1919 
 Copy 1 
 
v'\\A 
 
 "H Congress"! 
 1st Session J 
 
 SENATE 
 
 /Document 
 1 No. 
 
 65 
 
 TREATY WITH POLAND 
 
 TREATY OF PEACE 
 
 BETWEEN 
 
 THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
 
 THE BRITISH EMPIRE 
 
 FRANCE, ITALY, AND JAPAN 
 
 AND 
 
 POLAND 
 
 SIGNED AT VERSAILLES 
 
 ON 
 
 JUNE 28, 1919 
 
 PRESENTED BY MR. LODGE 
 August 1, 1919. — Ordered to be printed 
 
 WASHINGTON 
 
 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
 
 1919 
 
D. 
 
 AUG 
 
 Of J. 
 
 i5 1919 
 
TREATY WITH POLAND. 
 
 TreaI'y of Peace Betaveen the United Si^ates of America, the 
 British Empire, France, Italy, and Japan and Poland. 
 
 [Treaty Series No. 8 (1919).] 
 
 Letter addressed to M. Paderewski by tlie President of the Confer- 
 ence transmitting- to liini tlie Treaty to he signed by Poland nnder 
 Article 93 of the Treaty of Peace with Germany. 
 
 Paris, June 2 If, 1919. 
 
 Sir: On behalf of the Supreme Council of the Principal Allied 
 and Associated Powers, I have the honour to communicate to you 
 herewith in its final form the text of the Treaty which, in accordance 
 with Article 93 of the Treaty of Peace with Germany, Poland will 
 be asked to sign on the occasion of the confirmation of her recogni- 
 tion as an independent State and of the transference to her of the 
 tei-ritories included in the former German Empire which are assigned 
 to her by the said Treaty. The principal provisions were communi- 
 cated to" the Polish Delegation in Paris in IMay last, and were sub- 
 sequently communicated direct to the Polish Government through 
 the French Minister at Warsaw. The Council have since had the 
 advantage of the suggestions which you were good enough to con- 
 vey to them in your memorandum of the 16th June, and as the re- 
 sult of a study of these suggestions modifications have been intro- 
 duced in the text of the Treaty. The Council believe that it will 
 be found that by these modifications the principal points to which 
 attention was drawn in your memorandum have, in so far as they 
 relate to specific provisions of the Treaty, been adequately covered. 
 
 In formally communicating to you the final decision of the Prin- 
 cipal Allied and Associated Powers in this matter, I should desire 
 to take this opportunity of explaining in a more formal manner than 
 has hitherto been done the considerations by which the Principal 
 Allied and Associated Powers have been guided in dealing with the> 
 question. 
 
 1. In the first place, I would point out that this Treaty does not 
 constitute any fresh departure. It has for long been the established 
 procedure of the public law of Europe that when a State is created, 
 or even when large accessions of territory are made to an established 
 State, the joint and formal recognition by the Great Powers should 
 be accompanied by the requirement that such State should, in the 
 forui of a binding international convention, undertake to comply 
 with certain principles of government. This principle, for which 
 there are numerous other precedents, received the most explicit 
 sanction when, at the last great assembly of European Powers — the 
 Congress of Berlin — the sovereignty and independence of Serbia, 
 
 3 
 
4 TREATY WITH POLAND. 
 
 Montenegro, and Eoiimania were recognised. It is desirable to re- 
 call the words used on this occasion by the British, French, Italian, 
 and German Plenipotentiaries, as recorded in the Protocol of the 
 28th June, 1878 : 
 
 Lord Salisbury recoi-nises the independence of >^ei-l)ici, but is of opinion that 
 it would be desirable to stipulate in tbe I'rincipality the great principle of 
 religious liberty. 
 
 Mr. Waddington believes that it is important to take advantage of this 
 solemn opportunity to cause the principles of religious liberty to l)e alarmed 
 by the representatives of Europe. His Excellency adds that Serl)ia, who 
 claims to enter the European family on the same basis as other States, must 
 ],reviously recognise the principles which are the basis of social organisation 
 in all States of Europe and accept them as a necessary condition of the favour 
 Avhich she asks for. 
 
 Prince Bismarck, associating himself with the French proposal, declares 
 that the assent of Germany is always assured to any motion favourable to 
 religious liberty. 
 
 Count de Launay says that, in the name of Italy, he desires to adhere 
 to the principle of religious liberty, which forms one of the essential bases of 
 the institutions in his country, and that he associates himself with the 
 declarations made on this subject by Germany, France, and Gi-eat Britain. 
 
 Count Andrassy expresses himself to the same effect, and the Ottoman 
 Plenipotentiaries raise no objection. 
 
 Prince Bismarck, after having summed up the results of the vote, declares 
 that Germany admits the independence of Serbia, but on condition that re- 
 ligious liberty will be recognised in the Principality. His Serene Highness 
 adds that the Drafting Connnittee, when they fornuilate this decision, will 
 aflirm the connection established by the Conference between the proclamation 
 of Serbian independence and the recognition of religious liberty. 
 
 2. The Principal Allied and Associated Powers are of opinion: 
 that they would be false to the responsibility which rests upon them 
 if on this occasion they departed from what has become an established 
 tradition. In this connection I must filso recall to your considera- 
 tion the fact that it is to the endeavours and sacrifices of the Powers 
 in whose name I am addressing you that the Polish nation owes the 
 recovery of its independence. It is by their decision that Polish 
 sovereignty is being re-established over the territories in question 
 and that the inhabitants of these territories are being incorpo^-ated 
 in the Polish nation. It is on the support which the resotu'ces of 
 tltese Powers will afford to the League of Nations that for the future 
 Poland will to a large extent depend for the secure possession of 
 these territories. There rests, therefore, upon these Powers an obli- 
 gation, which they cannot evade, to secure in the most permanent 
 and solemn form guarantees for certain essential rights which Avill 
 afford to the inhabitants the necessary protection whatever changes 
 may take place in the internal constitution of the Polish State. 
 
 It is in accordance with this obligation that Clause 93 was inserted 
 in the Treaty of Peace with Germany. This clause relates only to 
 Poland, Init a similar clause applies the same principles to Czecho- 
 slovakia, and other clauses have been inserted in the Treaty of Peace 
 with Austria and will be inserted in those with Hungary and with 
 Bulgaria, under wdiich similar obligations will be undertaken by 
 other States, which under those Treaties receive large accessions of 
 territory. 
 
 The consideration of these facts will be sufficient to show that by 
 the requirement addressed to Poland at the time when it receives in 
 
TKEATY WITH POLAND. 
 
 the most solemn manner the joint recog:nition of the re-establishment 
 of its sovereignty and independence and when large accessions of ter- 
 ritory are being assigned to it, no doubt is thrown upon the sincerity 
 of the desire of the Polish Government and the Polish nation to 
 maintain the general principles of justice and liberty. Any such 
 doubt Avould be far from the intention of the Principal Allied and 
 Associated Powers. 
 
 3. It is indeed true that the new Treaty differs in form from 
 earlier Conventions dealing with similar matters. The change of 
 form is a necessary consequence and an essential part of the new 
 system of international relations which is now being built up by the 
 establishment of the League of Nations. Under the older system the 
 guarantee for the execution of similar provisions was vested in the 
 Great Powers. Experience has shown that this was in practice 
 ineffective, and it was also open to the criticism that it might give 
 to the Great Powers, either individually or in combination, a right 
 to interfere in the internal constitution of the States affected which 
 could be used for political purposes. Under the new system the 
 gTiarantee is entrusted to the League of Nations. The clauses deal- 
 ing with this guarantee have been carefully drafted so as to make it 
 clear that Poland will not be in any way under the tutelage of those 
 Powers who are signatories to the Treaty. 
 
 I should desire, moreover, to j^oint out to you that provision tias 
 been inserted in the treaty by which disputes arising out of its 
 provisions may be brought before the Court of the League of Nations. 
 In this way differences which might arise will be removed from the 
 political sphere and placed in the hands of a judicial court, and it 
 is hoped that thereby an impartial decision will be facilitated, 
 while at the same time any danger of political interference by the 
 Powers in the internal affairs of Poland will be avoided. 
 
 4. The particular provisions to which Poland and the other States 
 will be asked to adhere differ to some extent from' those which were 
 imposed on the new States at the Congress of Berlin. But the 
 obligations in^posed upon new States seeking recognition have at all 
 times varied with the particular circumstances. The Kingdom of the 
 United Netherlands in 1814 formally undertook precise obligations 
 with regard to the Belgian provinces at that time annexed to the 
 kingdom which formed an important restriction on the unlimite'l 
 exercise of its sovereignt3^ It was determined at the establishment 
 of the Kingdom of Greece that the Government of that State should 
 take a particular form, viz., it should be both monarchial and consti- 
 tutional; when Thessaly was annexed to Greece, it was stipulated 
 that the lives, property, honour, religion and customs of those of 
 the inhabitants of the localities ceded to Greece, who remained under 
 the Hellenic administration should be scrupulously respected, and 
 that they should enjoy exactly the same civil and political rights as 
 Hellenic subjects of origin. In addition, very precise stipulations 
 were inserted safeguarding the interests of the Mohammedan popu- 
 lation of these territories. 
 
 The situation with which the Powers have now to deal is new, 
 and experience has shown that new provisions are necessary. The 
 territories now being transferred both to Poland and to other States 
 
6 TREATY WITH POLAND. 
 
 inevitably include a large population speaking languages and be- 
 longing to races different from that of the people with whom they 
 will be incorporated. Unfortunately, the races have been estranged 
 by long years of bitter hostility. It is believed that these popula- 
 tions will be more easily reconciled to their new position if they 
 know that from the very beginning they have assured protection and 
 adequate guarantees against any danger of unjust treatment or 
 opj)ression. The very knowledge that these guarantees exist will, 
 it is hoped, materially help the reconciliation which all desire, and 
 will indeed do much to prevent the necessity of its enforcement. 
 
 5. To turn to the individual clauses of the present Treaty. Article 
 2 guarantees to all inhabitants those elementary rights, which are, 
 as a matter of fact, secured in every civilised State. Clauses 3 to 6 
 are designed to insure that all the genuine residents in the terri- 
 tories now transferred to Polish sovereignty shall in fact be assured 
 of the full privileges of citizenship. Articles 7 and 8, which are in 
 accordance with precedent, provide against any discrimination 
 against those Polish citizens who by their religion, their language, 
 or their race, differ from the large mass of the Polish population. 
 It is understood that, far from raising any objection to the matter 
 of these articles, the Polish Government have already, of their own 
 accord, declared their firm intention of basing their institutions on 
 the cardinal principles enunciated therein. 
 
 The following articles are of rather a different nature in that they 
 provide more special privileges to certain groups of these minori- 
 ties. In the final revision of these latter articles, the Powers have 
 been impressed by the suggestions made in your memorandum of 
 the 16th June, and the ai'ticles have in consequence been subjected 
 to some material modifications. In the final text of the Treaty it 
 has been made clear that the special privileges accorded in Article 
 9 are extended to Polish citizens of German speech only in such 
 parts of Poland as are, by the Treaty with Germany, transferred 
 from Germany to Poland. Germans in other parts of Poland will 
 be unable under this article to claim to avail themselves of these 
 privileges. They will therefore in this matter be dependent solely 
 on the generosity of the Polish Government, and will in fact be in 
 the same position as German citizens of Polish speech in Germany. 
 
 6. Clauses 10 and 12 deal specifically with the Jewish citizens of 
 Poland. The information at this disposal of the Principal Allied 
 and Associated Powers as to the existing relations between the Jews 
 and the other Polish citizens has led them to the conclusion that, in 
 view of the historical development of the Jewish question and the great 
 animosity aroused by it, special protection is necessary for the Jews 
 in Poland. These clauses have been limited to the minimum which 
 seems necessary under the circumstances of the present day, viz., 
 the maintenance of Jewish schools and the protection of the Jews 
 in the religious observance of their Sabbath. It is believed that these 
 stipulations will not create anj^ obstacle to the political unity of 
 Poland. They do not constitute any recognition of the Jews as a 
 separate political community within the Polish State. The educa- 
 tional provisions contain nothing beyond what is in fact provided 
 in the educational institutions of many highly organised modern 
 States. There is nothing inconsistent with the sovereignty of the 
 
TREATY WITH POLAND. 7 
 
 State in recognising and supporting scliools in which children shall 
 be brought up in the religious influences to which they are accus- 
 tomed in their home. Ample safeguards against any use of non- 
 Polish languages to encourage a spirit of national separation have 
 been provided in the express acknowledgment that the provisions 
 of this Treaty do not prevent the Poli&'h State from making the 
 Polish language obligatory in all its schools and educational insti- 
 tutions. 
 
 7. The economic clauses contained in Cliapter II of the Treaty 
 have been drafted with the view of facilitating the establishment of 
 equitable commercial relations between independent Poland and the 
 other Allied and Associated Powers. They include provisions for 
 reciprocal diplomatic and consular representation, for freedom of 
 transit, and for the adhesion of the Polish Government to certain 
 international conventions. 
 
 In these clauses the Principal Allied and Associated Powers have 
 not been actuated b}^ any desire to secure for themselves special com- 
 mercial advantages. It will be observed that the rights accorded to 
 them by these clauses are extended equally to all States who are 
 members of the League of Nations. Some of the provisions are 
 of a transitional chai-acter, and have been introduced only with the 
 necessary object of bridging over the short interval which must 
 elapse before general regulations can be established by Poland herself 
 or by commercial treaties or general conventions approved by the 
 League of Nations. 
 
 In conclusion, I am to express to you on behalf of the Allied and 
 Associated Powers the very sincere satisfaction which they feel at 
 the re-establishment of Poland as an independent State. They cor- 
 dially' welcome the Polish nation on its re-entry into the family of 
 nations. They recall the great services wdiich tlie ancient Kingdom 
 of Poland rendered to Europe both in public affairs and by its con- 
 tributions to the progress of mankind which is the common work 
 of all civilised nations. They believe that the voice of Poland will 
 add to the wisdom of their common deliberations in the cause of 
 peace and harmony, that its influence will be used to further the 
 spirit of liberty and justice, both in internal and external affairs, 
 and that thereby it will help in the work of reconciliation between 
 the nations which, with the conclusion of Peace, will be the common 
 task of humanity. 
 
 The Treaty by which Poland solemnly declares before the world 
 her determination to maintain the principles of justice, liberty, and 
 toleration, which were the guiding spirit of the ancient Kingdom 
 of Poland, and also receives in its most explicit and binding form 
 the confirmation of her restoration to the family of independent 
 nations, will be signed by Poland and by the Principal Allied and 
 Associated Powers on the occasion of, and at the same time as, the 
 signature of the Treaty of Peace wdth Germany. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 
 Clemenceau. 
 
 The LTnifed States of America, the British Empire, France, Italy 
 and Japan, the Principal Allied and Associated Powers, on the one 
 hand ; and Poland on the other hand ; 
 
8 TREATY WITH POLAND. 
 
 Whereas the Allied and Associated Powers have by the success of 
 their arms restored to the Polish nation the independence of which it 
 had been unjustly deprived; and 
 
 Whereas by the proclamation of March 30, 1917, the Government of 
 Russia assented to the re-establishment of an independent Polish 
 State; and 
 
 Whereas the Polish State, which now in fact exercises sovereignty 
 over those portions of the former Russian Empire which are in- 
 habited by a majority of Poles, has already been recognised as a 
 sovereign and independent State by the Principal Allied and Asso- 
 ciated Powers; and 
 
 Whereas under the Treaty of Peace concluded with Germany by the 
 Allied and Associated Powers, a Treaty of which Poland is a sig- 
 natory, certain portions of the former German Empire will be in- 
 corporated in the territory of Poland ; and 
 
 Whereas under the terms of the said Treaty of Peace, the bounda- 
 ries of Poland not already laid down are to be subsequently deter- 
 mined by the Principal Allied and Associated Powers; 
 
 The United States of America, the British Empire, France, Italy 
 and Japan, on the one hand, confirming their recognition of the 
 Polish State, constituted within the said limits as a sovereign and 
 independent member of the Family of Nations, and being anxious 
 to ensure the execution of the provisions of Article 93 of the said 
 Treaty of Peace with German}^ ; 
 
 Poland, on the other hand, desiring to conform her institutions to 
 the principles of liberty and justice, and to give a sure guarantee to 
 the inhabitants of the territory over which she has assumed sover- 
 eignty; 
 
 i^'or this purpose the High Contracting Parties represented as 
 follows : 
 The President of the United States of America, by: 
 
 The Honourable Woodrow Wilson, President of the United 
 States, acting in his own name and by his own proper au- 
 thority ; 
 The Honourable Robert Lansing. Secretary of State; 
 The Honourable Henry White, formerly Ambassador Extraor- 
 dinarv and Plenipotentiarv of the United States at Rome and 
 Paris'; 
 The Honourable Edward M. House ; 
 
 General Tasker H. Bliss, Military Representative of the United 
 States on the Supreme War Council ; 
 His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and 
 Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Em- 
 peror of India, by : 
 The Right Honourable David Lloyd George, M.P., First Lord 
 
 of His Treasury and Prime Minister; 
 The Right Honourable Andrew Bonar Law, M.P., His Lord 
 
 Privy Seal ; 
 The Right Honourable Viscount Milner, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., His 
 
 Secretary of State for the Colonies; 
 The Right Honourable Arthur James Balfour, O.M,, M.P., His 
 Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; 
 
TKEATY WITH POLAND. 9 
 
 The Eicrht Honourable George Nicoll Barnes, M.P., Minister 
 without portfolio ; 
 And 
 Yov the Dominion of Canada, by : 
 
 The Honourable Charles Joseph Doherty, Minister of Justice; 
 The Honourable Arthur Lewis Sifton, Minister of Customs; 
 For the Commonwealth of Australia, by : 
 
 The Right Honourable William Morris Hughes, Attorney Gen- 
 eral and Prime Minister; 
 The Eight Honourable Sir Joseph Cook, G.C.M.G., Minister 
 for the Navy ; 
 For the Union of South Africa, by : 
 
 General the Rijrht Honourable Louis Botha, Minister of Native 
 
 Affairs and Prime Minister; 
 Lieutenant-General the Right Honourable Jan Christiaan 
 Smuts, K.C., Minister of Defence; 
 For the Dominion of New Zealand, by : 
 
 The Right Honourable William Ferguson Massey, Minister of 
 Labour and Prime Minister ; 
 For India, bv : 
 
 The Right Honoural)le Edwin Samuel Montagu, M.P., His 
 
 Secretary of State for India ; 
 Major-General His Hiahness Maharaja Sir Ganga Singh Ba- 
 hadur, Maharaja of ^ Bikaner, G.C.'S.L, G.C.I.E., G.C.V.O., 
 K.C.B., A.D.C.; 
 The President of the French Republic, by : 
 
 Mr. Georges Clemeneeau, President of the Council, Minister of 
 
 War; 
 Mr. Stephen Pichon, Minister of Foreign Affairs; 
 Mr. Louis Lucieii Klotz, ]Minister of Finance; 
 Mr. Andre Tardieu, Connnissary General for Franco- American 
 
 Military Affairs; 
 Mr. Jules' Cambon, Ambassador of France; 
 His Majesty the King of Italy, by: 
 Baron S. Sonnino, Deputy; 
 Marquis G. Imperiali, Senator, Ambassador of His Majesty the 
 
 King of Italy at London ; 
 Mr. S.' Crespi, Deputy ; 
 His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, by: 
 
 Marquis Saionzi, formerly President of the Council of Min- 
 isters ; 
 Baron Ma kino, formerly Minister of Foreign Affairs, Member 
 
 of the Diplomatic Council; 
 A^iscount Chinda, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipo- 
 
 tentiarv of H.M. the Emperor of Japan at London; 
 Mr. K. Matsui, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary 
 
 of H.M. the Emperor of Japan at Paris ; 
 Mr. H. Ijuin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary 
 of H.M. the Emperor of Japan at Rome ; 
 ^lie President of the Polish Repubhc, by: 
 
 Mr. Ignace J. Paderewski, President of the Council of Ministers, 
 
 Minister of Foreign Affairs; 
 Mr. Roman Dmowski, President of the Polish National Com- 
 mittee ; 
 
10 TREATY WITH POLAND. 
 
 After having exchanged their full powers, found in good and due 
 form, have agreed as follows: 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Article 1. 
 
 Poland undertakes that the stipulations contained in Articles 2 to 
 8 of this Chapter shall be recognised as fundamental laws, and that 
 no law, regulation or official action shall, conflict or interfere with 
 these stipulations, nor shall any law, regulation or official action pre- 
 vail over them. 
 
 Article 2. 
 
 Poland undertakes to assure full and complete protection of life 
 and liberty to all inhabitants of Poland without distinction of birth, 
 nationality, language, race or religion. 
 
 All inhabitants of Poland shall be entitled to the free exercise, 
 whether public or private, of any creed, religion or belief, whose 
 practices are not inconsistent with public order or public morals. 
 
 Article 3. 
 
 Poland admits and declares to be Polish nationals ipso facto and 
 without the requirement of any formality German, Austrian, Hun- 
 garian or Russian nationals habituall}^ resident at the date of the 
 coming into force of the present Treaty in territory which is or may 
 be recognised as forming part of Poland, but subject to any provi- 
 sions in the Treaties of Peace with Germany or Austria respectively 
 relating to persons who became resident in such territory after a 
 specified date. 
 
 Nevertheless, the persons referred to above who are over eighteen 
 years of age will be entitled under the conditions contained in the 
 said Treaties to opt for any other nationality which may be open to 
 them. Option by a husband will cover his wife and option by par- 
 ents will cover their children under eighteen years of age. 
 
 Persons who have exercised the above right to opt must, except 
 where it is otherwise provided in the Treaty of Peace with Germany, 
 transfer within the succeeding twelve months their place of residence 
 to the State for which they have opted. They will be entitled to 
 retain their immovable property in Polish territory. They may 
 carry with them their movable property of every description. No 
 export duties may be imposed upon them in connection with the 
 removal of such property. 
 
 Article 4. 
 
 Poland admits and declares to be Polish nationals ipso facto and 
 without the requirement of any formality persons of German, Aus- 
 trian, Hungarian or Russian nationality who w-ere born in the said 
 territor}?^ of parents habitually resident there, even if at the date of 
 the coming into force of the present Treaty they are not themselves 
 habitually resident there. 
 
 Nevertheless, within two years after the coming into force of the 
 present Treaty, these persons may make a declaration before the 
 
TREATY WITH POLAND. 11 
 
 competent Polish authorities in the country in which they are resi- 
 dent, stating that they abandon Polish nationality, and they will then 
 cease to be considered as Polish nationals. In this connection a 
 declaration by a husband will cover his wife, and a declaration by 
 parents will cover their children under eighteen years of age. 
 
 Article 5. 
 
 Poland undertakes to put no hindrance in the way of the exercise 
 of the right which the persons concerned have, under the Treaties 
 concluded or to be concluded by the Allied and Associated Powers 
 with German}', Austria, Plungary or Russia, to choose whether or 
 not they will acquire Polish nationality. 
 
 Article 6. 
 
 All persons born in Polish territory who are not born nationals of 
 another State shall ipso facto become Polish nationals. 
 
 Article 7. 
 
 All Polish nationals shall be equal before the law and shall en- 
 joy the same civil and political rights without distinction as to race, 
 language or religion. 
 
 Differences of religion, creed or confession shall not prejudice any 
 Polish national in matters relating to the enjoyment of civil or politi- 
 cal rights, as for instance admission to public employments, func- 
 tions and honours, or the exercise of professions and industries. 
 
 No restriction shall be imposed on the free use by any Polish 
 national of any language in private intercourse, in commerce, in 
 religion, in the j^ress or in publications of any kind, or at public 
 meetings. 
 
 Notwithstanding any establishment by the Polish Government 
 of an official language, adequate facilities shall be given to Polish 
 nationals of non-Polish speech for the use of their language, either 
 orally or in writing, before the courts. 
 
 Article 8. 
 
 Polish nationals who belong to racial, religious or linguistic 
 minorities shall enjoy the same treatment and security in law and 
 in fact as the other Polish nationals. In particular they shall have 
 an equal right to establish, manage and control at their own expense 
 charitable, religious and social institutions, schools and other educa- 
 tional establishments, with the right to use their own language anu 
 to exercise their religion freely therein. 
 
 Article 9. 
 
 Poland will provide in the public educational system in towns and 
 districts in which a considerable proportion of Polish nationals of 
 other than Polish speech are residents adequate facilities for ensuring 
 that in the primary schools the instruction shall be given to the 
 children of such Polish nationals through the medium of their own 
 languao-e This provision shall not prevent the Polish Government 
 from making the teaching of the Polish language obligatory m the 
 said schools. 
 
12 TKEATY WITH POLAND. 
 
 In towns and districts where there is a considerable proportion 
 of Polish nationals belonging to racial, religious or linguistic 
 minorities, these minorities shall be assured an equitable share in the 
 enjoyment and application of the sums wliich may be provided out 
 of public funds under the State, nnuiicipal or other budget, for 
 educational, religious or charitable purposes. 
 
 The provisions of this Article shall apply to Polish citizens of 
 German speech only in that part of Poland which was German terri- 
 tory on August 1, 1914. 
 
 Article 10. 
 
 Educational Committees appointed locally by the Jewish com- 
 munities of Poland will, subject to the general control of the State, 
 provide for the distribution of the proportional share of public 
 funds allocated to Jewish schools in accoi'dance with Article 9, and 
 for the organisation and management of these schools. 
 
 The provisions of Article 9 concerning the use of languages in 
 schools shall apply to these schools. 
 
 Article 11. 
 
 Jews shall not be compelled to perform any act which constitutes 
 a violation of their Sabbath, nor shall they be placed under any 
 disability by reason of their refusal to attend courts of law or to 
 perform any legal business on their Sabbath. Tliis provision how- 
 ever shall not exempt Jews from such obligations as shall be imposed 
 upon all other Polish citizens for the necessary purposes of military 
 service, national defence or the preservation of public order. 
 
 Poland declares her intention to refrain from ordering or permit- 
 ting elections, wdiether general or local, to be held on a Saturday, nor 
 will registration for electoral or other purposes be compelled to be 
 performed on a Saturday. 
 
 Article 12. 
 
 Poland agrees that the stipulations in the foregoing Articles, so 
 far as they affect persons belonging to racial, religious or linguistic 
 minorities, constitute obligations of international concern and shall 
 be placed under the guarantee of the League of Nations. They shall 
 not be modified without the assent of a majority of the Council of 
 the League of Nations. The United States, the British Empire, 
 France, Italy and Japan hereby agree not to withhold their assent 
 from any modification in these Articles which is in due form assented 
 to by a majority of the Council of the League of Nations. 
 
 Poland agrees that any Member of the Council of the League of 
 Nations shall have the right to bring to the attention of the Council 
 any infraction, or any danger of infraction, of any of these obliga- 
 tions, and that the council may thereupon take such action and give 
 such direction as it may deem proper and eifective in the circum- 
 stances. 
 
 Poland further agrees that any difference of opinion as to ques- 
 tions of law or fact arising out of these Articles between the Polish 
 Government and any one of the Principal Allied and Associated 
 Powers or any other Power, a Member of the Council of the League 
 
TREATY WITH POLAND. 13 
 
 of Nations, shall be held to be a dispute of an international character 
 under Article 14 of the Covenant of the League of Nations. The 
 Polish Government hereby consents that any such dispute shall, if 
 the other party thereto demands, be referred to the Permanent Court 
 of International Justice. The decision of the Permanent Court shall 
 be final and shall have the same force and effect as an award under 
 Article 13 of the Covenant. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 Article 13. 
 
 Each of the Principal Allied and Associated Powers on the one 
 part and Poland on the other shall be at liberty to appoint diplomatic 
 representatives to reside in their respective capitals, as well as 
 Consuls-General, Consuls, Vice-Consuls, and Consular agents to re- 
 side in the towns and ports of their respective territories. 
 
 Consuls-General, Consuls, Vice-Consuls and Consular agents, how- 
 ever, shall not enter upon their duties until they have been admitted 
 in the usual manner by the Government in the territory of which 
 they are stationed, 
 
 Consuls-General, Consuls, Vice-Consuls and Consular agents shall 
 enjoy all the facilities, privileges, exemptions and immunities of 
 every kind which are or shall be granted to consular officers of the 
 most favoured nation. 
 
 Article 14. 
 
 Pending the establishment of an import tariff by the Polish Gov- 
 ernment, goods originating in the Allied and Associated States shall 
 not be subject to any higher duties on importation into Poland than 
 the most favourable rates of duty applicable to goods of the same 
 kind under either the German, Austro-Hungarian or Russian Cus- 
 toms Tariffs on July 1, 1914. 
 
 Article 15. 
 
 Poland undertakes to make no treaty, convention or arrangement 
 and to take no other action which will prevent her from joining in 
 any general agreement for the equitable treatment of the commerce 
 of other States that may be concluded under the auspices of the 
 League of Nations within five years from the coming into force of 
 the present Treaty. 
 
 Poland also undertakes to extend to all the Allied and Associated 
 States any favours or privileges in customs matters which she may 
 grant during the same period of five years to any State with which 
 since August, 1914, the Allies have been at war, or to any State 
 which may have concluded with Austria special customs arrange- 
 ments as provided for in the Treaty of Peace to be concluded with 
 Austria. 
 
 Article 16. 
 
 Pending the conclusion of the general agreement referred to above, 
 Poland undertakes to treat on the same footing as national vessels 
 or vessels of the most favoured nation the vessels of all the Allied 
 
14 TKEATY WITH POLAND. A AOA QOA JA-| C 
 
 and Associated States which accord similar treatment to Polisii 
 vessels. 
 
 By way of exception from this provision, the right of Poland or 
 of any other Allied or Associated State to confine her maritime coast- 
 ing trade to national vessels is expressly reserved. 
 
 Article 17. 
 
 Pending the conclusion under the auspices of the League of 
 Nations of a general Convention to secure and maintain freedom of 
 communications and of transit, Poland undertakes to accord freedom 
 of transit to persons, goods, vessels, carriages, wagons and mails in 
 transit to or from any Allied or Associated State over Polish terri- 
 tory, including territorial waters, and to treat them at least as 
 favourably as the persons, goods, vessels, carriages, wagons and 
 mails respectively of Polish or of any other more favoured nation- 
 ality, origin, importation or ownership, as regards facilities, charges, 
 restrictions, and all other matters. 
 
 All charges imposed in Poland on such traffic in transit shall be 
 reasonable naving regard to the conditions of the traffic. Goods in 
 transit shall be exempt from all customs or other duties. Tariffs 
 for transit traffic across Poland and tariffs between Poland and any 
 Allied or Associated Power involving through tickets or waybills 
 shall be established at the request of that Allied or Associated Power. 
 
 Freedom of transit will extend to postal, telegraphic and telephonic 
 services. 
 
 It is agreed that no Allied or Associated Power can claim the 
 benefit of these provisions on behalf of any part of its territory in 
 which reciprocal treatment is not accorded in respect of the same 
 subject matter. 
 
 If within a period of five years from the coming into force of the 
 present Treaty no general Convention as aforesaid shall have been 
 concluded under the auspices of the League of Nations, Poland shall 
 be at liberty at any time thereafter to give twelve months notice to 
 the Secretary General of the LeagTie of Nations to terminate the 
 obligations of this Article. 
 
 Article 18. 
 
 Pending the conclusion of a general Convention on the Interna- 
 tional Eegime of waterways, Poland undertakes to apply to the 
 river system of the Vistula (including the Bug and the Narev) the 
 regime applicable to International Waterways set out in Articles 332 
 to 337 of the Treaty of Peace with Germany. 
 
 Article 19. 
 
 Poland undertakes to adhere within twelve months of the coming 
 into force of the present Treaty to the International Conventions 
 specified in Annex I. 
 
 Poland undertakes to adhere to any new convention, concluded 
 with the approval of the Council of the League of Nations within 
 five years of the coming into force of the present Treaty, to replace 
 any of the International instruments specified in Annex I. 
 
TREATY WITH POLAND. 15 
 
 The Polish Government undertakes within twelve months to notify 
 the Secretary General of the League of Nations whether or not Po- 
 land desires to adhere to either or both of the International Conven- 
 tions specified in Annex II. 
 
 Until Poland has adhered to the two Conventions last specified in 
 Annex I, she agrees, on condition of reciprocity, to protect by effec- 
 tive measures the industrial, literary and artistic property of na- 
 tionals of the Allied and Associated States. In the case of any 
 Allied or Associated State not adhering to the said Conventions 
 Poland agrees to continue to afford such effective protection on the 
 same conditions until the conclusions of a special bi-lateral treaty 
 or agreement for that purpose with such Allied or Associated State. 
 
 Pending her adhesion to the other Conventions specified in Annex 
 I, Poland will secure to the nationals of the Allied and Associated 
 Powers the advantages to which they would be entitled under the 
 said Conventions. 
 
 Poland further agrees, on condition of reciprocity, to recognise 
 and protect all rights in any industrial, literary or artistic property 
 belonging to the nationals of the Allied and Associated States in 
 force, or which but for the war w^ould have been in force, in any 
 part of her territories before transfer to Poland. For such pur- 
 pose she will accord the extensions of time agreed to in Articles 307 
 and 308 of the Treaty with Germany. 
 
 ANNEX I. 
 TELEGRAPHIC AND RADIO-TELEGRAPHIC CONVENTIONS. 
 
 International Telegraphic Convention signed at St. Petersburg, 
 July 10/22, 1875. 
 
 Regulations and Tariffs drawn up by the International Telegraph 
 Conference, signed at Lisbon, June 11, 1908. 
 
 International Radio-Telegraphic Convention, July 5, 1912. 
 
 RAILWAY CONVENTIONS. 
 
 Conventions and arrangements signed at Berne on October 14, 
 1890, September 20, 1893, July 16, 1895, June 16, 1898, and Sep- 
 tember 19, 1906, and the current supplementary provisions made 
 under those Conventions. 
 
 Agreement of May 15, 1886, regarding the sealing of railway 
 ti'ucks subject to customs inspection, and Protocol of May 18, 1907. 
 
 Agreement of May 15, 1886, regarding the technical standardisa- 
 tion of railways, as modified on May 18, 1907, 
 
 SANITARY CONVENTION. 
 
 Convention of December 3, 1903. 
 
 OTHER CONVENTIONS. 
 
 Convention of September 26, 1906, for the suppression of night 
 \\'ork for women. 
 
 Convention of September 26, 1906, for the suppression of the use 
 of white phosphorus in the manufacture of matches. 
 
16 TREATY WITH POLAND. 
 
 Convention of May 18, 1904 and May 4, 1910, regarding the sup- 
 pression of the White Shive Traffic. 
 
 Convention of May 4, 1910, regarding the suppression of obscene 
 publications. 
 
 International Convention of Paris of March 20, 1883, as revised 
 at Washington in 1911, for the protection of industrial property. 
 
 International Convention of Berne of September 9, 1886, revised 
 at Berlin on November 13, 1908, and completed by the Additional 
 Protocol signed at Berne on March 20, 1914, for the Protection of 
 Literary and Artistic Work. 
 
 ANNEX II. 
 
 Agreement of Madrid of April 14, 1891, for the Prevention of 
 False Indications of origin on goods, revised at Washington in 1911,, 
 and 
 
 Agreement of Madrid of 14 April, 1891, for the international 
 registration of trade marks, revised at Washington in 1911. 
 
 Article 20. 
 
 All I'ights and privileges accorded by the foregoing Articles to 
 the Allied and Associated States shall be accorded equally to all 
 States members of the League of Nations. 
 
 Article 21. 
 
 Poland agrees to assume responsibility for such proportion of the 
 Kussian public debt and other Russian public liabilities of any kind 
 as may be assigned to her under a special convention between the 
 Principal Allied and Associated Powers on the one hand and Poland 
 on the other, to be prepared by a Commission appointed by the above 
 States. In the event of the Commission not arriving at an agree- 
 ment the point at issue shall be referred for immediate arbitration 
 to the League of Nations. 
 
 The present Treaty, of which the French and English texts are 
 both authentic, shall "be ratified. It shall come into force at the same 
 time as the Treaty of Peace with Germany. 
 
 The deposit of ratifications shall be made at Paris. 
 
 Powers of which the seat of the Government is outside Europe will 
 be entitled merely to inform the Government of the French Republic 
 through their diplomatic representative at Paris that their ratifica- 
 tion has been given ; in that case they must transmit the instrument 
 of ratification as soon as possible. 
 
 A proces-verbal of the deposit of ratifications will be drawn up. 
 
 The French Government will transmit to all the signatory Powers 
 a certified copy of the proces-verbal of the deposit of ratifications. 
 
 In faith whereof the above-named Plenipotentiaries have signed 
 the present Treaty. 
 
 Done at Versailles, the twenty-eighth day of June, one thousand 
 nine hundred and nineteen, in a single copy which will remain de- 
 posited in the archives of the French Republic, and of which authenti- 
 cated copies will be transmitted to each of the Signatory Powers. 
 
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