of war interned in Holland and in Switzerland shall continue as before. The repatriation of German prisoners of war shall be settled at the conclusion of the preliminaries of peace.

Eleven-Sick and wounded who cannot 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 required.

B. DISPOSITION RELATIVE TO THE EASTERN FRONTIERS OF GERMANY Twelve-All German troops at present in any territory which before the war belonged to Austria-Hungary, Rumania, Turkey, shall withdraw immediately within the frontiers of Germany as they existed on August I, 1914. All German troops at present in the territory which before the war formed part of Russia must likewise return to these frontiers of Germany, as above defined, as soon as the Allies shall think the moment suitable, account being taken of the internal situation of these territories.

Thirteen-Evacuation by German troops to begin at once, and all German instructors, prisoners, and civilian as well as military agents now on the territory of Russian frontiers as existing on August 1, 1914, to be recalled.

Fourteen-German troops to cease at once all requisitions and seizures and any other coercive measure with a view to obtaining supplies intended for Germany in Rumania and Russia (as defined on August 1, 1914). Fifteen-Denunciation of the treaties of Bukharest and Brest-Litovsk, and of the supplementary treaties.

Sixteen-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 those territories and for the purpose of maintaining order.

C.-EAST AFRICA

Seventeen-Evacuation of all German forces operating in East Africa within a period to be fixed by the Allies.

D. GENERAL CLAUSES

Eighteen-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 other allied or associated states other than those enumerated in Art. Three.

WARSHIPS SURRENDERED COMPLETE

Financial Clauses

399

Nineteen-With the exception of any future concessions and claims by the Allies and United States of America: Repair of 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 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 to be held in trust by the Allies until the signature of peace.

E. NAVAL CONDITIONS

Twenty-Immediate cessation of all hostilities at sea and definite information to be given as to the location 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, without raising questions of neutrality. Twenty-one-All naval and mercantile marine prisoners of war of the allied and associated powers in German hands to be returned without reciprocity.

Twenty-two-The surrender at the ports specified by the Allies and the United States of all submarines at present in existence (including all submarine cruisers and minelayers), with armament and equipment complete. Those which cannot 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 the German ports as soon as orders shall be received by wireless for their voyage to the port designed for their delivery, and the remainder at the earliest possible moment. The conditions of this article shall be carried into effect within the period of 14 days after the signing of the armistice.

Twenty-three German surface warships, which shall be designated by the Allies and the United States, shall be immediately dismantled and thereafter interned in neutral ports or, in default of them, in allied ports to be designated by the Allies and the United States. They shall there remain under the surveillance of the Allies and of the United States, only caretakers being left on board. The following warships are designated

by the Allies: Six battle cruisers, ten battleships, eight light cruisers (including two mine layers), 50 destroyers of the most modern types. All other surface warships (including river craft) are to be concentrated in German naval bases to be designated by the Allies and the United States and are to be completely dismantled and placed under the supervision of the Allies and the United States. The military equipment of all vessels of the auxiliary fleet shall be put on shore. All vessels designated to be interned shall be ready to leave the German ports seven days after the signing of the armistice. Directions for the voyage shall be given by wireless.

Twenty-four-The Allies and the United States of America shall have the right to sweep up all mine fields and to destroy obstructions laid by Germany outside German territorial waters, and the positions of these are to be indicated.

Twenty-five-Freedom of access to and from the Baltic to be given to the naval and mercantile marines of the allied and associated powers. To secure this the Allies and the United States of America shall be empowered to occupy all German forts, fortifications, batteries and defense works of all kinds in all the entrances from the Kattegat into the Baltic, and to sweep up and destroy all mines and obstructions within and without German territorial waters, the positions of all such mines and obstructions to be indicated by Germany, who shall be permitted to raise no question of neutrality.

Twenty-six-The existing blockade conditions set up by the allied and associated powers are to remain unchanged and all German merchant ships found at sea are to remain liable to capture. The Allies and the United States contemplate the provisioning of Germany during the armistice to the extent recognized as necessary.

Twenty-seven-All aërial forces are to be concentrated and immobilized in German bases to be specified by the Allies and the United States of America.

Twenty-eight-In evacuating the Belgian coasts and ports Germany shall abandon in situ and intact all port and river navigation material, all merchant ships, tugs, lighters, all naval aeronautic apparatus, material and supplies, and all arms, apparatus and supplies of every kind.

Twenty-nine-All Black Sea ports are to be evacuated by Germany; all Russian war vessels of all descriptions seized by Germany in the Black Sea are to be handed over to the Allies and the United States of America; all neutral merchant vessels seized are to be released; all warlike and

ARMISTICE COMMISSION PROVIDED

401 other material of all kinds seized in those ports are to be handed over and German materials as specified in Art. Twenty-eight are to be abandoned.

Thirty-All merchant vessels in German hands belonging to the allied and associated powers are to be restored to ports to be specified by the Allies and the United States of America without reciprocity.

Thirty-one-No destruction of ships or of materials to be permitted before evacuation, delivery or restoration.

Thirty-two-The German Government shall formally notify all the neutral Governments of the world, and particularly the Governments of Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Holland, that all restrictions placed on the trading of their vessels with the allied and associated countries, whether by the German Government or by private German interests, and whether in return for special concessions, such as the export of shipbuilding materials, or not, are immediately canceled.

Thirty-three-No transfer of German merchant shipping of any description to any neutral flag is to take place after signature of the armistice.

F.-DURATION OF ARMISTICE

Thirty-four-The duration of the armistice is to be 36 days with option to extend. During this period, if its clauses are not carried into execution, the armistice may be denounced by one of the contracting parties, which must give warning 48 hours in advance. It is understood that the execution of Arts. Three and Eighteen shall not warrant the denunciation of the armistice on the ground of insufficient execution within a period fixed, except in the case of bad faith in carrying them into execution. In order to assure the execution of this convention under the best conditions the principle of a permanent international armistice commission is recognized. This commission will act under the supreme authority of the high command, military and naval, of the allied armies.

The present armistice was signed on November 11, 1918, at 5 o'clock, A.M., French time. F. Foch, R. E. Wemyss, Erzberger, A. Oberndorff, Winterfeldt, Vanselow.

The commission met first at Spa.

APPENDIX.

I. ANNOUNCEMENT OF AMERICAN MISSION TO EUROPE, NOVEMBER 8, 19171

The Government of the United States will participate in the approaching conference of the powers waging war against the German Empire and has sent as its representative Edward M. House, who is accompanied by Admiral William S. Benson, chief of naval operations; General Tasker H. Bliss, chief of staff, United States Army; Oscar T. Crosby, assistant secretary of the Treasury; Vance C. McCormick, chairman of the War Trade Board; Bainbridge Colby, United States Shipping Board; Dr. Alonzo E. Taylor, representing the Food Controller; Thomas Nelson Perkins, representing the Priority Board; and Gordon Auchincloss, as secretary.

The conference is essentially a "war conference," with the object of perfecting a more complete co-ordination of the activities of the various nations engaged in the conflict and a more comprehensive understanding of their respective needs in order that the joint efforts of the co-belligerents may attain the highest war efficiency. While a definite program has not been adopted, it may be assumed that the subjects to be discussed will embrace not only those pertaining to military and naval operations, but also the financial, commercial, economic, and other phases of the present situation which are of vital importance to the successful prosecution of the war.

There will undoubtedly be an effort to avoid any conflict of interests among the participants; and there is every reason to anticipate that the result will be a fuller co-operation, and consequently a much higher efficiency, and a more vigorous prosecution of the war.

The United States in the employment of its man power and material resources desires to use them to the greatest advantage against Germany. It has been no easy problem to determine how they can be used most effectively since the independent presentation of requirements by the allied Governments have been more or less conflicting on account of 1 Official Bulletin, November 8, 1917.