended to German vessels and most favoured nation treatment for at least five years.

Germany undertakes not lo discriminate directly or indirectly against the trade of Allied or associated countries, such provision t<? be enforced for five years unless extended by the League of Nations.

German nationality shall not continue to attach to persons who have been nationalised in an Allied or associated State. Au international conference is to be held annually to propose labour reforms for adoption by the States. It will meet in Washington this year. Powers to which German territory is ccdc-J (France excepted) will assume a certain portion of the Gorman pre-war debt. The mandatory Pow ers w ilj not assume any German debts or give any credits for Gentian Government property. The aircraft of Allied and associated Powers shall have full liberty of passage and landing over and in German territory. The. railway clauses provide that goods consigned from or to the Allied States to or from Germany-, or in transit through Germany, are entitled generally to the most favourable conditions available. MLSCJiLLANEOUS. I lie ex Kaiser, whose surrender is to be asked for. will be publicly arramged for a supreme offence against international morality and Die sanctity of treaties. A special tribunal, consisting of one Judge from each of the five Great Powers, is to be set up. Persons accused of acts of viola ti<m of the laws and customs of war will be tried by military tribunals. Germany accepts responsibility for the loss occasioned to the Allies by reason of the war imposed on them by t.h<- aggression of the enemy .States.

Gernmny must restore all property taken from invaded territory.

The Allies require Germany to pay compensation for all damages to civilians through German aggression by land or sea. The Allies and the German Government. arc to respect and maintain the graves of all soldiers ami sailors buried on their territories.