SECTION IX. EAST PRUSSIA. Article 94. In the area between the southern frontier of East Prussia, as described in Article 28 of Part II (Boundaries of Germany) of the present Treaty, and the line described below, the inhabitants will be called upon to indicate by a vote the State to which they wish to belong: The western and northern boundary of Regierungsbezirk Allenstein to its junction with the boundary between the Kreise of Oletsko and Angerburg; thence, the northern boundary of the Kreis of Oletsko to its junction with the old frontier of East Prussia. Article 95. The German troops and authorities will be withdrawn from the area defined above within a period not exceeding fifteen days after the coming into force of the present Treaty. Until the evacuation is completed they will abstain from all requisitions in money or in kind and from all measures injurious to the economic interests of the country. On the expiration of the above-mentioned period the said area will be placed under the authority of an International Commission of five members appointed by the Principal Allied and Associated Powers. This Commission will have general powers of administration and, in particular, will be charged with the duty of arranging for the vote and of taking such measures as it may deem necessary to ensure its freedom, fairness and secrecy. The Commission will have all necessary authority to decide any questions to which the execution of these provisions may give rise. The Commission will make such arrangements as may be necessary for assistance in the exercise of its functions by officials chosen by itself from the local population. Its decisions will be taken by a majority. Every person, irrespective of sex, will be entitled to vote who: (a) Is 20 years of age at the date of the coming into force of the present Treaty, and (b) Was born within the area where the vote will take place or has been habitually resident there from a date to be fixed by the Commission. Every person will vote in the commune where he is habitually resident or, if not habitually resident in the area, in the commune where he was born. The result of the vote will be determined by communes (Gemeinde) according to the majority of the votes in each commune. On the conclusion of the voting the number of votes cast in each commune will be communicated by the Commission to the Principal Allied and Associated Powers, with a full report as to the taking of the vote and a recommendation as to the line which ought to be adopted as the boundary of East Prussia in this region. In this recommendation regard will be paid to the wishes of the inhabitants as shown by the vote and to the geographical and economic conditions of the locality. The Principal Allied and Associated Powers will then fix the frontier between East Prussia and Poland in this region. In accordance with Articles 80 to 108 of the P the independence of Poland and cedes to that state osen and part of Silesia (28,412 square miles; population, 8,440,379), as well as part of East Prussia, including Memel. Plebiscites are to be taken in certain areas. under the protection of the League of Nations. If the line fixed by the Principal Allied and Associated Powers is to exclude from East Prussia any part of the territory defined ele 94, the renunciation of its rights by Germany in favour ad, as provided in Article 87 above, will extend to the territories ded. on as the line has been fixed by the Principal Allied and ed Powers, the authorities administering East Prussia will ied by the International Commission that they are free to er the administration of the territory to the north of the line which they shall proceed to do within one month of such ion and in the manner prescribed by the Commission. the same period and as prescribed by the Commission, the Government must proceed to take over the administration erritory to the south of the line. When the administration erritory by the East Prussian and Polish authorities respecas been provided for, the powers of the Commission will te. nditure by the Commission, whether in the discharge of its nctions or in the administration of the territory, will be by the local revenues. East Prussia will be required to bear oportion of any deficit as may be fixed by the Principal Allied sociated Powers. CLE 96. In the area comprising the Kreise of Stuhm and erg and the portion of the Kreis of Marienburg which is d east of the Nogat and that of Marienwerder east of the the inhabitants will be called upon to indicate by a vote, to n in each commune (Gemeinde), whether they desire the various nes situated in this territory to belong to Poland or to East CLE 97. The German troops and authorities will be withfrom the area defined in Article 96 within a period not exceedeen days after the coming into force of the present Treaty. ne evacuation is completed they will abstain from all requisimoney or in kind and from all measures injurious to the ic interests of the country. he expiration of the above-mentioned period, the said area placed under the authority of an International Commission members appointed by the Principal Allied and Associated This Commission, supported if occasion arises by the y forces, will have general powers of administration and in r will be charged with the duty of arranging for the vote aking such measures as it may deem necessary to ensure its fairness and secrecy. The Commission will conform as far le to the provisions of the present Treaty relating to the in the Allenstein area; its decisions will be taken by a liture by the Commission, whether in the discharge of its own 1 ctions or in the administration of the territory, will be borne by the local revenues. BOUNDARIES OF GERMANY IN THE EAST In accordance with Articles 80 to 108 of the Peace Treaty, Germany recognizes the independence of Poland and cedes to that state Posen and part of Silesia (28,412 square miles; population, 8,440,379), as well as part of East Prussia, including Memel. Plebiscites are to be taken in certain areas. Danzig is made a free city under the protection of the League of Nations. |