Associated Powers should not have the right to refuse Exequaturs to Consuls of the Allied and Associated Powers. It was decided: that during the period between the coming into force of the Treaty of Peace with Germany and the definite establishment of the free city of Dantzig, the exequaturs of foreign consuls should be delivered by the representative of the Principal Allied and Associated Powers, to which the sovereignty was transferred by article 100 of the said Treaty; provided that the said representative of the Principal Allied and Associated Powers could not refuse to grant exequaturs to the consuls of the Allied and Associated Powers. (The meeting was then adjourned.) HOTEL DE CRILLON, PARIS, December 3, 1919. Appendix A to HD-105 Note by the Naval Representatives for Submission to the Supreme Council PERSONNEL FOR THE GERMAN MINESWEEPING SERVICE The Naval Representatives of the Allied and Associated Powers met on the 24th November, 1919 to consider the German Note (No. 38 of 20th October, 1919) on the subject of the personnel for the German Minesweeping Service. The Naval Representatives reached the conclusions which are shown in the accompanying memorandum. Personnel for the German Minesweeping Service With reference to the German Delegation's Notes Nos. 38 and 46 of 20th October and 4th November 1919 respectively, on the subject of the crews for the German mine-sweeping vessels, the view of the Allied Naval Advisers is that under the terms of the treaty of Peace with Germany, the Allied and Associated Powers have the right to require that the Mine Clearance Personnel should be included in the 15,000 officers and men of which the German Navy is, in the future, to consist: 2. This opinion is based on the following reasons: (a) Article 183 lays down a total personnel of 15,000 officers and men for the German Navy to include all Services. (b) Article 182 states that a certain number of Minesweeping vessels may be kept in commission until the completion of minesweeping. (N. B. 130 of these minesweeping vessels are torpedo craft.) 3. The German requests for minesweeping vessels (comprising 328 in all) were granted in toto by the Allied Naval Armistice Commission in order to allow of the earliest possible clearance of the minefields in the interests of all nations. 4. It is considered that the number of men asked for by Germany is excessive. The following is a comparison of the British and German numbers employed. 5. The Principal points on which Germany bases her demand for additional crews over and above the 15,000 allowed by Article 183 are as follows:— (e) Need of personnel for minesweeping only temporary. No reason therefore why permanent men should not be used temporarily. 6. During the winter months, minesweeping in the Baltic is largely impracticable. In consequence practically half the mine clearance personnel will not be employed, and opportunity can then be taken to make the necessary changes. 7. In view however, of the importance to the general interests of commerce that the minesweeping should be completed as early as possible, and as its rapidity depends not only on the number of vessels, but also on the personnel, the following concession is proposed : The German Navy may include, for a maximum period of eight months from the coming into force of the Treaty of Peace, in addition to the personnel prescribed in Article 183, a number of men who shall be exclusively employed in the mine-sweeping provided for in Article 193. This additional number of men shall at no time exceed 10,000 and shall be progressively reduced from time to time in such manner as the Naval Inter-Allied Commission of Control shall determine, so that at the end of the period of eight months above referred to, the personnel of the German Navy shall not exceed the figure stipulated in Article 183. Information has been received by His Majesty's Government from Copenhagen to the effect that Doctor Koester, the German "Kommissar" for Slesvig-Holstein, who resides in the town of Slesvig, has taken an office in the town of Flensborg and has stated that he intends to remain in the plebiscite area during its occupation by the international commission. It is further reported that Colonel Frumme, who was previously in command of the German troops in Flensborg, has been given an appointment,* nominally under the Ministry of Labour, and has already taken an office in one of the barracks of the town, where he has a staff of some 200 non-commissioned officers and men. It is reported on reliable authority that these persons are still inscribed in the official military accounts and are still drawing pay as members of the German army. 'From the British Delegation. *It is not clear from the telegram what is the nature of this appointment. [Footnote in the original.] Sir Charles Marling, who has telegraphed from London his comments on these reports, observes that it is impossible to permit a measure which is nothing but a retention of troops under the thinnest disguise, or to recognise an authority set up at the last moment without the consent of the international commission. He adds that the proposed residence of Dr. Loester [Koester?] at Flensborg would appear at first sight to be an attempt to evade the provision of the treaty by which German civilian officials are to leave the plebiscite area. He strongly urges that a third battalion of allied troops should be placed at the disposal of the commission in view of the intention of the German Government-unmistakably shown by the above-mentioned information-to influence in their favour the voting in the plebiscite area. DECEMBER 1, 1919. Appendix C to HD-105 DECEMBER 2, 1919. Note From the French Delegation The French representative at Bucarest telegraphs that the Rumanian reply has been delivered to the Legations. This reply commences with a justification of the Rumanian policy since the beginning of the war, and recalls the sacrifices suffered by Rumania. It indicates that the Ministry, besides not being parliamentary, has resigned and cannot make a decision involving so gravely the future of the country. It begs a delay of sufficient length to enable a Ministry created by the Parliament to declare itself validly. The British, French and Italian representatives are of the opinion that the request for a delay is one of the most justified under the existing circumstances. They are moreover under the impression that the new Government, which will be supported by a majority constituted outside of the liberal party, will be better disposed than the resigning government. It is to be feared that in refusing a prolongation of the delay the campaign of the liberal party, which is attempting to swing the other parties in line with its intransigeance, would not be facilitated. The British and Italian representatives insist also upon the danger which might arise from any weakening of the authority of the state, direct or indirect, which might be favorable to the bolshevist movement. Paris Peace Conf. 180.03501/106 HD-106 Notes of a Meeting of the Heads of Delegations of the Five Great Powers Held in M. Pichon's Room, Quai d'Orsay, Paris, on Thursday, December 4, 1919, at 10:30 a. m. The following were also present for the items in which they were concerned : AMERICA, UNITED STATES OF Rear-Admiral McCully, U. S. N. Mr. E. L. Dresel Mr. A. W. Dulles Dr. I. Bowman Lieut-Commander Koehler, U. S. N. BRITISH EMPIRE General Sackville-West Lieut-Colonel Kisch Captain Fuller, R. N. Lieut-Commander Dunne, R. N. V. R. FRANCE M. Georges Leygues Marshal Foch M. Jules Cambon M. Sergent General Weygand General LeRond Commandant le Vavasseur ITALY General Cavallero Rear-Admiral Grassi M. Stranieri Capt. de Corvette Ruspoli Commandant Fea Commandant Ingianni |