File No. 861.00/3068
The British Chargé (
Barclay) to
the Acting Secretary of State
No. 1135
Washington,
October 14, 1918.
[Received October 16.]
My Dear Mr. Polk: I enclose, herewith, a copy of the
agreement between His Majesty’s Government and the Czecho-Slovak
National Council of September 3d, 1918.
I understand that this agreement was also communicated at the time of
its signature to the American Chargé d’Affaires in London.
Believe me [etc.]
[Enclosure]
Agreement between the British Government and
the Czecho-Slovak National Council
In furtherance of the declaration issued by His Majesty’s
Government on August 9th, 1918, recognizing the Czecho-Slovaks
as an allied nation and recognizing the right of the
Czecho-Slovak National Council, as the supreme organ of the
Czecho-Slovak national interest, to exercise supreme authority
over the Allied and belligerent Czecho-Slovak Army, His
Majesty’s Government and the Czechoslovak National Council have
determined to enter into the following agreement.
- 1.
- His Majesty’s Government will until the organization of
the future Czecho-Slovak Government maintain relations with
the Czecho-Slovak National Council and will deal with it
direct on all questions within the competence of such
Council.
- 2.
- His Majesty’s Government agree to the Czecho-Slovak armies
being placed under the general control of the Czecho-Slovak
National Council in all matters other than those which fall
within the sphere of the Allied commanders in chief under
whose command the units of the Czecho-Slovak armies may be
placed.
- 3.
- The Czecho-Slovak National Council will frame a budget for
the maintenance of its administration and of its armies, but
due regard shall be paid therein to any arrangements made
for the advance of funds to Czecho-Slovak forces under
existing agreements between the British and Allied
Governments.
- 4.
- In the event of a loan being advanced to the Czecho-Slovak
National Council on behalf of the future Czecho-Slovak
Government, His Majesty’s Government agree to participate
therein oil terms of equality with their allies.
- 5.
- The Czecho-Slovak National Council will on behalf of the
future Czecho-Slovak Government forthwith institute a
financial commission and will invite His Majesty’s
Government to appoint a member thereof. The Czecho-Slovak
budget will be placed under the control of this
commission.
- 6.
- His Majesty’s Government will recognize the right of the
Czecho-Slovak National Council to be represented at any
Allied conference when questions affecting the interests of
the Czecho-Slovaks are under discussion.
- 7.
- His Majesty’s Government will recognize the passports
issued by the Czecho-Slovak National Council or by its duly
authorized representatives.
- 8.
- The Czecho-Slovak National Council will appoint a
representative in London through whom relations with His
Majesty’s Government will be maintained.
- 9.
- His Majesty’s Government will recognize and will treat as
alien friends and as members of an allied nation all persons
who may be certified to them as Czecho-Slovaks by the
Czecho-Slovak representative in London or by his authorized
agents or to whom passports may be issued by the
Czecho-Slovak National Council or its authorized
representatives.
- 10.
- His Majesty’s Government will treat official
communications passing between the Czecho-Slovak National
Council and its representatives in London upon the same
footing as communications passing between a friendly
Government and its representative in London.
In faith whereof the undersigned, duly authorized thereto by His
Majesty’s Government and the Czecho-Slovak National Council
respectively, have signed the present agreement.
Done in duplicate at London, the 3d day of September, 1918.
[No signatures indicated]