Obrázky stránek
PDF
ePub

intended concerning the reimbursement of the expenses of the High Commission and those of the armies of occupation.

However, it may be contended that the Arrangement, signed at Versailles on the same day as the Peace Treaty, although the result of the Treaty and especially of Article 432, cannot be accorded priority in opposition to any provision of the Treaty, as it is signed by only a few of the Powers signatories of the Treaty of Versailles. We are therefore led to an examination of the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles and, first of all, to determine whether there is any provision in the Treaty which would prevent placing the expenses of the High Commission on the same footing as those of the armies of occupation, whether this is sufficiently specified in the text of the Arrangement or should be so specified in a special decision taken later.

It is primarily desirable to consider Article 249 of the Treaty, which expressly states that the maintenance cost of the armies of occupation, accorded the benefits of a special priority reimbursement, as is stated in Article 251, comprises "in general the cost of all administrative and technical services the working of which is necessary for the training of troops, and for keeping their numbers up to strength and preserving their military efficiency." The Arrangement of June 28, in Article 3, however, stipulates that the High Commission "shall secure the maintenance, safety and requirements" of the military forces occupying the Rhenish territory. Does this not amount to the same thing as again affirming that the High Commission is included in the ensemble of the armies of occupation and therefore on a same footing relative to the reimbursement of the expenses pertaining thereto?

On this same question, the Juridical Advisor of the English High Commission, made a very just remark in connection with the definition of Article 249, which he considers as in no way limitative, as is shown by the words "included therein" written at the head of the enumeration of a series of objects included in the cost of the armies of occupation. It is permissible, therefore, to complete the enumeration by including therein the expenses of the High Commission since it is inseparable from the armies of occupation.

If such is the case, the text of Article 251 of the Treaty, which places the cost of maintenance of the armies of occupation before the Reparations, offers no opposition to an extension of this privilege to cover the expenses of the High Commission.

The question, however, is too important, especially from the point of view of the harmonious functioning of the services of the High Commission, to delay its permanent regulation by competent authority.

It does not seem that the Commission itself is competent to act in this respect, as such authority is not granted to it by any text. Moreover, it would not appear desirable to have the High Commission legislate in its own case. Therefore the competent authority should be found to decide whether the expenses of the High Commission are or will be levied on priority, equally with the costs of occupation, and before the reparations, in compliance with Article 431 [249] or 451 [251] of the Treaty.

Obviously, such authority is the Supreme Council of the Peace Conference, which has already had occasion to pronounce on these questions in a series of analogous cases.

Moreover, it is desirable to submit the question to the Supreme Council as promptly as possible, in order that a decision may be taken before the entry into force of the Treaty of Versailles.

I am convinced that the Supreme Council of the Peace Conference, informed of the question of the High Commissioners to Rhenish Territories, will not fail to decide that, in principle, the expenses pertaining to the surveillance of occupied territory should be paid prior to the debt, which is guaranteed by this very occupation, and that, consequently, the expenses of the High Commission should be reimbursed on priority, before the reparations, and on a same footing as the direct costs of the armies of occupation.

Paris Peace Conf. 180.03501/125

HD-125

Notes of a Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Held at the Quai d'Orsay, Paris, Saturday, January 10, 1920, at 11:30

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

The following were also present for items in which they were concerned:

FRANCE

M. Cambon

M. Laroche

M. Hermite

M. Arnavon

ITALY

Gen. Cavallero

JAPAN

M. Sawada

MR. WALLACE referred to a reservation made by the American Delegation to the resolution of the Supreme Council on the subject dated December 9, 1919 (H. D. 110).1

1

1 Minute 6, p. 541.

835

1. Use of Native
Troops of the
Togoland and
Cameroon for the
Defence of the
Metropolitan and
of the Colonial
Territory

He explained that he had been authorized by his Government to accept, in the name of the United States, the suggestion made by Sir Eyre Crowe on the 9th of December on the subject of employing native troops in the Togo and Cameroons; to the effect that the text of Article 22 of the Covenant of the League of Nations will be maintained but interpreted with reference to the minutes of the Council of Ten, of January 30, 1919; 2 in other words, in the event only of a general war, France will be allowed to raise within the territory held under her mandate native troops to be employed in her own defence as well as in that of the territories in question.

MR. CLEMENCEAU read the text of the arrangement concerning the Interallied military organization which would take effect after the coming into force of the Treaty of Versailles; the arrangement was couched in these terms:

2. Interallied Military Organi

zation After the
Coming Into

Force of the
Treaty

"The Allied and Associated Governments decide that the Interallied military organization shall continue under the presidency of Marshal Foch at Versailles and shall have as terms of reference:

"(a) to act as advisory council to the Allied and Associated Governments in military questions arising out of the execution of the Treaty of Peace with Germany.

"(b) to carry into execution the orders given it by the Allied and Associated Powers in matters concerning the Commissions of Control and the Allied forces of occupation in the Rhineland and Plebiscite areas."

MR. LLOYD GEORGE said that in the name of the British Government he very gladly agreed to the proposal put before the Council. It was necessary that that organization should continue to sit at Versailles. Versailles was a word to which public opinion in England was accustomed. Further, he should very much like that that organization should be consulted not only upon the military questions arising out of the execution of the Treaty with Germany but also upon military questions bearing upon other issues of common interest to the Allies. Among such questions he would cite those affecting southern Russia, Azerbaidjan and Georgia, where the situation-and he was going to discuss it shortly with the Council-was very grave.

MR. MATSUI pointed out that during the war Japan had not been represented on the Versailles Military Council. The Council was now being prolonged; was it understood that Japan would be represented?

'BC-17, vol. I, p. 785; BC-18, ibid., p. 797.

MR. LLOYD GEORGE said that that depended upon Japan; that it was Japan itself that had not wished to be represented in the former Council.

MR. MATSUI asked whether they would have any objections in the event of his Government being prepared to be represented.

MR. LLOYD GEORGE felt that the Allies would have no objection whatever.

MR. NITTI approved the proposal submitted to the Council.
It was decided:

that the Interallied military organization should continue under the presidency of Marshal Foch at Versailles and have for instructions:

(a) to act as advisory council to the Allied and Associated Governments in the military questions arising out of the execution of the Treaty of Peace with Germany;

(b) to execute the orders given it by the Allied and Associated Powers in matters concerning the Commissions of Control and the Allied forces of occupation in the Rhineland and Plebiscite areas.

It was further decided:

that, should the occasion arise, the Council could be consulted upon all military questions of common interest to the Allies which the latter might be agreed to submit to it.

Mr. Wallace would refer this resolution to Washington for instructions of his Government.

3. Situation in the Caucasus

MR. LLOYD GEORGE told the Council that they had just received from the Caucasus very disturbing news. The Bolsheviks were advancing upon the Caspian; if, having entirely defeated Denikin's army, they should reach the sea, it was possible that the Turks might join with them, an event which would throw the States of the Caucasus into a desperate situation. It became incumbent, therefore, on the Council to find out whether it would be wise to support those States by sending them, for example, arms and ammunition to facilitate their resistance to the Bolshevist drive. He did not mean to express in that place an opinion upon so delicate a question, but suggested referring it to the military organization at Versailles which without prejudicing the political solution might be able to give them the information of a purely military nature which they required in order to take a decision.

MR. CLEMENCEAU thought it might be good if the British Delegation drafted a memorandum which the Council could submit to the military council at Versailles.

It was decided:

to refer to the Versailles Military Council the question of the aid it might be necessary to give to the Caucasian States against the Bol

« PředchozíPokračovat »