Plenipotentiaries who in consequence of their temporary absence from Paris have not signed the present Declaration may do so up to December 20. 1919. Made in French, in English and in Italian, of which in case of divergence the French text shall prevail, at Paris, the eighth day of December, one thousand nine hundred and nineteen. (L.S.) FRANK L. POLK. (L.S.) ROLIN-JAEQUEMYNS. (L.S.) ANDREW FISHER. (L.S.) THOMAS MACKENZIE. GERMANY. INSTRUMENTS BY VIRTUE OF WHICH THE UNITED STATES DOES OR MAY CLAIM RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES, ETC., UNDER THE TREATY RESTORING FRIENDLY RELATIONS, SIGNED AT BERLIN, AUGUST 25, 1921. ARMISTICE CONVENTION WITH GERMANY. Signed in Compiègne Forest, near Rethondes, November 11, 1918. Effective November 11, 1918, 11 a. m., French time. [Translation.] Between Marshal Foch, commander in chief of the allied armies, acting in the name of the allied and associated powers, with Admiral Wemyss, first sea lord, on the one hand, and Herr Erzberger, secretary of state, president of the German delegation, Count von Oberndorf, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, Maj. Gen. von Winterfeldt, Capt. Vanselow (German navy), duly empowered and acting with the concurrence of the German Chancellor, on the other hand; An armistice has been concluded on the following conditions: Conditions of the Armistice Concluded with Germany. (A.) ON THE WESTERN FRONT. I. Cessation of hostilities by land and in the air six hours after the signing of the armistice. II. Immediate evacuation of the invaded countries-Belgium, France, Luxemburg, as well as Alsace-Lorraine-so ordered as to be completed within 15 days from the signature of the armistice. German troops which have not left the above-mentioned territories within the period fixed will be made prisoners of war. Occupation by the allied and United States forces jointly will keep pace with the evacuation in these areas. All movements of evacuation and occupation will be regulated in accordance with a Note (Annex 1) drawn up at the time of the signing of the armistice. III. Repatriation, beginning at once, to be completed within 15 days, of all inhabitants of the countries above enumerated (including hostages, persons under trial, or condemned). IV. Surrender in good condition by the German armies of the following equipment: 5,000 guns (2,500 heavy, 2,500 field), 25,000 machine guns, 3,000 minenwerfers, 1,700 aeroplanes (fighters, bombers-firstly all D. 7's and nightbombing machines). The above to be delivered in situ to the allied and United States troops in accordance with the detailed conditions laid down in the Note (Annex 1) drawn up at the time of the signing of the armistice. V. Evacuation by the German armies of the districts on the left bank of the Rhine. These districts on the left bank of the Rhine shall be administered by the local authorities under the control of the allied and United States armies of occupation. The occupation of these territories by allied and United States troops will be assured by garrisons holding the principal crossings of the Rhine (Mainz, Coblenz, Cologne), together with bridgeheads at these points of a 30-kilometer [about 19 miles] radius on the right bank, and by garrisons similarly holding the strategic points of the region. A neutral zone shall be reserved on the right bank of the Rhine, between the river and a line drawn parallel to the bridgeheads and to the river, and 10 kilometers [61 miles] distant from them, between the Dutch frontier and the Swiss frontier. Evacuation by the enemy of the Rhine districts (right and left banks) shall be so ordered as to be completed within a further period of 16 days, in all 31 days after the signing of the armistice. All movements of evacuation and occupation will be regulated according to the note (Annex 1) drawn up at the time of the signing of the armistice. VI. In all territories evacuated by the enemy, all evacuation of the inhabitants shall be forbidden; neither damage nor harm shall be done to the persons or property of the inhabitants. No person shall be prosecuted for having taken part in any military measures previous to the signing of the armistice. No destruction of any kind shall be committed. Military establishments of all kinds shall be delivered intact, as well as military stores of food, munitions, and equipment, which shall not have been removed during the periods fixed for evacuation. Stores of food of all kinds for the civil population, cattle, etc., shall be left in situ. No measure of a general or official character shall be taken which would have as a consequence the depreciation of industrial establishments or a reduction of their personnel. VII. Roads and means of communication of every kind, railroads, waterways, roads, bridges, telegraphs, telephones, etc., shall be in no manner impaired. All civil and military personnel at present employed on them shall remain. Five thousand locomotives and 150,000 wagons, in good working order, with all necessary spare parts and fittings, shall be delivere to the Associated Powers within the period fixed in Annex No. 2 (not exceeding 31 days in all). Five thousand motor lorries are also to be delivered in good condition within 36 days. The railways of Alsace-Lorraine shall be handed over within 31 days, together with all personnel and material belonging to the organization of this system. Further, the necessary working material in the territories on the left bank of the Rhine shall be left in situ. All stores of coal and material for upkeep of permanent way, signals, and repair shops, shall be left in situ and kept in an efficient state by Germany, so far as the working of the means of communication on the left bank of the Rhine is concerned.. All lighters taken from the Allies shall be restored to them. The note attached as Annex 2 defines the details of these measures. VIII. The German command shall be responsible for revealing within 48 hours after the signing of the armistice all mines or delayaction apparatus laid within the territories evacuated by the German troops, and shall facilitate their discovery and destruction. The German command shall also reveal all destructive measures that may have been taken (such as poisoning or pollution of wells, springs, etc.), under penalty of reprisals. IX. The right of requisition shall be exercised by the allied and United States armies in all occupied territories, save for settlement of accounts with authorized persons. The upkeep of the troops of occupation in the Rhine districts (excluding Alsace-Lorraine) shall be charged to the German Gov ernment. X. The immediate repatriation, without reciprocity, according to detailed conditions which shall be fixed, of all allied and United States prisoners of war, including those under trial and condemned. The allied powers and the United States of America shall be able to dispose of these prisoners as they think fit. This condition annuls all previous conventions regarding prisoners of war, including that of July, 1918, now being ratified. However, the repatriation of German prisoners of war interned in Holland and Switzerland shall continue as heretofore. The repatriation of German prisoners of war shall be settled at the conclusion of the peace preliminaries. XI. Sick and wounded who can not be removed from territory evacuated by the German forces shall be cared for by German personnel, who will be left on the spot with the necessary material. (B) CLAUSES RELATING TO THE EASTERN FRONTIERS OF GERMANY. XII. All German troops at present in territory which before the war formed part of Austria-Hungary, Rumania, or Turkey, shall withdraw within the frontiers of Germany as they existed on August 1, 1914. All German troops at present in territories which before the war formed part of Russia must likewise return to within the frontiers of Germany as above defined, as soon as the Allies shall think the moment suitable, having regard to the internal situation of these territories. XIII. Evacuation by German troops to begin at once; all German instructors, prisoners and agents, civilian as well as military, now on the territory of Russia (frontiers as existing on August 1, 1914), to be recalled. XIV. German troops to cease at once all requisitions, seizures or coercive measures with a view to obtaining supplies intended for Germany in Rumania and Russia (frontiers as existing on August 1, 1914). 29479-S. Doc. 348, 67-4- -54 XV. Annulment of the treaties of Bucharest and Brest-Litovsk and of the supplementary treaties. XVI. The Allies shall have free access to the territories evacuated by the Germans on their eastern frontier, either through Danzig or by the Vistula, in order to convey supplies to the populations of these territories or for the purpose of maintaining order. (C) IN EAST AFRICA. XVII. Evacuation of all German forces operating in East Africa within a period specified by the Allies. (D) GENERAL CLAUSES. XVIII. Repatriation without reciprocity, within a maximum period of one month, in accordance with detailed conditions hereafter to be fixed, of all interned civilians, including hostages and persons under trial and convicted, who may be subjects of allied or associated States other than those mentioned in Clause III. FINANCIAL CLAUSES. XIX. With the reservation of any future concessions and claims by the Allies and United States, reparation for damage done. While the armistice lasts, no public securities shall be removed by the enemy which can serve as a pledge to the Allies for the recovery of reparation for war losses. Immediate restitution of the cash deposit in the National Bank of Belgium and, in general, immediate return of all documents, specie, stocks, shares, paper money, together with plant for the issue thereof, affecting public or private interests in the invaded countries. Restitution of the Russian and Rumanian gold yielded to Germany or taken by that power. This gold shall be held in trust by the Allies until peace is signed. (E) NAVAL CLAUSES. XX. Immediate cessation of all hostilities at sea and definite information to be given as to the position and movements of all German ships. Notification to be given to neutrals that freedom of navigation in all territorial waters is given to the naval and mercantile marines of the allied and associated powers, all questions of neutrality being waived. XXI. All naval and mercantile marine prisoners of war of the allied and associated powers in German hands to be returned without reciprocity. XXII. Surrender at the ports specified by the Allies and the United States of all submarines at present in existence (including all submarine cruisers and mine layers), with armament and equipment complete. Those that can not put to sea shall be denuded of crew and equipment and shall remain under the supervision of the Allies and the United States. Submarines ready to put to sea shall be prepared to leave German ports immediately on receipt of a wireless order to sail to the port of surrender, the remainder to follow as early as possible. |