98 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 13TH NOVEMBER, 1918.
PRESENT:―
HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT, HON. MR. CLAUD SEVERN, C.M.G.
HIS EXCELLENCY MAJOR-GENERAL F. VENTRIS (General Officer Commanding Troops in China).
HON. MR. A. G. M. FLETCHER (Colonial Secretary).
HON. MR. J. H. KEMP, C.B.E. (Attorney General).
HON. MR. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Treasurer).
HON. MR. E. R. HALLIFAX (Secretary for Chinese Affairs).
HON. MR. MC.I. MESSER (Captain Superintendent of Police).
HON. MR. T. L. PERKINS (Director of Public Works).
HON. MR. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C.
HON. MR. P. H. HOLYOAK.
HON. MR. HO FOOK.
HON. MR. CHAN KAI-MING.
HON. MR. S. H. DODWELL.
MR. A. DYER BALL (Clerk of Councils).
H.E. THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT ― The following are the terms of the armistice which Germany has signed:―
A―Clauses relating to Western Front
CLAUSE 1.―Cessation of operations by land and in the air six hours after the signature of the Armistice.
CLAUSE 2. ― Immediate evacuation of invaded countries, Belgium, France, Alsace Lorraine, Luxembourg, so ordered as to be completed within 14 days from the signature of the Armistice. German troops which have not left the above mentioned territories within the period fixed will become prisoners of war. Occupation by the Allied and United States forces jointly will keep pace with evacuation
in these areas. All movements of evacuation and occupation will be regulated in accordance with a Note (Annexure 1).
CLAUSE 3.―Repatriation, beginning at once, to be completed within fourteen days, of all inhabitants of the countries above enumerated, including hostages, persons under trial or convicted.
CLAUSE 4.―Surrender in good condition by the German Armies of the following equipment:―5,000 guns (2,500 heavy, 2,500 field), 30,000 machine guns, 3,000 minenwerfer, 2,000 aeroplanes (fighters, bombers, first D 7s and night bombing machines). The above to be delivered in situ to the Allied and United States troops in accordance with the detailed conditions laid down in the Note (Annexure 1).
CLAUSE 5. ― Evacuation by the German Armies of the countries on the left of the Rhine. These countries on the left bank of the Rhine shall be administered by the local authorities under the control of the Allied and United States armies of occupation. The occupation of these territories will be carried out by Allied and United States garrisons holding the principal crossings of the Rhine (Mayence, Coblenz, ), together with bridgeheads at these points of a 30-kilometre radius on the right bank and by garrisons similarly holding the strategic points of the regions. A neutral zone shall be set up on the right bank of the Rhine between the river and a line drawn 10 kilometres distant starting from the Dutch frontier to the Swiss frontier. In the case of inhabitants, no person shall be prosecuted for having taken part in any military measures previous to the signing of the Armistice. No measure of a general or official character shall be taken which would have as a consequence the depreciation of industrial establishments or a reduction of their personnel. Evacuation by the enemy of the Rhine-lands shall be so ordered as to be completed within a further period of 11 days, in all 25 days after the signature of the Armistice. All movements of evacuation and occupation will be regulated according to the Note (Annexure 1).
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CLAUSE 6.―In all territory evacuated by the enemy there shall be no evacuatoin of inhabitants; no damage or harm shall be done to the persons or property of the inhabitants. No destruction of any kind to be committed. Military establishments of all kinds shall be delivered intact as well as military stores of food. Munitions and equipment not to be removed during the periods fixed for evacuation, stores of food of all kinds for the civil population, cattle, etc., shall be left in situ. Industrial establishments shall not be impaired in any way and their personnel shall not be moved.
CLAUSE 7. ― Roads and means of communication of every kind, railroads, waterways, main roads, bridges, telegraphs, and telephones shall be in no manner impaired. All civil and military personnel at present employed on them shall remain. 5,000 locomotives, 150,000 wagons and 5,000 motor lorries in good working order with all necessary spare parts and fittings shall be delivered to the Associated Powers within the period fixed for the evacuation of Belgium and Luxembourg. The railways of Alsace-Lorraine shall be handed over within the same period, together with all pre-war personnel and material. Further material necessary for the working of railways in the country on the left bank of the Rhine shall be left in situ. All stores of coal and material for upkeep of permanent ways, signals, and repair shops shall be left in situ and kept as far as the means of communication are concerned in an efficient state by Germany during the whole period of the Armistice. All barges taken from the Allies shall be restored to them; the Note appended as Annexure 2 regulates the details of these measures.
CLAUSE 8.―The German Command shall be responsible for revealing all mines or delay action fuzes disposed on territory evacuated by the German troops and shall assist in their discovery and destruction. The German Command shall also reveal all destructive measures that may have been taken (such as poisoning or pollution of springs, wells, etc.), under penalty of reprisals.
CLAUSE 9.―The right of requisition shall be exercised by the Allied and United States Armies in all occupied territory, save for settlement of accounts with authorised persons; the upkeep of occupation in the Rhineland (excluding Alsace Lorraine) shall be charged to the German Government.
CLAUSE 10. ― The immediate repatriation
without reciprocity according to the detailed conditions which shall be fixed, of all Allied and United States' prisoners-of-war; the Allied Powers and the United States of America shall be able to dispose of these prisoners as they wish. However, the return of the German prisoners-of war interned in Holland and Switzerland shall continue as heretofore. The return of German prisoners-of-war shall be settled at the peace preliminaries.
CLAUSE 11.―Sick and wounded who cannot be removed from the evacuated territory will be cared for by German personnel, who will be left on the spot with the medical material required.
B.―Clause relating to the Eastern frontiers of Germany.
CLAUSE 12.―All the German troops at present in any territory which before the war belonged to Russia, Roumania, or Turkey shall withdraw within the frontiers of Germany, as they existed on August 1st, 1914. And all the German troops at present in territories which before the war formed part of Russia must likewise return to within the frontiers of Germany as above defined as soon as the Allies shall think the moment suitable, having regard to the internal situation of these territories.
CLAUSE 13.―Evacuation by German troops to begin at once; and all German instructors, prisoners, and civilian as well as military agents, now on the territory of Russia (as defined on Aug. 1st, 1914) to be recalled.
CLAUSE 14.―German troops to cease at once all requisitions and seizures and any other undertakings with a view to obtaining supplies intended for Germany in Roumania and Russia, as defined on August 1st, 1914.
CLAUSE 15.―Abandonment of the Treaties of Bucharest and Brest-Litovsk and of the Supplementary Treaties.
CLAUSE 16.―The Allies shall have free access to the territories evacuated by the Germans on their Eastern frontier, either through Danzig, or by the Vistula, in order to convey supplies to the populations of those territories, or for the purpose of maintaining order.
C.―Clause relating to East Africa.
CLAUSE 17.―Unconditional evacuation of all German forces operating in East Africa, within one month.
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D.―General Clauses.
CLAUSE 18.―Repatriation, without reciprocity, within a maximun period of one month, in accordance with the detailed conditions hereafter to be fixed, of all civilians interned or deported who may be citizens of other Allied or Associated States than those mentioned in Clause 3.
CLAUSE 19.―With the reservation that any future claims and demands of the Allies and the United States of America remain unaffected, the following financial conditions are required. Reparation for damage done. While the Armistice lasts, no public securities shall be removed by the enemy which can serve as a pledge to the Allies for the recovery or reparation for war-losses. Immediate restitution of the cash deposit in the National Bank of Belgium and, in general, the immediate return of all documents, specie, stock, shares, paper money, together with the plant for the issue thereof, touching public or private interest in the invaded countries. Restitution of the Russian and Roumanian gold yielded to Germany or taken by that Power. This gold to be delivered in trust to the Allies until the signature of peace.
E.―Naval Conditions.
CLAUSE 20. ― Immediate cessation of all hostilities at sea and definite information to be given as to the location and movements of all German ships. Notification to be given to Neutrals that freedom of navigation in all territorial waters is given to the naval and mercantile marines of the Allied and Associated Powers, all questions of neutrality being waived.
CLAUSE 21.―All naval and mercantile marine prisoners-of-war of the Allied and Associated Powers in German hands to be returned, without reciprocity.
CLAUSE 22.―In order to meet our wishes the text will be modified as follows:―Handing over to the Allies and the United States of all submarines (including all submarine cruisers and mine layers) which are at the present moment with their full complement in the ports specified by the Allies and United States. Those that cannot put to sea to be deprived of their crews and supplies and shall remain under the supervision of the Allies and the United States. Submarines ready to put to sea shall be prepared to leave German ports immediately on receipt of a wireless order to sail to the port of surrender, the remainder to follow as early as possible. The
conditions of this Article shall be carried out within 14 days after the signing of the Armistice.
CLAUSE 23.―The following German surface warships, which shall be designated by the Allies and United States of America, shall forth with be disarmed and thereafter interned in neutral ports, or, failing them, Allied ports, to be designated by the Allies and the United States of America, and placed under the surveillance of the Allies and the United States of America, only caretakers being left on board, namely:―
6 Battle cruisers.
10 Battle ships.
8 Light cruisers, including 2 minelayers. 50 Destroyers of the most modern types.
All other warships (including river craft) are to be concentrated in German naval bases to be designated by the Allies and the United States of America, and are to be paid off and completely disarmed and placed under the supervision of the Allies and the United States of America. All vessels of the auxiliary fleet (trawlers, motor vessels, etc.), are to be disarmed. All vessels specified for internment shall be ready to leave German ports seven days after the signing of the Armistice. Directions for voyage will be given by wireless.
Note.―A declaration has been signed by the Allied Delegates and handed to the German Delegates to the effect that in the event of ships not being handed over owing to the mutinous state of the fleet, the Allies reserve the right to occupy Heligoland as an advanced base to enable them to enforce the terms of the Armistice.
The German Delegates have on their part signed a declaration that they will recommend the Chancellor to accept this.
CLAUSE 24.―The Allies and the United States of America shall have the right to sweep up all minefields and obstructions laid by Germany outside German territorial waters, and the positions of these are to be indicated.
CLAUSE 25.―Freedom of access to and from the Baltic to be given to the naval and mercantile marines of the Allied and Associated Powers. To secure this the Allies and the United States of America shall be empowered to occupy all German forts, fortifications, batteries and defence works of all kinds in all the entrances from the Cattegat into the Baltic, and to sweep up all mines
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and obstructions within and without German territorial waters without any questions of neutrality being raised, and the positions of all such mines and obstructions are to be indicated.
CLAUSE 26. ― The existing blockade conditions set up by the Allied and Associated Powers are to remain unchanged, and all German merchant ships found at sea are to remain liable to capture. The Allies and the United States contemplate the provisioning of Germany during the Armistice as shall be found necessary.
CLAUSE 27.―All naval aircraft are to be concentrated and immobilised in German bases to be specified by the Allies and the United States of America.
CLAUSE 28.―In evacuating the Belgian coasts and ports, Germany shall abandon all merchant ships, tugs, lighters, cranes and all other harbour materials, all materials for inland navigation, all aircraft and air materials and stores, all arms and armaments, and all stores and apparatus of all kinds.
CLAUSE 29.―All Black Sea ports are to be evacuated by Germany; all Russian warships of all descriptions seized by Germany in the Black Sea are to be handed over to the Allied and the United States of America; all neutral merchant ship seized are to be released; all warlike and other materials of all kinds seized in those ports are to be returned and German materials as specified in Clause 28 are to be abandoned.
CLAUSE 30.―All merchant ships in German hands belonging to the Allies and Associated Powers are to be restored in ports to be specified by the Allies and the United States of America without reciprocity.
CLAUSE 31.―No destruction of ships or of materials to be permitted before evacuation, surrender or restoration.
CLAUSE 32.―The German Government shall formally notify the Neutral Governments of the world, and particularly the Governments of Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Holland, that all restrictions placed on the trading of their vessels with the Allied and Associated countries, whether by the German Government or by private German interests, and whether in return for specific concessions such as the export of shipbuilding material or not, are immediately cancelled.
CLAUSE 33. ― No transfers of German merchant shipping of any description to any Neutral flag are to take place after signature of the Armistice.
F. Duration of the Armistice is to be 36 days with option to extend.
CLAUSE 34.―During this period, on failure of execution of any of the above clauses, the Armistice may be denounced by one of the Contracting Parties, on 48 hours' previous notice.
G.―Time Limit for Reply.
CLAUSE 35.―This Armistice to be accepted or refused by Germany within 72 hours of notification.
LONG.
Continuing, His Excellency said:― Honourable members of the Legislative Council, ―Victory as Complete as any subject of His Majesty the King could have wished for is signified by the Armistice which Germany has signed. Victory gained by the splendid strategy of Marshal Foch and the tactical skill of the leaders on the various front, to which the fine endurance and bravery of the Allied forces gave effect. Victory has come at last, and though this is not the occasion for reviewing all the great deeds that have brought about the triumph of right over might, it is fitting that while we are gathered here to-day we should mark our deep sense of gratitude to those who on the sea, on land and in the air have by their valour made the victory possible. Our Navy has earned an imperishable record of duty nobly done, without which all the vast efforts of the land forces would have been unavailing. A loss of five thousand combatants out of twenty-two million guarded in their passage across the seas sums up better than any elaborate phrases can do what our Navy, aided in no small degree by our Japanese Allies, has achieved. Ever since our soldiers by their stubborn resistance and indomitable courage stayed the final onrush of our foes in the early part of this year, they have fought side by side with their French, Italian, Belgian and Portuguese comrades, and with the wonderful newborn army of the United States of America, forcing back the enemy at every point of the Western Front. Strategy and endurance have achieved their end. With all our Allies we rejoice to see this day, and while we rejoice at the end of strife we treasure in our hearts the precious memory of those who have given
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their lives in winning freedom for the nations of the world. In numberless homes to-day the glad tidings of impending peace after years of terrible anxiety will bring a joy that no outward manifestations can adequately express. The wounded, the maimed and the prisoners are being restored to those they love, while the devastated lands and cities are again being occupied by their rightful owners. All has been so ordered by Almighty God, to whom, in another place, we shall shortly return thanks for His great mercies. Here our duty is to render the homage due to our King, who throughout the war has shared in the hopes and sorrows of his people. I therefore beg to move the following resolution:―
"The members of the Legislative Council of Hongkong assembled in special session present their humble duty and desire to express to Your
Majesty the heartfelt rejoicings with which Your Majesty's loyal subjects in the Colony of Hongkong have received the news of the Armistice with Germany, signifying by its terms complete victory for the British Forces and those of their gallant Allies."
HON. MR. H. E. POLLOCK ― Your Excellency, as senior Unofficial member of this Council I beg leave to second the resolution which has just been proposed by you, and I desire, on behalf of myself and my colleagues to associate ourselves with those sentiments which Your Excellency has just now so feelingly expressed.
The motion was put to the meeting and carried with acclamation. His Excellency then called for three cheers for the King which were heartily given and the Council adjourned.
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