Consultative Committee shall be set up, in which each of the Parties to the Treaty shall be represented by a member of its Government or by another specifically appointed representative. The Committee may set up such auxiliary bodies as may prove necessary. ARTICLE 7 The Contracting Parties undertake not to participate in any coalitions or alliances and not to conclude any agreements whose objects conflict with the objects of the present Treaty. The Contracting Parties declare that their commitments under existing international treaties do not conflict with the provisions of the present Treaty. ARTICLE 8 The Contracting Parties declare that they will act in a spirit of friendship and cooperation with a view to further developing and fostering economic and cultural intercourse with one another, each adhering to the principle of respect for the independence and sovereignty of the others and non-interference in their internal affairs. ARTICLE 9 The present Treaty is open to the accession of other states, irrespective of their social and political systems, which express their readiness by participation in the present Treaty to assist in uniting the efforts of the peaceable states in safeguarding the peace and security of the peoples. Such accession shall enter into force with the agreement of the Parties to the Treaty after the declaration of accession has been deposited with the Government of the Polish People's Republic. ARTICLE 10 The present Treaty is subject to ratification, and the instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Government of the Polish People's Republic. The Treaty shall enter into force on the day the last instrument of ratification has been deposited. The Government of the Polish People's Republic shall notify the other Parties to the Treaty as each instrument of ratification is deposited. ARTICLE 11 The present Treaty shall remain in force for twenty years. For such Contracting Parties as do not at least one year before the expiration of this period present to the Government of the Polish People's Republic a statement of denunciation of the Treaty, it shall remain in force for the next ten years. Should a system of collective security be established in Europe, and a General European Treaty of Collective Security concluded for this purpose, for which the Contracting Parties will unswervingly strive, the present Treaty shall cease to be operative from the day the General European Treaty enters into force. Done in Warsaw on May 14, 1955, in one copy each in the Russian, Polish, Czech and German languages, all texts being equally authentic. Certified copies of the present Treaty shall be sent by the Government of the Polish People's Republic to all the Parties to the Treaty. In witness whereof the plenipotentiaries have signed the present Treaty and affixed their seals. [List of signatory countries: Albania, Bulgaria, Hungarian People's Republic, German Democratic Republic, Polish People's Republic, Rumanian People's Republic, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Czechoslovak Republic.] 141. ESTABLISHMENT OF A JOINT COMMAND OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE SIGNATORIES TO THE TREATY OF FRIENDSHIP, COOPERATION AND MUTUAL ASSISTANCE (THE WARSAW PACT), MAY 14, 1955 1 In pursuance of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the People's Republic of Albania, the People's Republic of Bulgaria, the Hungarian People's Republic, the German Democratic Republic, the Polish People's Republic, the Rumanian People's Republic, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Czechoslovak Republic, the signatory states have decided to establish a Joint Command of their armed forces. The decision provides that general questions relating to the strengthening of the defensive power and the organization of the Joint Armed Forces of the signatory states shall be subject to examination by the Political Consultative Committee, which shall adopt the necessary decisions. Marshal of the Soviet Union I. S. Konev has been appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Joint Armed Forces to be assigned by the signatory states. The Ministers of Defence or other military leaders of the signatory states are to serve as Deputy Commanders-in-Chief of the Joint Armed Forces, and shall command the armed forces assigned by their respective states to the Joint Armed Forces. The question of the participation of the German Democratic Republic in measures concerning the armed forces of the Joint Command will be examined at a later date. A Staff of the Joint Armed Forces of the signatory states will be set up under the Commander-in-Chief of the Joint Armed Forces, and will include permanent representatives of the General Staffs of the signatory states. The Staff will have its headquarters in Moscow. The disposition of the Joint Armed Forces in the territories of the signatory states will be effected, by agreement among the states, in accordance with the requirements of their mutual defence. 142. COMMUNIQUÉ BY WARSAW PACT COMMITTEE ON INCORPORATION OF EAST GERMAN FORCES, JANUARY 28, 1956* The decision on the unified command was discussed and adopted at the proposal of commander in chief of the unified armed forces Marshal I. S. Konev. Organizational problems concerning activities 1 The New Times (Moscow), No. 21, May 21, 1955, p. 70. New York Times, January 29, 1956. of the unified armed forces made available by countries who signed. the Warsaw Treaty were solved. A proposal of the delegation of the [east] German Democratic Republic that after the formation of the national people's army [its] armed contingents be incorporated in the unified armed forces was adopted. It was resolved that the Minister of Defense of the German Democratic Republic [Willi Stoph] would become one of the deputy commanders of the unified armed forces. Under provisions of the Warsaw Treaty stating that the contracting parties would consult each other on international questions affecting their common interests, the political consultative committee discussed the international situation and reached conclusions contained in a declaration signed by representatives of members of the Warsaw Treaty. It was decided that the Political Consultative Committee would meet whenever necessary, but at least twice a year, to discuss questions arising from implementation of the Warsaw Treaty. Meetings will be presided over by representatives of each country in turn. Subsidiary organizations shall be established and will have their headquarters in Moscow. They are: A. A standing commission charged with the task of drafting recommendations concerning problems of foreign policy. B. A joint secretariat composed of representatives of all members of the Warsaw Treaty. RECENT PROPOSALS ON EUROPEAN DISARMAMENT AND SECURITY Western Proposals and Statements 143. BRITISH PLAN FOR GERMAN REUNIFICATION IN FREEDOM, JANUARY 29, 19541 METHOD OF REUNIFICATION German reunification and the conclusion of a freely negotiated peace treaty with a united Germany should be achieved in the following stages: I. Free elections throughout Germany. II. The convocation of a National Assembly resulting from those elections. III. The drafting of a Constitution and the preparation of peace treaty negotiations. IV. The adoption of the Constitution and the formation of an all-German government responsible for the negotiation of the peace treaty. V. The signature and entry into force of the peace treaty. I. FREE ELECTIONS THROUGHOUT GERMANY Free and secret elections should be held throughout Germany including Berlin at the earliest possible date. These elections must be held in conditions of genuine freedom. Safeguards must be agreed to assure this freedom before, after, and during the elections. The Department of State Publication 5399. elections must also be supervised in such a manner as to make sure that these safeguards are observed and that the elections are properly conducted. (1) Preparations for the elections (a) The Electoral Law The electoral law should be prepared by the Four Occupying Powers, taking into consideration the electoral laws already drafted for this purpose by the Federal Bundestag and the Soviet Zone Volkskammer. When approved, it should be promulgated throughout Germany by the Four Powers. Elections should take place as soon as possible thereafter. (b) Guarantees for free elections The draft electoral law must contain provisions which will guarantee the genuine freedom of the elections. These include, amongst others: Freedom of movement throughout Germany. Freedom of presentation of candidates. Freedom from arbitrary arrest or victimisation. Freedom of expression for all. Freedom of the press, radio, and television and free circulation of newspapers, periodicals, etc. Secrecy of the vote. Security of polling stations and ballot boxes. (c) Supervision of the elections Supervision should be carried out by a supervisory commission throughout the whole of Germany. There should be a central body with subordinate bodies at land and local levels. All votes should be counted and verified at local headquarters in the presence of the Supervisory Commission. (i) Composition of Supervisory Commission The Commission should be composed of representatives of the Four Powers, with or without the participation of neutrals. (ii) Organisation of the Commission The Commission should work on a committee basis. Its decisions should be taken by majority vote. (iii) Functions and powers of the Commission The principal task of the Commission will be to insure that the elections take place in genuine freedom and in strict conformity with the provisions of the electoral law. (2) Method for completing the above preparations The Foreign Ministers must in the first place agree on the principles contained in this plan. They will then give instructions accordingly to a working group, consisting of the High Commissioners in Germany of the Four Powers, or their representatives, which will work out the necessary details and submit a report. This report should include, in particular, (1) the draft of the all-German electoral law; (2) detailed recommendations regarding the supervision of the elections. The working group should begin work not later than 2 weeks after the conclusion of the Berlin conference. It should submit its report to the four Governments not later than 1 month after beginning its work. II. THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY The all-German elections will establish an all-German national assembly. The first task of this assembly will be the preparation of a constitution. During the period between the end of the elections and the full assumption of control by the all-German government, it will be desirable for part of the supervisory machinery to remain in operation, in order to prevent action after the elections which would impair the conditions of genuine freedom under which they will have been held. Recommendations on this subject should be included in the report of the working group. III. DRAFTING OF THE CONSTITUTION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROVISIONAL ALL-GERMAN AUTHORITY The national assembly will begin drafting the constitution as soon as possible after its meeting. Meanwhile, it may form a provisional all-German authority charged with assisting the assembly in drafting the constitution and with preparing the nucleus of the future allGerman ministries. If the assembly so decides, the authority may also open with the Four Powers, on a preliminary basis, negotiations for the peace treaty. IV. ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION AND FORMATION OF AN ALLGERMAN GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE NEGOTIATIONS OF THE PEACE TREATY The constitution will be submitted to the assembly as soon as possible after the final draft has been agreed. Immediately it has been adopted an all-German government will be formed. This government will then be responsible for the negotiations and conclusion of the peace treaty. At the same time, such other institutions as may be provided for in the constitution shall be established. As soon as the all-German government has been formed, the national assembly will determine how the powers of the Federal Government and the German authorities in the Soviet Zone shall be transferred to the all-German government, and how the two former shall be brought to an end. The all-German government shall have authority to assume the international rights and obligations of the Federal Republic and the Soviet Zone of Germany and to conclude such other international agreements as it may wish. Until the entry into force of the peace treaty, each of the Four Powers will exercise, with respect to the national assembly and the all-German government, only those of its rights which relate to the stationing of armed forces in Germany and the protection of their security; Berlin; the reunification of Germany; and a peace treaty. Decisions of the national assembly and the all-German government in carrying out this plan will not require the approval of the Four |