871.014 Bessarabia/1
The Ambassador in France (Wallace) to
the Secretary of State
Paris, May 7,
1920.
[Received May 18.]
No. 1172
Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith copy
and translation of a note from the Secretariat General of the Peace
Conference dated April 15, inquiring as to whether the recommendations
of the Commission on Roumanian and Jugo-Slav Affairs as embodied in the
Draft Treaty between the Principal Allied and Associated Powers and
Roumania relative to Bessarabia, approved by the Commission’s decisions
of April 14th, are acceptable to the American Delegation.
On receipt of this note request was made of the Secretariat General for
information as to the action taken by the Supreme Council as regards the
question of Bessarabia since the matter was last discussed in the
presence of an American representative, namely on January 20 last, (ICP
22).
I enclose herewith a copy and translation of the reply from the
Secretariat General dated May 4, transmitting a copy of the declaration
made by the Principal Allied Powers on March 3d last. I also enclose for
the Department’s information a copy of the note of the same date
addressed by Mr. Lloyd George, as President of the London Conference, to
Mr. Vaida Voevod, at that time Premier of Roumania.
There is also enclosed a copy of the final draft of the Bessarabian
Treaty as submitted to the Conference of Ambassadors by the Commission
on Roumanian and Jugo-Slav Affairs.
The Department will recall’ that this matter was brought up at the
meeting on Sunday afternoon, April 25, at San Remo, (I.C.P. 107), by
Lord Curzon, upon whose suggestion it was agreed that the matter should
be delegated to the Ambassadors’ Conference.
As of possible interest to the Department, I beg to enclose a memorandum
on this draft treaty, submitted to me upon my request by Mr. Manley O.
Hudson.1
[Page 427]
In view of the fact that my colleagues on the Conference of Ambassadors
are particularly anxious that the matter should come up for discussion
at an early date, I would be grateful if the Department will find it
possible to instruct me by telegraph as to whether the United States
will be a party to the Treaty, and if so, whether you have any
objections to make to the present draft.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure 1]
The Secretariat
General of the Peace Conference to the American Delegation
The Secretariat General of the Peace Conference has the honour to
forward, herewith enclosed, to the American Delegation, a copy of
the provisional decisions made the 14th of April by the Commission
for Roumanian and Yougo-Slav affairs.
The Commission requested the Secretariat General to express to the
American Delegation the regret caused by the absence of an American
representative. It would like to know if the American Delegation
consents to the proposals approved by the other members of the
Commission.
[Subenclosure]
Draft Treaty between the Principal Allied and
Associated Powers (the United States of
America, the British Empire, France, Italy, and Japan) and Rumania, Concerning Bessarabia
Whereas in the interests of the general peace of Europe it is
desirable at once to ensure a sovereignty over Bessarabia consistent
with the desires of the population and guaranteeing to racial,
religious and linguistic minorities the protection which is due to
them;
And whereas on geographical, ethnographic, historical and economic
grounds the reunion of Bessarabia with Roumania is fully
justified;
And whereas the population of Bessarabia have manifested their desire
to see Bessarabia reunited with Roumania;
And whereas Roumania is desirous of her own free will to give full
guarantees of liberty and justice, without distinction of race,
religion or language, in accordance with the Treaty signed at Paris
on December 9, 1919, both to the inhabitants of the old kingdom of
Roumania and to those of the territories recently transferred to
her.
Have determined to conclude the present Treaty and have for this
purpose appointed as their Plenipotentiaries the following:
Who having exchanged their full powers, found in good and due form,
have agreed upon the following provisions:
[Page 428]
Article 1
The High Contracting Parties hereby recognize the sovereignty of
Roumania over the territory of Bessarabia lying between the existing
frontier of Roumania, the Black Sea, the course of the Dniester from
its mouth to the point where it meets the old boundary between
Bukovina and Bessarabia, and this old boundary.
Article 2
A Commission composed of three members of whom one shall be appointed
by the Principal Allied and Associated Powers, one by Roumania, and
one by the Council of the League of Nations on behalf of Russia will
be set up within fifteen days from the coming into force of the
present Treaty to trace on the spot the new frontier of
Roumania.
Article 3
Roumania undertakes to observe and ensure the strict observance on
the territory of Bessarabia referred to in Article 1 of the
provisions of the Treaty signed at Paris on December 9, 1919, by the
principal Allied and Associated Powers and Roumania, and in
particular to ensure to the inhabitants of Bessarabia, without
distinction of race, language or religion, the same guarantees of
liberty and justice as to the inhabitants of all other territories
forming part of the Kingdom of Roumania.
Article 4
Nationals of the former Empire of Russia habitually resident in the
territory of Bessarabia referred to in Article 1 will acquire
Roumanian nationality ipso facto and will
lose their existing nationality.
Article 5
Within two years from the coming into force of the present Treaty
nationals of the former Empire of Russia more than eighteen years of
age and habitually resident in the territory of Bessarabia referred
to in Article 1 will be entitled to opt for any other nationality
which may be open to them.
Option by a husband will cover his wife and option by parents will
cover their children under 18 years of age.
Persons who have exercised the above right to opt must within the
succeeding twelve months transfer their place of residence to the
State for which they have opted.
They will be entitled to retain their immovable property in Roumanian
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.
[Page 429]
Article 6
Roumania admits and declares to be Roumanian nationals ipso facto and without the requirement of any
formality nationals of the former Empire of Russia who were born in
the territory of Bessarabia referred to in Article 1 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
competent Roumanian authorities in the country in which they are
resident stating that they abandon Roumanian nationality, and they
will then cease to be considered as Roumanian nationals. In this
connection a declaration by a husband will cover his wife and a
declaration by parents will cover their children under 18 years of
age.
Article 7
(Proposed draft subject to the consideration of the Ports and
Waterways Commission.)
The High Contracting Parties hereby recognize that the Chilia, mouth
of the Danube, shall pass under the jurisdiction of the European
Commission of the Danube.
Pending the conclusion of a general convention on the international
regime of waterways, Roumania undertakes to apply to such portions
of the river system of the Dniester as may lie within, or form the
boundary of, her territory, the regime set out in the first
paragraph of Article 332 and in Articles 333 to 338 of the Treaty of
Peace with Germany.
Article 8
Roumania agrees to assume responsibility for such proportional part
affecting Bessarabia in the Russian 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 Roumania on the other, to be prepared by
a Commission appointed by the above Powers. In the event of the
Commission not arriving at an agreement within the period of two
years the point at issue, shall be referred for immediate
arbitration to the Council of the League of Nations.
Article 9
(Proposed draft subject to the consideration of the Drafting
Committee.)
The High Contracting Parties shall invite Russia to adhere to this
Treaty, so soon as there is a Government of Russia recognized
[Page 430]
by them. They reserve the
right to refer any questions that might be raised by the Russian
Government with regard to the details of this Treaty as well as any
future difficulties that might arise in its application, to the
arbitration of the Council of the League of Nations.
[Enclosure 2]
The Secretariat
General of the Peace Conference to the American Embassy at Paris
On April 22 the Embassy of the United States of America was good
enough to ask the Secretariat General of the Peace Conference for
information as to what conditions had led the Heads of the
Governments assembled at London to examine anew the question of
Bessarabia.
The Secretariat General cannot better reply to that request than by
transmitting to the Embassy of the United States of America copy of
the declaration which was adopted by the Representatives of the
Principal Allied Powers on March 3, 1920:
“The Principal Allied Powers have hitherto found themselves
unable to make any definite decision on the Bessarabian
question both because they considered it a part of the
general Roumanian question on which difficulties with the
former Roumanian Government had impeded a settlement and
because they had hoped that it would be found possible to
bring about a friendly arrangement between Roumania and
Russia. There appears to the Principal Allied Powers no
reason any further to delay a settlement. The Roumanian
Government have shown proof of their desire to settle in the
interest of Roumania and Europe generally the outstanding
questions at issue and have submitted to the ruling of the
Supreme Council on the question of the withdrawal of their
troops from Hungary, relying on the assurance of the
Principal Allied Powers. The Allied Governments moreover
feel that in the best interest both of Roumania and
neighboring countries the Bessarabian questions should no
longer be left undecided.
After taking into full consideration the general aspirations
of the population of Bessarabia and the Moldavian character
of that region from the geographical and ethnographical
points of view, as well as the historic and economic
arguments, the Principal Allied Powers pronounce themselves
therefore, in favor of the reunion of Bessarabia with
Roumania which has now been formally declared by the
Bessarabian representatives and are desirous to conclude a
treaty in recognition of this as soon as the conditions
stated have been carried out. They consider that in this
reunion the general and particular interests of Bessarabia
should be safeguarded, more especially as regards its
relations with the neighboring countries and that the rights
of minorities in it should be guaranteed on the
[Page 431]
same terms as
those residing in other parts of the Roumanian Kingdom. The
Principal Allied Powers reserve the right to refer any
future difficulties that might arise from either of these
two questions to the arbitration of the League of
Nations.
March 3rd, 1920.”
[Enclosure 3]
The President of the London Conference
(Lloyd
George) to the Rumanian Prime
Minister (Vaida
Voevod)
Your Excellency: I have the honour to
inform you, on behalf of the Peace Conference, that the Supreme
Council have to-day considered the demands addressed to them by Your
Excellency touching the recognition by the Conference of the reunion
of Bessarabia with Roumania. I take this oportunity of reminding
Your Excellency that the decision of this question by the Peace
Conference was adjourned till the Roumanian Government had carried
out the evacuation of Hungary. The Supreme Council have, however,
taken note of the pledge given them by Your Excellency on the 26th
February that the evacuation of the Roumanian troops should not be
delayed beyond the dates fixed by the Inter-Allied Mission to be
despatched on the spot. The Council, therefore, in consideration of
this, have agreed on the annexed formula1 in recognition of the reunion of
Bessarabia and Roumania. This recognition cannot, however, be
embodied into the legal form of a treaty till such time as Roumanian
troops have completely evacuated Hungary.
In this connection I have to refer to the question raised by the
Roumanian Government of making peace with the Soviet Government of
Russia. The Supreme Council would refer in reply to the statement
contained in their communiqué of the 24th
February. From this you will observe that the Supreme Council are
agreed that they cannot accept the responsibility of advising
Roumania to continue a war which may be injurious to their
interests. Still less could they advise Roumania to adopt a policy
of aggression towards Russia. Should, however, Soviet Russia attack
Roumania within its legitimate frontiers the Allies will give her
every possible support. The Conference consider that the present
recognition by themselves of the reunion of Bessarabia with Roumania
should remove the chief obstacle to any such negotiations between
the Government of Russia and Roumania as the Government of Roumania
may consider advisable.
I have [etc.]
