87. For expenses not provided for by the estimates, or in cases when the estimates have been drawn up for an insufficient sum, the Soviets ask for additional credit from the appropriate People's Commissariats. 88. In case of the insufficiency of local means for satisfying local requirements, the necessary subsidies and loans out of the funds of the state exchequer for covering the immediate expenses are granted to the local Soviets by the All-Russia Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars. SECTION VI.-THE COAT OF ARMS AND THE FLAG OF THE RUSSIAN SOCIALIST FEDERATED SOVIET REPUBLIC Chapter XVII 89. The coat of arms of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic consists of a golden sickle and hammer, the handles crossed and pointing downward, on a red background in rays of sunlight, surrounded by a wreath of wheat ears and bearing the inscription: (a) The Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic, (b) Proletariat of all countries, unite. 90. The commercial, naval and military flag of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic consists of a red flag with the letters R. S. F. S. R. in the top left-hand corner near the flagstaff, or bearing the inscription, Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic. President of the V All-Russia Congress of Soviets and the All-Russia Y. SVERDLOV Members of the Presidium of the All-Russia T. E. TEODOROVICH A. P. ROSENGOLTZ A. H. MITROFANOV Secretary of the All-Russia Central Executive Committee: V. A. AVANESOV CHAPTER XII THE RUSSO-GERMAN SUPPLEMENTARY TREATIES, AUGUST 27, 1918 File No. 861.00/2958 The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State No. 9969 LONDON, September 27, 1918. SIR: With reference to the instructions set forth in the Department's telegram No. 1403 of September 16, 5 p. m.,1 I have the honor to transmit, herewith enclosed, four copies of the Enemy Press Supplement to the Daily Review of the Foreign Press, of September 19, 1918, issued by the General Staff, War Office." I venture to add that on pages 594–600, inclusive, of this publication there is given the wording of the Russo-German supplementary treaties, as translated from the texts which were printed in the Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung of September 7, 1918. I have [etc.] For the Ambassador: IRWIN LAUGHLIN [Enclosure-Translation] Text of the Russo-German Supplementary Treaties' SUPPLEMENTARY TREATY TO THE TREATY OF PEACE BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE CENTRAL POWERS Guided by the wish to solve certain political questions which have arisen in connection with the peace treaty of March 3/7, 1918, between Germany, AustriaHungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey, for the one part, and Russia for the other part, in the spirit of friendly understanding and mutual conciliation, and, in so doing, to promote the restoration of good and confidential relations between the two Empires, for which a way was paved by the conclusion of peace, the German Imperial Government and the government of the Russian Socialist Only the treaties comprising the appendix to the Enemy Press Supplement are here printed. 3 'In these supplementary treaties the translation has been left essentially in the form in which it was received, after comparison with the German text (as published in the Reichsanzeiger, Sept. 7, 1918) and translation thereof, which were printed for the Department of State in the booklet, Texts of the Russian "Peace" (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1918) prepared by the Inquiry, a body of scholars assembled by Colonel House to assist the Department in the study of problems of the coming peace settlement. Federated Soviet Republic have agreed to conclude a supplementary treaty to the peace treaty with this object, and have appointed as their plenipotentiaries: For the Imperial German Government: The State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and Imperial Privy Councillor, Rear Admiral Paul v. Hintze, and the Director in the Foreign Office, Imperial Privy Councillor Dr. Johannes Kriege. For the government of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic: Its diplomatic representative accredited to the German Imperial Government, M. Adolf Joffe. After handing their credentials to one another, and these being found in correct and proper form, the plenipotentiaries agreed to the following provisions: PART I.-DEMARCATIONS AND FRONTIER COMMISSIONS ARTICLE 1 In so far as this has not yet been done, German-Russian commissions will immediately be formed to fix the demarcation lines for all fronts where German and Russian troops face one another. Exact details as to this shall be agreed on by the commanders of the troops on each side. These demarcation lines shall be so drawn that there are neutral zones between the respective fronts, which zones must not be trodden by any members of the respective armies, with the exception of parlementaires. In so far as there is not regular traffic between the respective fronts, such traffic will be established by the demarcation commissions. ARTICLE 2 The German-Russian Commission for fixing the frontier line, provided for in Article 3, paragraph 1, of the peace treaty, shall also fix the east frontiers of Esthonia and Livonia, agreed on in Article 6, paragraph 2, of that treaty, more exactly. After the fixing of the eastern frontier of Esthonia and Livonia, provided for in paragraph 1, Germany will evacuate the territory occupied by her east of this frontier without delay. ARTICLE 3 Germany will evacuate the territory occupied by her east of the Beresina, even before the conclusion of general peace, in proportion as Russia makes the cash payments she has to carry out from to-day, according to Article 2 of the German-Russian financial agreement of this date; further provisions as to this, particularly the fixing of the individual sectors to be evacuated, are left to the commission referred to in Article 2, paragraph 1, of this supplementary treaty. The contracting parties reserve the right to make further agreements with regard to the effecting of the evacuation of the occupied territory west of the Beresina before the conclusion of general peace in accordance with the fulfilment by Russia of the remaining financial obligations undertaken by her. PART II.-SEPARATIST MOVEMENTS IN THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE In so far as is not otherwise prescribed in the peace treaty or in this supplementary treaty, Germany will in no wise interfere in the relations between the Russian Empire and parts of its territory, and will thus in particular neither cause nor support the formation of independent states in those territories. 20856-31- 48 PART III.-NORTH RUSSIAN TERRITORY ARTICLE 5 Russia will at once employ all the means at her disposal to expel the Entente forces from north Russian territory in observance of her neutrality. Germany guarantees that during these operations there shall be no Finnish attack of any kind on Russian territory, particularly on St. Petersburg. ARTICLE 6 When the Entente forces shall have evacuated north Russian territory, the local Russian coast shipping within the three-mile limit from the north coast, and the fishing boats within a stretch of thirty miles along this coast, shall be excluded from the barred zone warnings. The German naval command shall have an opportunity, in a way to be further agreed upon, of convincing itself that this concession shall not be taken advantage of to forward contraband goods. PART IV.-ESTHONIA, LIVONIA, COURLAND, AND LITHUANIA ARTICLE 7 Russia, taking account of the position at present existing in Esthonia and Livonia, renounces sovereignty over these regions, as well as all interference in their internal affairs. Their future fate shall be decided in agreement with their inhabitants. No obligations of any kind towards Russia shall accrue to Esthonia and Livonia through their former union with Russia. ARTICLE 8 To facilitate Russian trade through Esthonia, Livonia, Courland and Lithuania the following is agreed: Section 1 In Esthonia, Livonia, Courland and Lithuania the through transport of goods to and from Russia on routes liable to the payment of duty shall be absolutely free, and the goods to be transported shall not be subject to any transit duties or general transport dues. Section 2 On the railways connecting Russia with Revel, Riga and Windau, the freight tariffs for the goods to be forwarded in through trade with Russia are to be kept as low as possible. They may only be raised above the rates in force on August 1, 1914, by taking the average of the amount by which a general rise in the freight tariffs of the lines in question may be necessary, to cover the cost of working and upkeep, including the payment of interest, and timely redemp tion of the capital invested. Neither must they be higher than the freight tariffs for goods of the same kind coming from inland or destined to remain there, which are forwarded by the same lines and in the same direction. Section 3 Shipping on the Dvina between Russia and the open sea, as well as between all places on the Livonian-Courland Dvina, and on the Russian Dvina, is to be free for the transport of goods and passengers, subject to the police instructions commonly prevailing, without discrimination between the ships and the subjects of one or the other party. It is not to be subject to any tax based solely on the fact of the navigation. It is not to be subject to any station, slip, depot, turnover, or harbourage dues. Exclusive shipping privileges must not be granted either to companies, corporations, or private persons of any kind. Taxes for the use of works and institutions which are created, or may be created in future, to facilitate traffic, or to improve and maintain the navigation of the river, may only be raised uniformly in accordance with published tariffs and to the extent necessary to cover the cost of restoration and upkeep, . nclusive of payment of interest and redemption of the capital invested. The cost of restoring and keeping up works and institutions which are not for the facilitation of traffic and the improvement and maintenance of the navigation of the river, but are intended to further other objects and interests, may only be raised to a proportionate extent by shipping dues. The provisions of paragraphs 1 to 3 apply also to rafts. Section 4 At Revel, Riga and Windau, Russia shall have suitably situated free-port zones assigned to her, in which the storing and unpacking of goods coming from or intended for Russia can take place without hindrance, and the work of dispatching goods from or to the Russian customs zone can be done by Russian officials. Section 5 The individual questions connected with the provisions of Sections 1 to 4, particularly the restrictions to which these provisions may be subjected in war time out of consideration for war necessity or for urgent sanitary reasons, shall be regulated by a special agreement. ARTICLE 9 The water of Lake Peipus is not to be artificially diverted on either side to such a degree as to lower the water level. No methods of fishing calculated to diminish the stock of fish will be permitted; a further agreement as to this is reserved. The water power of the Narova is to be made available as soon as possible for the supply of electricity for the Petersburg government according to a special agreement to be made regarding this. ARTICLE 10 With regard to Esthonia, Livonia, Courland, and Lithuania, agreements are to be concluded with Russia, as to the following points, among others: 1. With regard to the nationality of the former Russian inhabitants of these territories, as to which they must in any case be allowed the right of option and departure. 2. With regard to the return of the property in Russia belonging to subjects of these territories, particularly that belonging to publicly recognised societies, establishments, and institutions, as well as the property in these territories which belong to Russian subjects. 3. With regard to an arrangement concerning the property of the communal districts cut up by the new frontiers. |