AUSTRIAN PEACE TREATY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 213, 3 June 1919, Page 5

AUSTRIAN PEACE TREATY

SUMMARY OF TERMS

1W BOUNDARIES AND NEW STATES

RIGHTS OF MINORITIES CONSERVED

By Toleffraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rece. June 2, 5.0 p.nu). Paris, June 1. The Pcace conditions of the Allied and Associated Powers, with the exception of the military, reparation, financial, and certain bouudary clauses, were handed to the Austrian plenipotentiaries at St. Germain'on Sunday. Thoso clauses which aro not yet ready for presentation will be delivered as soon as possible, tho Austrians meanwhile having an opportunity to begin work on tho greater part of the Treaty in order to facilitate the final decision. Tho' Austrian Treaty follows exactly the same outline as the German Treaty, and in many places is identical with it except for the change in name. Certain specific clauses which applied only to Germany are, of course, omitted,. and certain new clauses of particular applicability to Austria are included, especially as regards tho new States created out of tho former Austro-Hungarian Enipire.Autria is left by the Treaty .a State of about six millions of people, inhabiting a territory of between fifty thousand and eixty thousand square miles. Austria recognises the completo independence of Hungary, Czecho-Slovakia, and the Serbo-Croat-Slovene State, and cedes other ' territories which wero previously iu the union,' and with her composed the Empiro of Austria-Hun-gary. Austria agrees to aceept tho League of Nations Covenant and the Labour charter, to renounce all her extra Europeau rights, to demobilise her whole naval mid aerial forces, to admit tho right of trial by the Allied and Associated Powers of those of her nationals guilty ot violating tho laws and customs of war, and to accopt detailed provisions, similar to thoso in tho German Treaty, as to economic relations and freedom of transit. In the following summary, Part I, containing the Covenant of the League of Nations, and Part XII, containing the Convention, are identical with those in the German Treaty, and are therefore orfiitted. Part VI, dealing with prisoners of war and graves, and Part X, dealing with aerial navigation, are identical, with tho substitution of Austria and Austrian for Germany and German, and are also omitted. Similarly, - Part XIII of the German /treaty, containing guarantees for execution is not included in the Austrian Treaty. , PART 11-THE FRONTIERS OF AUSTRIA The northern frontier, facing Czecho-Slovakia, follows tho existing administrative boundaries formerly separating the provinces of Bohemia and Moravia from those of Upper and Lower Austria, subject to certain minor rectifications, notably in the region of Gound and Feldsberg, and along the River Moravia. The southern frontier, facing Italy and tho Serbo-Croa-Slovene Slate, is to bo fixed by the principal Allied and Associated Powers at a later date. In the eastern part the line, passing just east of Blieburg, crosses tho Dravo just aboyo its confluence with the Lavani, and thenco will pass north of tho'Drave, 60 as to leave to the Serb-Croat-Sloveno State, Marburg and R-ackorsburg, just to tho north of which latter plaoe it will join tho Hungarian frontier. .The western and north-western frontiers, facing Bavaria, tlio westorn frontier, facing Switzerland, and the eastern frontier, facing Hungary, remain unchanged. PART lII.—POLITICAL CLAUSES The high contracting parties recognise and accept the frontiers of Bulgaria, Greeoe, Hungary, Poland, Rumania, tho Serb-Croat-Sloveno State, and tho Czecho-Slovak State ps thoy are at present or as ultimately determined. Austria renounces in favour of the principal Allied and Associated Powers all her rights and titles over tho territories formerly belonging to her, which, thougU outside the new frontiers of Austria, have not at present been assigued to any State, and undertakes to accept tho settlement to uo made in regard to these territories. Czechoslovakia. Austria recognises the completo independence of the Czeclio-Slovak State, including tho autonomous territory south of tho Carpathians, in conformity with tho action .already token by tho Allied and Associated Powers. The exact boundary between Austria and the now i Stato is to be fixed by a Field Commission of seven members, fivo nominated by' tho principal Allied and Associated Powers and one each by Austria and Czecho-Slovakia. Czecho-Slovakia agrees to embody in a treaty with the principal Allied and Associated Powers such provisions as may bo deemed necessary to protect raoial, religious, or linguistic minorities, and to assure freedom of transit arid equitable treatment for tho commerco of other nations. The Serb-Croat-Slovcne State.. Austria similarly recognises the complete independence of tho Serb-Croat-Slo-veno Stato, aiid renounces her right and titles. A similarly-appointed Field Commission, including a member nominated by tho Serb-Croat-Sloveno State, is to fix tho oxact boundary. Tho question of the basin of Klagenfurt is reserved. Tho Serb-Croat-Slovene State agrees to a similar treaty for the protection of minorities and freedom of transit. T

Rumania. ' Rumania agrees to a similar treaty for the protection of minorities and freedom of transit. Russia. Austria is to recognise and respect tho full_ independence of all tho territories which formed part of tho former Russian Empire. Sho is to accept definitely the annulment of the Brest-Litovsk Treaty and of all treaties or agreements of all kinds concluded since tho revolution of November, 1917, with all Governments or political groups on the territory of tho former Russian Empire. Tho Allies reserve all rights on the part of Russia for restitution and satisfaction to bo obtained from Austria 1 on tho principjes of tho present Treaty. General Arrangements. Austria ia to consent to the abrogation of the treaties of 1839, by which Bel- , gium was established as a neutral State, and her frontiers fixed, and'to accept in advance any convention with which the Allies may determine to replaco them. Austria adheres to tho abrogation of tho neutrality of the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg and accepts in advance all international agreements as to it that may bo readied by the Allied and Associated Powers. Austrian nationals belonging to racial, religious, or linguistic minorities ava to enjoy the same protection as other Austrian nationsi. lln particular, with regard to schools and other educational establishments, and in districts where a considerable proportion of Austrian nationals of other than German speech are resident, facilities are to be given in tlio_ schools ( for the instruction of tho children in their own language, and an equitable Bhare of the public funds is to bo provided for the purpose. These provisions do not preclude the Austrian Government from malting the teaching of German obligatory. They are to bo embodied bv Austria in lior fundamental law aa a Bill of Rights, and provisions regarding tliem are to bo. under the protection of the League of Nations. PART IV—AUSTRIAN RIGHTS OUTSIDE EUROPE Outside Europe Austria will renounce all rights, titles, and privileges as to her own or her allies' territories to all tho Allied and Associated Powers, and undertakes to accept whatever measures are taken by the principal Allied Powers in relation thereto. Austria accepts all arrangements which the Allied and Associated Powers make' with Turkey and Bulgaria with reference to any rights, privileges, or interests claimed in thoso countries by Austria or her nationals, and not dealt with elsewhere, Austria accepts all arrangements which ' the Allied and Associated Powers make with Germany concerning the territories whose' abandonment was imposed upon Denmark by the treaty of 1861 Proteotion ot Minorities. In a series of special clauses Austria undertakes_ to bring her institutions into conformity with the principles of liberty and justice, and'acknowledges that the obligations for tho protection of minorities are matters of international, concern, 'over which the League of Nations has jurisdiction. She assures oompleto protection of life and liberty to all inhabitants of Austria, without distinction of birth, nationality, language, race, or religion, together with the right to the free exercise of any creed. All Austrian nationals, without distinction of race, language, or religion, are to be equal before tho law. No restrictions arc to be imposed on the free use of any language in private or public, and reasonable facilities are to be given to' Austrian nationals of non-German specch for tho use of their language before the Courts. The clauses as to Egypt, Morocco, China, and Saim, are identical, after the necessary modifications, with those of the German Treaty, except that especially in tho case of China there is no need for so great detail. PART V-MILITARY, NAVAL AND AIR CLAUSES The military clauses are reserved.' All Austro-ttungarian warships, submarines, and vessels of the Danube flotilla are declared to be filially surrendered to the principal Allied and Associated Powers. Twenty-one specified auxiliary cruisers are to bo disarmed and treated as merchant ships. All warships and submarines under construction in ports which belong or have belonged to Austria-Hungary shall be broken up, the salvage not to be used except for industrial purposes, and not to be sold to foreign countries. The construction or acquisition of any submarines even for commercial purposes is forbidden. All naval anus, ammunition, and other «ar material belonging to Austria-Hungary nt the dato of the armistice, shall be surrendered to tho Allies. Tho Austrian wireless station at Vienna is not to lie uf-ed for irival, military, or political messagss relating to Austria or her lato allies without the assent of the Allied and' Associated Governments during three months, but only for commercial purposes, under supervision. During tho same period Austria is not to build any more high-power wireless stations. The air clauses are practically the same as in the Germau Treaty, except for tho 100 seaplanes and their personnel, which Germany is allowed to retain till October to search for-mines. Austria agrees not to accredit or send any military, naval, or air mission to any foreign country, nor to allow Austrian nationals to enlist in tho army or air service of any foreign Power. SUMMARY OF OTHER CLAUSES Part VII, on tho subject of penalties, is identical with the German Treaty, except for the omission of any provision similar to that calling for tho trial of the ex-Kaiser of Germany. Part VIII, on reparation,, is reserved. Part IX.—The financial clauses are reserved. ,I'ark X.—The economic clauses are, r.xcept in certain details, such as shipping, similar to those of the Gorman Treaty. Special provisions arc added, however, for former Austro-llungariau nationsi acquiring an Allied nationality similar to (hoso in the German Treaty relating to tho inhabitants of AlsaceLorraine. The contracts are maintained subject to cancellation by the Governments Austria undertakes to rccogniso any agreement or convention made by tho Allies to safeguard the interests of their nationals' in any undcrtakitigK constituted under Austro-Hnngarinn law which operate in territories detached from the forjner Austrian Empire, and to transfer any necessary documents and information in regard to them. The clauses as to freedom of transit arc tho same in the Austrian as in the German Treaty, except for the ,omissiou of provisions affecting Germany alone, and the insertion of specific clauses granting Austria transit, privileges through former AusVro-Hungarian territory, in order to assure her access to tho ' Adriatic. , There are also miscellaneous provisions. These, after necessary substitutions, are virtually identical with 'tliose of the German Treaty. Tho treaty is to coino into forco when signed by Austria and three of the principal Powers, and is la ho effective for the individual Slates on the deposit of their spcoific ratifi-cations.—Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn.