A.—2a

Session 11. 1918. NEW ZEALAND

ARMISTICE BETWEEN GERMANY AND THE ALLIED POWERS (DETAILED TERMS OF).

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave.

Copy of Telegram, dated London, 11th November, 1918 (received 8 p.m., 12th November, 1918), from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Governor-General of New Zealand. A. Clauses relating to the Western Front. 1. Cessation of operations by land and in the air six hours after the signature of the Armistice. 2. Immediate evacuation of invaded countries—Belgium, France, AlsaceLorraine, Luxemburg—so ordered as to be completed within fourteen days from the signature of the Armistice. German troops which have not left the abovementioned territories within the period fixed will become prisoners of war. Occupation by the Allied and United States Forces jointly will keep pace with the evacuation in these areas. All movements of evacuation and occupation "will be regulated in accordance with a Note (Annexurc I).* 3. Repatriation, beginning at once, to be completed within fourteen days of all inhabitants of the countries above enumerated (including hostages, persons under trial or convicted). 4. Surrender in good condition by the German Armies of the following equipment : Five thousand guns (two thousand five hundred heavy, two thousand five hundred field) ; thirty thousand machine guns ; three thousand minenwerfer; two thousand aeroplanes (fighters, bombers, day and night bombingmachines). The above to be delivered in situ to the Allied and United States troops in accordance with the detailed conditions laid down in the Note (Annexure 1). 5. Evacuation by the German Armies of the countries on the left bank of the Rhine. These countries on the left bank of the Rhine shall be administered by the local authorities under the control of the Allied and United States Armies of occupation. The occupation of these territories will be carried out by Allied and United States garrisons holding the principal crossings of the Rhine (Mayence, Coblenz, Cologne), together with bridgeheads at these points of a thirty-kilometre radius on the right bank, and by garrisons similarly holding the strategic points of these regions. A neutral zone shall be set up on the right bank of the Rhine between the river and a line drawn ten kilometres distance, starting from the Dutch frontier, to the Swiss frontier. In the case of inhabitants, no person shall be prosecuted for having taken part in any military measures previous to the signing of the Armistice. No measure of a general or official

* Annexures not vet received.