THE TERMS FOR AUSTRIA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16448, 3 June 1919, Page 3

THE TERMS FOR AUSTRIA.

FINAL BHEAK UP.

LONDON, June 2.

The conditions of the peace of the Allied and associated Powers, with the exception, of the military reparations, financial and certain boundary clauses, w&e handed to the Austrian plenipotentiaries at St. Germains on June 1. Those clauses, which are not yet ready for presentation, will he delivered as soon as possible, the Austrians in the meanwhile having the opportimity to begin work on tho greatei part of the in an effort to faciState the final decision. The Austrian treaty follows exactly the same outline as the German, and in many places is identical with it, except for the change in name. Certain specific clauses which applied only to Germany are of course omitted, and certain new clauses of particular applicability to Austria are included, especially as regards the new States created out of the former Austro-Hun-garian empire. . Austria is left by this treaty a State Of about 6,000,000 people, inhabitatmg a territory of between 50,000 and 60,000 square miles. . . Austria recognises the complete independence of Hungary, and. CzechoSlovakia, and tho Serbo-Oroat-&loy©ne State, and cedes other territories which previously were in union with her and composed the empire of Austria-Hun-Austria agrees to accept the League of Nation’s covenant and the Labour charter, and to renounce all her extraEuropean rights; to demobilise her whole naval and aerial forces; to admit the right by trial by the Allied and associated Powers of her nationals guilty of violation of the laws and customs of war and to accept the detailed provisions similar to those in the German treaty as to the economic relations and freedom of transit. In the following summary, part one, containing the covenant of the League of Nations, and part 12, containing the Labour Convention, are identical with those in the German treaty, and are therefore omitted. Part six, dealing with prisoners of war and graves, and part ten, dealing with aerial- navigation, are identical, with the substitution of Austria and Austrian for Germany and German, and are also omitted. Paid 13 of the German treaty, containing guarantees for execution, is not included in the Austrian treaty. Part 2, the Frontiers of Austria. — The northern frontier, facing Czechoslovakia, follows the existing administrative boundaries formerly separating the provinces of Bohemia and Moravia from those of upper and lower Austria, subject to certain minor rectifications, notably in the region of Goiud and Feldsberg and along the river Moravia. The southern frontier, facing Italy and the Serbo-Croat-Slovene State, is to bo fixed by the principal Allied and associated Powers at a later date. In the eastern part the line passing just east of Blieberg crosses the Drave ■just above its confluence with the Lavani and thence will pass north or the I prave so as to leave tb.o Servo-Oroat-Slovene State, Marburg, and Radkers- • burg just to the north of which latter j place it will join the Hungarian fron- i iter. The western and north-western , frontiers, facing Bavaria, the western j frontier facing Switzerland, and the eastern frontier facing Hungary, remain unchanged. . , Part 3, Political .Clauses.—The high j contracting parties i recognise and ac- ■, cept the frontiers of Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Roumania, the Sorbo-Croat-Slovene State, and the Czechoslovak'State as at present or as ultimately determined. Austria renounces in favour of the principal Allied and associated Powers all her rights and titles over territories formerly belonging to her which, though outside- the new frontiers of Austria, have not at present been assigned to any vState, undertaking to accept the settlement to be made in regard to these territories. THE CZECHO-SLOVAK STATE. Austria recognises the complete independence of the Czeoho-Slovak State, including the autonomous territory south- of the Carpathians, in conformity with the action already taken by the Allied and associated Powers. _ The exact boundaries between Austria and the new State to be fixed by a field commission of seven members, five nominated by the principal Allied and associated Powers and one each by Austria and Czechoslovakia agrees to- embody in a treaty with the principal Allied and associated .Powers such provisions as may be deemed necessary to protect racial, religious, or linguistic minorities, and to assure freedom of transit and equitable treatment for the commerce of other nations. THE SERBO-CROAT-SLOVENE STATE. Austria similarly recognises the independence of the Serbo-Oroat-Slovene State, and renounces her rights and j titles. A similarly appointed field com- •> mission, including a member nominated ! by the Serbo-Croat-Slovene State, is to fix the exact boundary. The question of the basin of Klagenfurt is reserved The Serbo-Croat-Slovene State agrees to a similar treaty for the protection of minorities and the freedom of transit. ROUMANIA. j Roumania agrees to a similar treaty | for the protection of minorities and i freedom of transit. j RUSSIA. Austria is to recognise and respect the full independence of all the territories! which formed part of the former Russian empire. She is to accept definitely the annulment of the BrestLitovsk treaty, and nil other treaties or agreements of all kinds concluded since the revolution of November, 1917, with all governments or political groups

OF THE HAMSHACKLE EMPIRE.

FREEDOM FOR ENSLAVED NATIONS.

on territory of the former Russian Empire. The Allies reserve all rights on the part of Russia for restitution and satisfaction to be obtained from Austria on the principles of the present treaty.

GENERAL ARRANGEMENTS

Austria is to consent to the abrogation of the treaties of 1839, by which Belgium was established as a neutral State and hqr frontiers fixed, and to accept in advance any convention with which the Allies may determine to replace them. Austria adheres to the abrogation of the neutrality of the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, and accepts in advance all international agreements as to it reached by the Allied and associated Powers. _ Austrian nationals belonging to racial, religious, or linguistic minorities are to enjoy the same protection as other Austrian nationals, in particular with regard to schools and other educational establishments, and in districts where a considerable portion of Austrian nationals of others than German speech are resident, facilities arc to be given in schools for the instruction of children in their own language, and an equitable share of public funds is to be provided for the .purpose. The provisions do not preclude the Austrian Government from making the teaching of German obligatory. They are to be embodied by Austria in her fundamental law as a bill 'of rights, and provisions regarding them are to be under the protection of the League of Nations. Part 4, Austrian Rights Outside Europe.—Outside Europe Austria renounces all rights, titles and privileges as to her own or her allies’ territories to all the Allied and associated Powers, and undertakes to accept whatever measures are to bo taken by the principal Allied Powers in relation thereto. Austria accepts all arrangements ivhicb the Allied and associated Powers make with Turkey and Bulgaria -with reference to any rights, privileges, or interests claimed in those countries by Austria or her nationals, and not dealt with elsewhere. Austria accepts all arrangements which the Allied and associated Powers make with Germany concerning the territories whos© abandonment was imposed upon Denmark by the treaty of 1864. PROTECTION OP MINORITIES. In a series of special clauses Austria undertakes to bring her institutions into conformity with the principles of liberty and justice, and acknowledges that the obligations for the protection of minorities arc matters of international concern over which the League of Nations has jurisdiction. She assures complete protection of life and liberty to all inhabitants of Austria without distinction of birth, nationality, language, race, or religion, together with -Eie right to free exercise of any creed. All Austrian nationals, without distinction of race, language, or religion, are to bo equal before the law. No restrictions are to be imposed on the free use of any language m private or public, and reasonable facilities are to be given to Austrian nationals of non-German speech for the use of their language before the courts.

The clauses as to Egypt, Morocco, Chino, and Siam are identical, after the necessary modifications, with those of the GeXman treaty, except that, especially in the case of China, there is not need for so great detail. Part 5, Military, Naval and Air Clauses.—Tho military clauses are reserved. All Austro-Hungarian warships, submarines, and vessels of the Danube flotilla are declared to be finally surrendered to the principal Allied and associated Powers. Twenty-one specified auxiliary cruisers are to he disarmed and treated as merchant ships. All warships and submarines under construction in ports which belong or have belonged to AustriaHungary shall be broken up, the salvage fnot to bo used except for industrial purposes, and not to be sold to foreign countries. The construction or acquisition of any submarines, oven for commercial purposes, is forbidden. All naval arms, ammunition, and other war material belonging to AustriaHungary at the date of the armistice shall be surrendered to the Allies. The Austrian wireless station at Vienna is not to be used for naval, military, or political messages relating to Austria or her late allies without the assent of the Allied and associated Governments during three months, but only for commercial purposes under supervision. During the same period Austria is not to bufld any more high-power wireless stations. The air clauses are practically the same as in the German treaty, except for (ho 100 seaplanes and their personnel which Germany is allowed to retain till October to search for mines. General: Austria agrees not to accredit or send any military, naval, or air mission to any foreign country, nor to allow Austrian nationals to enlist in the army, navy, or air .service of any foreign Power. Part 7, Penalties.—This is identical with the German treaty, except for omission of any provision similar to that calling for the trial of the exKaiser of Germany. Part 8, on reparations, is reserved. Part 9, Financial Claims.-—These are also reserved.

Part 10, Economic Clauses.—These are, except in certain details such as shipping, sidiilar to those of the German treaty. Special provisions are added, however, for former AustroHungarian nationals acquiring an Allied nationality, similar to those in the German treaty relating to AlsaceLorraine. Tim contracts are maintained, subject to cancellation by the Governments. Austria undertakes to recognise any agreement or convention made by the Allies to safeguard the interests of their nationals in any undertakings constituted under AustroHungarian law which operate in territories detached from the former Austrian empire, and to transfer any necessary documents and information in regard to them.

Part 10, Safeguarding Freedom of Transit.—The clauses as to freedom ox transV are the same in the Austrian as in fhe German treaty, except for the omission of provisions affecting Germany alone and the insertion of specific clauses granting Austria transit privileges through former AustroHungarian territory, in order to assure her access to file Adriatic,

Part 14, Miscellaneous Provisions.— These are, after necessary substitutions, virtually identical with those of the German treaty.

The treaty is to come into force when signed by Austria and three principal Powers, and to be effective for the individual States on the deposit of their specific ratifications.

' A CORRECTION. (Received June 3, 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, June 4. In part 2 of the summary of the peace terms for Austria under the heading “The Frontiers of Austria,” the second sentence should read “The southern frontier facing Italy between the Inn and the Trave on the north and the Lombardy rivers on the south passing the Col-du-Brenner and including the Setetteu Valley in Italy.

That facing the Serbo-Croat-Slovene State is to be fixed by the principal Allied and associated Powers at a later date.

HANDING OF TERMS.

TO AUSTRIAN DELEGATES.

(Received June 3, 10.35 a.m;) PARIS, June 2. _ The Allies have granted Austria 15 days to prepare a reply to the peace terms. Prior to the.presentation of the terms Signor Orlando and Colonel House debated the Adriatic questin, with a view to the arrangement of the final details. Herr Renner replied in French on behalf of the Austrians. Messrs. Balfour, Lansing, Paderewski, and Merlindo wore present. President Wilson arrived late and M. Clemenceau spoke for only three minutes.