identical, at any rate the problems shall be formulated everywhere in identical terms. "4. The creation of 'small executives' for the application in a strictly defined field-for instance, in the field of Russian affairsof decisions taken in common." The Temps was of the opinion that the best means would be that which has succeeded so well in securing military unitynamely, an interallied organ of information, studies and preparation. Le Pays thought that if an organ of diplomatic unity were already in existence, the Allies might have sent a collective reply to the Austrian proposal. The Italian Corriere della Sera of Milan remarked that the privileged position of the United States, which is not bound by special agreement with the other powers of the Entente, permitted Mr. Wilson to dictate a reply to Austria before the Entente leaders had time to meet. The paper added that unfortunately before creating a diplomatic Versailles the Entente Governments were obliged to determine the big lines of a common Entente policy, and have not yet been able to seek a solution of problems which ought to have been solved at the beginning of the war." This discussion had not resulted in any definite action up to mid-October. Political decisions of the Supreme War Council must take into consideration the terms of the following engage ments: I. DECLARATION BY WHICH GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, ITALY, JAPAN AND RUSSIA ENGAGE NOT TO CONCLUDE PEACE SEPARATELy during the PRESENT WAR1 The Italian Government having decided to accede to the Declaration between the British, French and Russian Governments, signed at London on the 5th September, 1914, which Declaration was acceded to by the Japanese Government on the 19th October, 1915,2 the undersigned, duly authorized thereto by their respective Governments, hereby declare as follows: Treaty Series No. 14 (1915). REPEAT PLEDGE TO BELGIUM 409 The British, French, Italian, Japanese and Russian1 Governments mutually engage not to conclude peace separately during the present war. The five Governments agree that, when terms of peace come to be discussed, no one of the Allies will demand conditions of peace without the previous agreement of each of the other Allies. In faith whereof the undersigned have signed this Declaration and have affixed thereto their seals. Done at London, in quintuplicate, this 30th day of November, 1915. (L.S.) E. GREY. (L.S.) PAUL CAMBON. 2. DECLARATION OF THE ALLIED GUARANTEEING Powers to Belgium, HAVRE, FEBRUARY 14, 19162 a. MINISTERS OF FRANCE, GREAT BRITAIN AND RUSSIA TO THE BELGIAN MIN ISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS The allied powers signatory to the treaties guaranteeing the independence and neutrality of Belgium have decided to renew to-day by solemn act the agreements made regarding your country, which has been heroically faithful to its international obligations. Consequently we, the ministers of France, Great Britain and Russia, duly authorized by our Governments, have the honor to make the following declaration: "The allied and guaranteeing powers declare that when the moment comes the Belgian Government will be called upon to take part in peace negotiations, they will not put an end to hostilities without Belgium having re-established its political and economic independence." 3 'Russia was still an allied state for the purposes of the war, said the British secretary of state for foreign affairs in reply to a question in Parliament on January 21, 1918. He added that the position taken up by Russia at the present time with reference to the pact of London did not affect the validity of the treaties so far as he knew. (London Times, January 22, 1918, page 10.) "New York Times, February 17, 1916. The Italian minister, although Italy was not among the powers which guaran teed the independence and neutrality of Belgium, stated that his Government had no objections to the foregoing declaration. A similar announcement was made on behalf of the Japanese Government. b. BARON BEYENS, BELGIAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, TO THE MINISTERS OF THE ALLIES The Government of the King is profoundly grateful to the Governments of the three powers guaranteeing the independence of Belgium of which you are representatives for their generous initiative in making known to-day this declaration. I thank you heartily in its behalf. Your words will have a vibrating echo in the hearts of Belgians, whether they are fighting at the front, suffering in their occupied country, or awaiting in exile and all with the same courage-the hour of deliverance. The new assurance which you have just given will confirm their unshakeable conviction that Belgium will be restored from its ruins and re-established in its complete political and economic independence. I am certain that I express their sentiments in telling you that you must have complete confidence in us, as we have confidence in our loyal guarantors, for we are all resolved to continue the struggle energetically with them until the triumph of the right, for defense of which we sacrificed ourselves after the unjustifiable violation of our beloved country. 3. STATEMENT of the Supreme WAR COUNCIL RESPECTING THE POLISH, CZECHO-SLOVAK AND YUGO-SLAVIC PEOPLES This statement is printed above, pages 386-387. 4. AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ALLIES AND THE MURMAN COUNCIL 1 The General Assembly of the Murman Regional Council has sanctioned without opposition the following agreement, which is temporary in character and made necessary by special circumstances, between the representatives of Great Britain, the United States of North America and France, and the Presidium of the Murman Regional Council: Item 1. The present agreement, which has to be sanctioned by the Governments of the Allies, is concluded between the representatives of Great Britain, the United States of North America, and France, on the one side, and the representatives of the Murman Regional Council, on the other side, with the object of securing co-ordinated action on the part of those who have signed this agreement, for the defense of the Murman region against the powers of the German coalition. For the purpose of obtaining this aim both the signing parties take upon themselves the obligation to support each other mutually. 1 London Times, July 24, 1918, page 6. MURMAN AUTONOMY INTACT 411 Item 2. The Murman region is composed of the former Alexandrovsk district of the province of Archangel. Item 3. All detachments of Russian armed forces of the Murman region, alike those which already exist and those which will be formed, will be under the direction of the Russian military command appointed by the Murman Regional Council. (Remark.-It is recognized as very desirable that an independent Russian army should be created, but with the object of obtaining more speedily the principal aim of this agreement the admission of Russian volunteers into the allied forces is permitted. In the case of such admissions it is to be taken as recognized that of these volunteers no independent Russian detachments shall be formed, but that, as far as circumstances permit, the detachments should be composed only of an equal number of foreigners and Russians.) Item 4. The representatives of Great Britain, the United States of North America and France will give to the Russian command necessary help in equipment, supplies and transports and for the instruction of the Russian armed forces which are formed. Item 5. The whole authority in the internal administration of the region belongs without qualification to the Murman Regional Council. Item 6. The representatives of Great Britain, the United States of North America and France and their agents will not interfere in the home affairs of the region. In all matters in which it may be found necessary to have the support of the local population, the representatives of Great Britain, the United States of North America and France and their agents will address themselves to the respective Russian authorities and not directly to the population, excepting in the belt along the front in which the orders of the military command, justified by the conditions of field service, must be obeyed unconditionally by all. The Murman region will be determined by the Murman Regional Council, which will take into consideration the state of war in which the region is involved and the necessity for most energetic precaution against espionage. Salaries and the standard of labor productivity will be established by the Murman Regional Council. Item 7. In view of the impossibility of importing the necessary food from Russia the representatives of Great Britain, the United States of North America and France promise, as far as it shall be possible, to secure food to the Murman Regional Council for the whole population of the region, including all immigrant workmen with their families, the rations to equal in food value the rations which the privates of the allied armed forces in Murman are receiving. Item 8. The distribution of food among the population is to be carried out by trustworthy Russian troops. Item 9. The representatives of Great Britain, the United States of North America and France promise to secure, as far as may be possible, the importation of manufactured goods and other articles of the first necessity. Item 10. The representatives of Great Britain, the United States of North America and France promise as far as it may be possible to secure to the Murman Regional Council all necessary materials and implements for technical equipment and supplies so that it may carry out its program of construction which has been elaborated by mutual agreement. In this agreement, first, the requirements of war-time are taken into consideration; secondly, the development of international trade intercourse; and, thirdly, the local fisheries. Item II. All expenses which may be incurred by the Governments of Great Britain, the United States of North America and France as the result of this agreement are to be set down to the account of the respective Powers. Item 12. The representatives of Great Britain, the United States of North America and France recognize that their Governments must give the necessary financial assistance to the Murman Regional Council. Item 13. The present agreement comes into force from the moment of its ratification by the Murman Regional Council and will remain in force as long as normal relations between the Russian central authority on the one side and the Murman Regional Council and the Governments of Great Britain, the United States of North America and France on the other side, are not re-established. Item 14. Before signing this agreement the representatives of Great Britain, the United States of North America and France, in the name of their Governments, again affirm the absence of any purpose of conquest in respect to the Murman region as a whole or in regard to any of its parts. The Presidium of the Murman Regional Council, before the Russian people and the Governments of Great Britain, the United States of North America and France, declares that the only object of this agreement is to guard the integrity of the Murman Region for a Great United Russia. 1The agreement was sanctioned by the Murman Regional Council on July 7. |