Central Schleswig, on the other hand, should be allowed time to weigh the pros and cons and to form an opinion.

The Central Schleswig in question does not include the districts of Danevirke, the fjord or town of Schleswig, the district of Angel, nor the Frisian district to the west. The town of Schleswig has been German for many generations, Angel for two or three; the Frisian district was never Danish. No voice has been raised in these districts to ask for return to Denmark.

The southern boundary of that part of Central Schleswig in which there is a possibility of finding or awakening Danish sympathies includes those parishes or communes in which the Danish language still survives and those which showed a Danish majority in the first elections to the German Parliament in 1867. For topographical and economic reasons this zone should include the parishes of Adelby, Munkbrarup and Glücksbourg, forming the southern coast of the Flensborg fjord and in which the Danish language has not completely disappeared. For topographical reasons and to allow the Danish elements of the islands Foer and Amrum to vote without risk of being isolated, the plebiscite should take place over the whole Toender district.

Central Schleswig in which there can be question of a plebiscite would include the southern half of the Toender district (which does not belong to Northern Schleswig), part of the district of Flensborg, the town of Flensborg and the parish of Hjoldelund, or about Km. 1300 with a population of 101,500, of which more than 60,000 are at Flensborg.

At Kaerherred Danish is spoken by the people, but not by immigrants.

Laek, although chiefly German, belongs naturally to these districts; some Danish sympathies also remain on account of the railway to For and Amrum; if these islands pronounce in favour of Denmark, they will bring with them the northern parts of the Frisian district, with the river Soholmaa as a natural frontier.

The western part of the island of For and a part of the island of Amrum, together with the north of the island of Sild, are still inhabited by a population speaking Danish and with sympathies which are Danish for historic reasons. They belonged to the Duchy of Ribe and were always under Danish influence.

The population of these islands is only 4,000 persons speaking Frisian and Danish, but Danish is stronger wherever both languages exist. It should also be pointed out that at the beginning of the war the German Government had begun the construction of a dyke at Klangsbol, doubtless with the intention of joining up with the railway on the island of Sild, by establishing a station of Marines in Sild bay.

In the parishes of Hanved, Valsboel, Haksted, Vi and Oversoc, together with Hjoldelund, German[y] has made progress, but an active Danish minority has always existed there.

Some 90 percent of the inhabitants of Flensborg speak German, but, on the other hand, its connection with Denmark is vouched for by its history, the celebrated men it has given to Denmark, its traditions, the memory of its ships flying the Danish flag for centuries, and the graves of thousands of Danish soldiers fallen in our wars against Germany. There is a very active Danish minority with a paper ("Flensborg Avis"), a Club, a Lecture Society (1000 members), a Young People's Union (250 members), and a church (1923). Wholesale Trade. Its chief market is Northern Schleswig; towards the South, competition from Hamburg, Lübeck and Kiel is met with. The Commercial Association states that, from reports received from its branches, from 25 percent to 80 percent of the town's trade is deflected towards the North. Many clerks and dock labourers are employed.

Retail Trade. Chiefly in the town, but also along the fjord and towards the West.

Industry. Ship-building yards (third on the entire European continent); give employment to about 10 percent of the population.

Large working population. Socialists, having voted for the Socialist candidate without having been given the option of voting for a German or a Dane. It is difficult to prophesy which side it would take, but the more favourable conditions for workmen in Denmark must not be forgotten.

The town of Flensborg has petitioned the Danish Government to be attached to Denmark. This petition, however, was only signed by 3,401 men and women above 20 years of age, whereas the number of men and women voters was 38,000, which corresponds to barely 10 percent. On the other hand, the population is under the tyrannical régime of the German authorities and Soldiers' Councils, and it is presumed that a free vote would be more favourable for the Danes. Up to 1885, Danish sympathies were in the ascendant, but German sympathies have since gained the upper hand. Is an awakening of the former sentiment in favour of Denmark now taking place, even among people who have considered themselves German up to the present?

Only the people of Flensborg can answer this question.

CONCLUSION

1. That the population of Northern Schleswig, considered as a single group, be allowed to decide positively by ballot, as soon as possible, whether they desire to be re-united to Denmark or not.

2. That those districts of Central Schleswig bordering on Northern Schleswig (including the town of Flensborg) which evince a desire to do so, be called upon to express by an individual plebiscite, voting in districts, whether they wish to return to Denmark.

3. That the conditions necessary for freedom of voting be ensured by the evacuation of the districts in question by German military forces, and by the setting up of an International Convention to safeguard the preparation and direct the carrying out of the plebiscite.

Paris Peace Conf. 180.03101/44

BC-37

Secretary's Notes of a Conversation Held in M. Pichon's Room at the Quai d'Orsay, Paris, on Saturday, 22nd February, 1919, at 3 p. m.

Claim by Portugal

Major A. M. Caccia, M. V. O.
Captain A. Portier

Lieut. Zanchi
M. Saburi

Interpreter: Prof. P. J. Mantoux

(1) MR. BALFOUR said he wished to raise a small matter which required decision. The Portuguese Government had expressed to him its very strong feeling of pain that it was the only nation, which had suffered at the hands of Germany, and yet had no representative on the Allied Commission on Reparation. The coasts of Portugal had been bombarded; Portuguese ships had been sunk; and the Por

for Representation on Allied Commis

sion on Reparation

tuguese African Colonies had been overrun by the enemy, consequently, Portugal had claims against Germany, and it was extremely hard that she was not represented on the Allied Commission which had been appointed to examine and report on the amount for reparation which the enemy countries ought to pay.

M. PICHON Confirmed the fact that Portugal had submitted a complaint as soon as the composition of the Allied Commission on Reparation had been announced. He (M. Pichon) personally had no objection to Portugal being duly represented.

MR. LANSING enquired whether under the circumstances Brazil also should not be granted representation. Brazil had lost ships, sunk by German submarines. It would be difficult, therefore, to grant representation to Portugal without at the same time doing the same for Brazil.

BARON SONNINO enquired what was the composition of the Allied Commission on Reparation.

M. KLOTZ explained that in accordance with the Resolution passed by the Conference on Thursday, January 23rd, 1919,' it was decided that a Commission should be appointed of not more than three representatives apiece from each of the five Great Powers, and not more than two representatives apiece from Belgium, Greece, Poland, Serbia and Roumania. Subsequently, both Portugal and Czecho-Slovakia had claimed the right of representation. The Conference had decided to admit the claims of Czecho-Slovakia, but not those of Portugal, and accordingly two Czecho-Slovak representatives at present formed part of the Commission. Should the Conference now decide to accede to Portugal's request she should be given two representatives; the number allotted to all other small Powers represented.

MR. BALFOUR expressed the view that the claims of Portugal were as great as, if not greater than, those of Bohemia, which had been granted. Bohemia had not become a belligerent until the very end of hostilities; whereas Portugal had fought throughout the war, and had suffered just those kind of damages which called for reparation. (It was agreed that Portugal should have the right to nominate not more than two representatives to serve on the Allied Commission on Reparation.

It was also agreed that an invitation should be sent to Portugal to attend the next meeting of the Allied Commission on Reparation to be held on Monday next, February 24th, at 10.30 a. m.)

'See BC-8, vol. I, p. 698.