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"THE PEACE OF BUCHAREST"--THE TREATY OF PEACE BETWEEN

ROUMANIA AND THE CENTRAL POWERS. SIGNED AT BUCHAREST, 7 MAY,


1918.

Source: Source: United States, Department of State, Texts of the Roumanian "Peace"
(Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office, 1918), pp. 5-28

[Ratified by the German Bundesrat. 4 June, 1918: by the Reichstag, 3 July, 1918: by
the Roumanian Chamber. 28 June. 1918: by the Roumanian Senate, 4 July. 1918.
(Deutscher Reichsanzeiger, 5 June and 6 July, 1918; Current History, August, 1918,
p.321.)]

[German text as published in the Deutscher Reichsanzeiger, 8 May, 1918.]

(Translation)

Germany, Austria - Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey on the one hand and Roumania on
the other hand, animated by a desire to bring the state of war between them to an end
and to reestablish the friendly relations of their peoples within the field of politics,
law and economy, have decided to transform the preliminaries of peace signed in
Buftea, 5 March, 1918, into a final peace treaty. Accordingly, the plenipotentiaries of
the Governments of the four mentioned Powers, namely, for the Imperial German
Government, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, the Imperial Actual Privy
Councillor, Herr von Kühlmann, the Imperial Actual Privy Councillor, Herr von
Körner, the Director of the Foreign Office, the Imperial Actual Privy Councillor, Dr.
Kriege, the Royal Prussian Major General, Herr Hell, Chief of the General Staff of the
Supreme Command of the Mackensen Army Group, the Imperial Naval Captain, Herr
Bene: for the Imperial and Royal Joint Austro-Hungarian Government, the Minister of
the Imperial and Royal House and for Foreign Affairs, His Imperial and Royal
Apostolic Majesty's Privy Councillor, baron Burian von Rajecz; for the Royal
Bulgarian Government, the Royal Ministerial President, Dr. Radoslavoff, the Royal
Minister of Finance M. Tontscheff, the Royal Major General M. Zanttloff, the Deputy
of the National Assembly M. Kostoff, Dr. Miletitsch, Professor in the University of
Sofia; for the Imperial Ottoman Government, the Imperial Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ahmed Nessimy Bey, the Imperial General of Cavalry Ahmed Izzet Pascha, the
Under-Secretary in the Imperial Minister of Foreign Affairs Rechad Hikmet Bey; for
the Royal Roumanian Government, the Royal Ministerial President, M. Marghiloman,
the Royal Minister for Foreign Affairs, M. Arion, the Royal Minister Plenipotentiary,
M. Papiniu, and the Royal Minister, in Retirement, M. Burghele, have met in
Bucharest to continue the peace negotiations, and after submission of their full
powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon the following provisions:

FIRST CHAPTER

REESTABLISHMENT OF PEACE AND AMITY.

ARTICLE I.
Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey on the one hand and Roumania on
the other hand, declare, that the state of war between them is ended. The contracting
parties are resolved to live henceforth with one another in peace and amity.

ARTICLE II.

Immediately after the ratification of the peace treaty, the diplomatic and consular
relations will be resumed between the contracting parties. As regards the admission of
consuls of both parties, further agreements are reserved.

SECOND CHAPTER.

DEMOBILIZATION OF THE ROUMANIAN FIGHTING FORCES.

ARTICLE III.

After the signature of the peace treaty and on the basis of the provisions contained in
Articles IV to VII, the demobilization of the Roumanian army, now under way, will be
carried out immediately.

ARTICLE IV.

The general military bureaus of the army, the higher commanding authorities and
military institutions will be maintained as provided for in the last peace budget.
Divisions 11 to 15 continue their demobilization as stipulated in the treaty of Focsani
of March, 1918. Of the Roumanian divisions Nos. 1 to 10, the 2 divisions serving in
Bessarabia remain on a war footing, together with the chasseur battalions left over
from the disbanded chasseur divisions, as well as the 2 cavalry divisions of the
Roumanian army, until, as a result of military operations carried on in Ukrainia by the
Allied Powers, there is no longer any danger for the frontiers of Roumania. The
remaining 8 divisions remain in Moldavia with maintenance of their staffs and
commands, on a reduced peace footing. They will comprise 4 infantry regiments of 3
battalions each, 2 cavalry regiments of 4 squadrons each, 2 field artillery regiments of
7 batteries each, 1 battalion of pioneers and the necessary technical troops and
convoys, the number of which is to be fixed in a subsequent agreement; the total force
of these 8 infantry divisions shall not exceed 20,000 men, that of the cavalry shall not
exceed 3,200 men and that of the total artillery of the Roumanian army, apart from the
divisions that remain mobilized shall not exceed 9,000 men. The divisions that remain
mobilized in Bessarabia shall, in case of demobilization, be decreased to the peace
footing on the basis of the 8 divisions mentioned in sentence 4. All other Roumanian
troops which did not exist in peace time, will be disbanded. The active period of
service remains the same as in peace time and reservists, inclusive of the forces of the
Calarasch regiments, will not be called to the colors until after the conclusion of the
general peace.

ARTICLE V.

Ordnance, machine guns, hand arms, horses, wagons and munitions made available in
consequence of the reduction or disbanding of the Roumanian troops will be
transferred, until the conclusion of the general peace, under the high command of the
allied fighting forces within the occupied Roumanian territories and to be taken care
of by it, and under the high supervision of the supreme command they will be
watched over and administered by Roumanian depot troops. Ammunition to be left
with the Roumanian army in Moldavia is limited to 250 cartridges for each musket, to
2500 cartridges for each machine gun and to 150 shots for each piece of ordnance.
The Roumanian army is entitled, in agreement with the supreme command of the
allied fighting forces, to exchange useless material in the depots of occupied regions
and to demand from the munition depots replacement of munition used up. The
divisions which remain mobilized in Bessarabia shall retain the amount of
ammunition regularly allowed in the state of war.

ARTICLE VI.

Until the time of the evacuation of the occupied Roumanian territories the
demobilized Roumanian troops shall remain in Moldavia. Exception hereto is made
with regard to forces mentioned under Article V, sentence 1, necessary for the
preservation of the arms and other material deposited within these territories. The
demobilized troops and reserve officers may return within the occupied territories.
The officers of the active army and others formerly in active service must, in order to
return to these territories, secure the permission of the supreme command of the allied
fighting forces.

ARTICLE VII.

An officer of the general staff of the allied Powers, with staff, is appointed as liaison
officer to the Roumanian chief commander in Moldavia, and in the occupied
Roumanian territories, a Roumanian officer of the general staff, with staff, is
appointed as liaison officer to the supreme command of the allied fighting forces.

ARTICLE VIII.

The Roumanian fluvial and maritime forces shall, until conditions in Bessarabia have
been cleared up, remain intact as regards their forces and equipments, in so far as such
forces are not to be restricted in accordance with Article IX. Subsequently these
fighting forces are to be restored to their usual peace footing. Excepted from these are
the fluvial forces necessary to police the river and the naval forces that may be
utilizable in the Black Sea for the protection of commercial navigation and the
reestablishment of navigable lanes free from mines. Immediately after the signature of
the peace treaty, these fluvial forces, on the basis of a special agreement, will be put at
the disposal of the agencies charged with the river police. The naval technical
Commission of the Black Sea is given the right to dispose of the maritime forces; a
Roumanian naval officer is to be appointed to this Commission in order to establish
the liaison.

ARTICLE IX.

All the military and naval personnel who in peace time were employed in the ports
and in navigation shall, at the time of the demobilization, be released first, in order
that they may find employment in their former activity.
THIRD CHAPTER.

CESSIONS OF TERRITORY.

ARTICLE X.

As regards the Dobrudja which according to No. 1 of the peace preliminaries is to be


ceded by Roumania, the following provisions are adopted.

a. Roumania cedes to Bulgaria the Bulgarian territory which had fallen to it as a result
of the peace treaty of Bucharest of 1913 with a rectification of the frontier in favor of
Bulgaria so that the new Bulgarian frontier in the Dobrudja, traced in red ink upon the
map annexed to this treaty, will henceforth have the following course: the new frontier
of Bulgaria in the Dobrudja begins at a point situated west of the village of Cochirleni
on the Danube, in which operation the lake lying to the south of the village of
Cochirleni and the brook connecting the said lake with the Danube are allotted to
Bulgaria. It runs through the middle of the lake lying to the south of the village of
Cochirleni and through the middle of the pond situated to the north of the Ivrinez Mic,
follows the thalweg of the Pestera valley, continues northward of the northern edge of
the village Daidia, which goes to Bulgaria, cuts the height between the villages Saidia
and Mircea Voda, leads northward of. the northern edge of the village Mircea Voda
which goes to Bulgaria, then follows the ridge of the height which rises to the east of
the village of Mircea Voda, cuts hill 127 (Idris Kiruos), continues in an easterly
direction to the wall of Trajan, which it reaches about 2½ kilometers to the north of
point 129, then follows the wall of Trajan to a point situated south of the village
Osmancea, and then the thalweg of the valley connecting the villages of Osmancea
and Omurcea, runs north of the northern edge of the village Omurcea, which goes to
Bulgaria, then in an eastward direction to hill 6 (Pipiliga Juk), cuts this hill and
continues in its easterly direction, passing through Orta Tabia and then 1 kilometer to
the north of the northern edge of the village Agigea which goes to Bulgaria crosses
the highway Constanza-Techirghiol, follows in a southeasterlv direction into the lake
located east of the village Agigea, which it crosses in such manner that it issues into
the middle of the eastern shore from where it enters into the Black Sea. The map
referred to in the beginning forms an essential part of the peace treaty. A Commission
composed of representatives of the Allied Powers shall, immediately after the signing
of the peace treaty, determine and demarcate on the spot the new frontier line of the
Dobrudja. The Danube frontier between the territories ceded to Bulgaria and
Roumania follows the thalweg of the river. Immediately after the signing of the peace
treaty, more detailed provisions will be entered into between the two Powers with
regard to the determination of the thalweg; the delimitation described in paragraph b
will be made in the autumn of 1918 at low-water mark.

b. Roumania cedes to the Allied Powers the part of the Dobrudja situated to the north
of the new frontier line described in paragraph a, down to the Danube and exactly
between the forking of the river and the Black Sea even to St. George's Arm. The
Danube frontier between the territories ceded to the Allied Powers and Roumania will
follow the thalweg of the stream. The details regarding the determination of the
thalweg must be agreed upon between the interested Powers immediately after the
signing of the peace treaty; the delimitation will take place in the autumn of 1918 at
low-water mark. The Allied Powers will see to it that Roumania obtains a guaranteed
commercial road to the Black Sea by way of Cernavoda and Constanza.

ARTICLE XI.

Roumania agrees that her frontier be given a rectification in favor of Austria-Hungary


in such manner that the new frontier traced in red ink upon the map annexed to the
treaty shall henceforth have the following course: the new frontier begins at the
railway cutting to the west of Turn-Severin, south of Dudasu. Thence it passes at a
distance of 400 meters to the west of the last houses situated at the western end of
Dudasu, and by the western edge of the locality of Seretu across the J of the
inscription on the map of the brook Jidoscita, across the J of the inscription of the
locality Jidoscita, across hill 682 D. Matoret (the summit goes to Hungary), then
along the highway of the said hill in the direction of Ciresiu, the highway going to
Hungary, then by the western edge of Ciresiu, along the country road across the N of
the inscription of the locality Jupanesci, reaches the E of the inscription Gornenti,
passing through the F of the inscription Costesc, to hill 1333 Mt. Sec (the summit
goes to Hungary) and from there in a straight northerly direction to the present
frontier between Roumania and Hungary which remains intact up to the point where
the brook Craiova enters into the Cserna. From the mentioned point where the brook
Craiova enters into the Cserna, the Cserna itself forms the new frontier up to point A
of the inscription Rinceunisora, then the frontier bends to the east and goes across the
inscription D. Milano, passes the inscription D. Negoea to the south, crosses
inscription D. Seniuleului in a direct easterly direction to the road leading from the
Vulcan gorge to the south, which it cuts 600 meters to the south of Buliga, then to the
point of intersection of the Ztilv River and the road to the south of the inscription
Lainici. It proceeds directly eastward to the brook Sadu, then along the brook
northeast to its source (1 kilometer east of the U of the inscription Stana Prislopu)
then directlv northward to the present frontier at point 2529 Vrf. Mandrei, and along
the old frontier to 400 meters southwest of V of the inscription Vrf. Ciobavul. From
this point the frontier passes in a direct easterly line by the south edge of Bucolie,
south of the inscription Vrf Repede, south of the inscription Ciungetu and of the
inscription Par. Latorita. It then follows 400 meters south of the hill 1632 Piscu
Moldovisulai in an easterly direction to the confluence of the brook 1 kilometer
southwest of R of the inscription Racovita, 2 kilometers south of the place Bolioara,
passes the northern edge of Titesti to hill 1248 Zanoaga (the summit going to
Hungary), across the U of the inscnption Stana Cioricu, 1 kilometer south of hill 1862
Comarnicul, across the narrow gauge railway 3 kilometers southwest of hill 2000 Mt.
Lipitoarea then in an easterly direction across hills 1961,1932, 1576, 1772, 1607,
2338 M.Batrana, 2237, trigonometric point 2379, M. Papusa, 1785, 1411, 1264, 1265,
1074 (all these summits going to Hungary), cuts the highway Campolung-Brasso at
the bridge 1 kilometer southeast of point 1074, then proceeds across point 1265
(bridge and summit both going to Hungary) and reaches the present frontier in an
almost due easterly direction midway between the inscription Vrf. Santu Ilie and Vrf.
Sigluia at hill 1880.

The present frontier up to hill 1909 remains intact; the new frontier then leads from
that hill across the second C of the inscription Schitu Pestera Decebal, across the U of
inscription Caraimanu, across the B of inscription V. Cerbulni, along the northern
edge of Azuga across the second A of inscription Azuga, across hill 1505 which is left
to Roumania, across the V of inscription. of Vrf. Cajacu, then bending to the southeast
1 kilometer south of inscription Mt. Prislop across hill 1531 (which goes to Hungary),
across hill 1128, 873, 1235, l540 (all of which go to Hungary), 1 kilometer south of
point 1771 Mt. Grohitis hill 1450 (all these points going to Hungary), then 700 meters
south of point 871 of the place named Teleajenul, across point 961 (which point goes
to Hungary), 1 kilometer south of point 1340 ( across V of inscription Tartar Havas
P.), across points 975, 1486, 1115 (all three points going to Hungary), then onward in
a northeasterly direction cutting the highway in the valley of the Podza, 2 kilometers
northwest of G of inscription Gura Sirtulni, then across points 1183, 1363, 600 meters
south of point 1338, then northeast to within 1 kilometer north of point 789, where it
joins the present frontier between Hungary and Roumania. The ancient frontier
remains intact up to the point 2½ kilometers southwest of Popii, then passes in
northeasterly direction up to the point 1 kilometer southeast of point 1530, then makes
here a sharp turn to the northwest east of point 1530, to the east of points 1521, 1587
and bending to the northeast around point 1490 Mt. Condratu, east of point 950,
crossing the narrow gauge railway 4 kilometers west of Lepsa, east of point 1374 Mt.
Sboina Neagra, east of point 1014 Mt. Resboiului and crossing the small railway 2
kilometers east of point 508, 1 kilometer east of trigonometric point 1167 Mt. Maguis
Casinului, then across point 843, 1 kilometer east of point 737, across point 704, 716,
S of inscription Hirsa, the southwest shore of Harja, military post 962, military post 3
kilometers northwest thereof (all aforementioned points going to Hungary). then
bending northward across point 1050 Vrf.

Cheschtului (which point goes to Hungary), thence sharp to northwest, north of point
1071 Mt. Cleja along the slope north of point 1108 east of the trigonometric point
1653 Mt. Nemira, passing east of point 1370, crossing the small railway 3 kilometers
west of point 479 Poiana Uzului, across trigonometric point 1342 (summit goes to
Hungary), passing 1800 meters east of point 682, crossing the railway of the Trotus
valley at P of inscription Preluci, follows directly to the east of U of inscription
Agasu, across point 1275, 1613 (which points go to Hungary), east of trigonometric
point Csülemer 1651, east of trigonometric point Tarhavas 1662, across M of
inscription Schimba Garda, east of point 1573, passing east of point 1463 Mt. Mairus,
762 directly west of point 1211, crossing the small railway in the Bicazului valley at
its eastern terminal of Tasca, east of point 1245, west of point 932, rounding
trigonometric point 1904 Teca (2 kilometers northeast of the highest point) across S of
inscription Schitul Ducau, west of point 1080, and crossing the highway in the
Bistricioara valley, across G of inscription Grintiesiul, then eastward across point
1145 Frasin, 1021, across C of inscription Farcasa, east of trigonometric point 1086,
point 1150, trigonometric point 1534, Monte Bivol, point 1276, points 1208, 975,
1010, 882, from here bending to the northeast to 2 kilometers south of Paiseni across
the N of inscription Paiseni, O of inscription Moldava, L of inscription Kornoluncze,
across the eastern edge of the place Rotopanesti and the southern edge of Mihaesti,
then hill 393 near A of Mihaesti, then the old frontier of Austria in the direction of
Roumania to 2 kilometers southeast of the trigonometric point 503 La Zara, then
bending northeast across point 305, 281 on the Sereth, the eastern edge of Talpa, the
eastern edge of Colinesti, point 396, 402, ½ kilometer to the east of Dersca, across
point 189, 198, 332, 304, Ziehbrunnen 1 kilometer southwest of point 311, the eastern
edge of Baranca, the eastern edge of Pilipauti, point 251, to Pruth, 1 kilometer to the
east of Lunca.
The map referred to in the beginning forms an essential part of the peace treaty. Two
mixed Commissions composed of an equal number of representatives of the interested
Powers shall immediately after the ratification of the peace treaty determine and
demarcate on the spot the new frontier line.

ARTICLE XII.

State properties within the occupied Roumanian territories pass, without


indemnification and without incumbrances, but by safeguarding the private rights
within these regions, to the State acquiring them. From the fact that these territories
formerly belonged to Roumania, there shall, nevertheless, devolve no obligation of
any nature whatever either upon Roumania or upon the-States becoming the owners
thereof.

Furthermore, the States acquiring the territories surrendered, will, among other things,
enter with Roumania into agreements concerning the following points:
Concerning the nationality of the hitherto Roumanian inhabitants of these territories
in which the latter must in every case be granted a right of option and emigration;
concerning the apportionment of the properties of. the communal districts severed
through the new frontiers;
concerning the attribution of the archives, the acts of the judicial and administrative
authorities, the records of the courts and the administration as well as the personal
civil register;
concerning the management of the new frontiers;
concerning the effect of the territorial change's upon the diocesan districts;
concerning the effect of the territorial changes upon the political treaties.

After the signature of the peace treaty, Roumania will release, upon their demand, the
officers and military forces originating from the territories surrendered, and permit
them to return to their homeland.

FOURTH CHAPTER.

WAR INDEMNITIES.

ARTICLE XIII.

The contracting parties mutually renounce indemnification for their war expenses,
that is to say, the expenses of the State for the conduct of the war. Special agreements.
regarding the regulation of war damages are reserved.

FIFTH CHAPTER.

EVACUATION OF THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES.

ARTICLE XIV.

The Roumanian territories occupied by the military forces of the Allied Powers will
be evacuated at a time to be determined later under the reservation of the provisions
of the Third Chapter relative to cessions of territory. During the time of occupation,
the forces of the occupying army will not exceed 6 divisions, not including the
detachments used in the field of economic activities.

ARTICLE XV.

Up to the time of the ratification of the peace treaty the present administration of
occupation will continue with the authority heretofore exercised. But the Roumanian
Government, immediately after the signature of the peace treaty, may proceed with
the appointment and dismissal of the official personnel as it may deem proper.

ARTICLE XVI.

After the ratification of the peace treaty, the civil administration of the occupied
territories will again be transferred to the Roumanian authorities on the basis of
Articles XVII to XXIII.

ARTICLE XVII.

In conformity with the desire of the Roumanian Government, and until after the
evacuation of the occupied territories, a civilian officer of the administration of
occupation will be designated to each Roumanian ministry in order to facilitate, as
much as possible, the transfer of the civilian administration to the Roumanian
authorities. Furthermore. the Roumanian authorities will have to conform to the
regulations which the commanders of the army of occupation may think it necessary
to adopt in the interest of public security within the occupied territories, as well as in
the interest of the security of the maintenance and distribution of their troops. The
means of communication, especially the railways, the postal arid telegraph service
will, until further order, remain under the military administration; they will be placed
at the disposal of the Roumanian authorities and people, on the basis of agreements to
be reached upon this matter. As regards the cooperation of the high command m the
regulation of financial movements and monetary operations, a special agreement is
reserved, in particular with regard to the business operations of the Roumanian
National Bank and the central office of the people's banks.

ARTICLE XVIII.

Jurisdiction within the occupied districts, under reservation of the provisions


contained in §§ 2 and 3, will be completely taken over again by the Roumanian
Courts. The Allied Powers retain full jurisdiction over persons belonging to the army
of occupation, both in penal and civil affairs, as well as police authority over these
persons. Punishable acts committed against the army of occupation will be decided by
its military jurisdiction; the same applies to infractions against ordinances of the
administration of occupation, in so far as according to Article XXII, §1, these
ordinances still remain provisionally in force. Further, affairs that have been laid
before the tribunals instituted by the administration of occupation before the
ratification of the peace treaty, will be adjudicated by these tribunals.

ARTICLE XIX.
The high command of the army of occupation, in agreement with the Roumanian
Government, will make the necessary arrangements to regulate the relations between
the occupied territories and territories not occupied. Accordingly, among other things,
repatriation into the occupied territories will take place in the proportion in which the
Roumanian Government will provide for the maintenance of persons returning by
means of a corresponding importation of the necessaries of life from Moldavia or
from Bessarabia.

ARTICLE XX.

After the ratification of the peace treaty, the army of occupation will no longer make
requisitions, either in money or products of any kind, under the reservation of the
provisions of paragraph 2. The high command of the army of occupation retains the
right of requisitioning grains, podded grains, fodder, wool, cattle and meats from the
harvests of the year 1918, further, lumber as well as mineral oil and mineral oil
products, as well as the right to take the necessary measures for the securing,
transforming, transporting and distributing of these products. The high command will
for this purpose develop an orderly plan for securing these articles as well as give
satisfaction to the Roumanian domestic needs; to this end, more detailed agreements
to be entered into between the high command and the Roumanian Government are
reserved. As for; the rest, the Roumanian Government will have to meet the requests
of the high command with regard to requisitions to be made for the needs of the army
of occupation, as well as with regard to requisitions of other articles which Roumania
will have to supply according to other agreements already concluded.

ARTICLE XXI.

From the date of the ratification of the peace treaty the maintenance of the army of
occupation, inclusive of requisitions made to that end, is at the expense of Roumania.
Objects requisitioned for other purposes than the needs of the army of occupation will
be paid for by the Allied Powers, beginning with the date of the ratification of the
peace treaty.

ARTICLE XXII.

A special agreement will be entered into to settle the details of the transfer of the civil
administration foreseen in Article XVI as well as the abrogation of the ordinances
issued by the administration of occupation. No claim for damages may be submitted
with regard to these ordinances; and the rights acquired by third parties as a result of
these ordinances are left intact. The administrators and liquidators appointed by order
of the administration of occupation may be prosecuted under the civil or penal law for
violation of their duties only with the approval of the high command of the army of
occupation; in the exercise of their duties, they may not either be penalized or
prejudiced.

ARTICLE XXIII.

Expenses incurred by the Allied Powers within the occupied territories for public
works, inclusive of industrial enterprizes, will be refunded to these Powers at the time
of the transfer of the territories. Up to the time of the evacuation of occupied
territories, the industrial enterprizes mentioned in paragraph 1 will remain under the
military administration. In the utilization of their products consideration must be had
to meet the Roumanian domestic needs.

SIXTH CHAPTER.

REGULATION OF, NAVIGATION ON THE DANUBE.

ARTICLE XXIV.

With Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey, Roumania will conclude a new
navigation agreement with regard to the Danube which will settle the legal situation
on the Danube from the point where it becomes navigable, by taking into account the
stipulations following under a to d and on condition that the provisions under b are
equally applicable to all the participants in the Danube agreement. Negotiations anent
the new Danube agreement shall begin at Munich, as soon as possible after the
ratification of the peace treaty.

a. For the course of the river below Braila, inclusive of this harbor, the European
Danube Commission will be retained as a permanent institution with its powers,
privileges and obligations under the name of "Commission on the Mouth of the
Danube":

1. The Commission will henceforth consist only of delegates from the States situated
on the Danube or on the European shore of the Black Sea.

2. From Braila downward, the competence of the Commission extends to all branches
and mouths of the Danube and to the parts contiguous to the Black Sea; the rules
issued by the Corn-mission with regard to the Sulina Arm shall also be applied in like
manner to the branches or sub-branches for which hitherto the Commission was not,
or was not exclusively competent.

b. Roumania guarantees to the ships of the other contracting parties free circulation on
the Roumanian part of the Danube, inclusive of the harbors connected therewith.
Neither on ships and rafts of the contracting parties nor on their cargoes. will
Roumania levy any dues based upon the fact that they navigate on the river. Neither
will Roumania levy in future on the river any other dues or taxes than those admitted
in virtue of the new convention of navigation on the Danube.

c. The Roumanian tax of ½ per cent upon the value of merchandise imported or
exported through the harbours of the country, will be abrogated after the going into
force of the new convention of navigation on the Danube, and as soon as Roumania
shall have determined the taxes, according to the new convention, for the use of
public institutions serving for the development of shipping traffic and the movement
of merchandise. This tax will be levied at all events, at the latest, five years after the
ratification of the present treaty of peace. Merchandise and rafts transported in
Roumania on the Danube will not be subject to a traffic tax based on the fact that they
are being thus transported.
d. The section of the cataracts and of the Iron Gates to which relate the provisions of
Article VI of the Treaty of London of 13 March, 1871, of Article LVII of the Berlin
Treaty of 13 July, 1878, comprises the stretch of the river from Moldova to Turn-
Severin, over the entire width of the river, from one shore to the other shore, inclusive
of all the branches of the river and the islands situated between them.

Accordingly, the obligations relative to the maintenance of navigability over the


stretch of the cataracts and the Iron Gates which had been assumed by Austria-
Hungary on the basis of stipulations mentioned in paragraph 1 and which Hungary
had been charged to carry out, will henceforth apply, even as the special rights
accruing therefrom to Hungary. to that part of the Danube explicitly specified under
paragraph 1. The border States of this part of the river will afford Hungary all
facilities she might ask for in the interest of the works which she has to carry out
there.

ARTICLE XXV.

Until the meeting of the Commission on the Mouth of the Danube, Roumania will
administer in orderly fashion and preserve from any damage the properties of the
European Commission of the Danube which it has in custody. Immediately after, the
signing of the peace treaty, a Commission composed of at least two representatives of
each of the contracting parties, will survey the condition of the material in the care of
Roumania. A special agreement will be entered into anent the obligation of Roumania
for the immediate tentative return of this material.

ARTICLE XXVI.

Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Turkey, and Roumania have the right to keep
war-ships on the Danube. These war-ships may navigate down the stream as far as the
sea and up the river as far as the extreme boundary of their own territories; excepting
in case of force majeure, they may, however, enter into communication with or anchor
at the shore of another State, only with the approval of such State to be secured
through the channels of diplomacy. Each of the Powers represented in the
Commission on the Mouth of the Danube has the right to keep two light war-ships, as
station ships,. at the mouths of the Danube. Such war-ships, without any special
authorization, may ascend the Danube as far as Braila. The war-ships mentioned in
paragraphs 1 and 2 are entitled, within the harbors and waters of the Danube, to all the
privileges and advantages of war-ships..

SEVENTH CHAPTER.

EQUALITY OF RELIGIONS IN ROUMANIA.

ARTICLE XXVII.

Equal freedom is granted in Roumania to the Roman Catholic, to the United Greek, to
the Bulgarian Orthodox, to the Protestant, to the Musselman, and to the Jewish faiths,
and each shall receive the same juridical and official protection as that accorded the
Roumanian Orthodox faith. Especially, they shall have the right to establish parishes
or communities of faith, as well as schools which are to be regarded as private schools
and may not be interfered with except in the case of a violation of the national
security or of public order. In all private and public schools, the pupils may not be
compelled to attend religious instruction unless it is given by an authorized teacher of
their faith.

ARTICLE XXVIII.

The difference in religious faith must not exercise in Roumania any influence over the
status of the inhabitants from the viewpoint of their rights, especially as regards their
political and civil rights. The principle expressed in paragraph 1 will likewise be
applicable in so far as concerns

the naturalization of the population of Roumania without nationality, inclusive of the


Jews, hitherto regarded as aliens. To that end there will be decreed in Roumania, up to
the time of the ratification of the peace treaty, a law according to which all persons
without nationality who have taken part in the war, either in the active military
service, or in the auxiliary service, or who are born in the country and are settled there
and whose parents were there born, shall be regarded forthwith as Roumanian
nationals with all the rights as such, and may have themselves registered as such in
the courts the acquisition of Roumanian nationality will likewise extend to the
married women, the widows and minor children.

EIGHTH CHAPTER.

FINAL PROVISIONS.

ARTICLE XXIX.

The economic relations between the Allied Powers and Roumania will be regulated in
special treaties which form an essential part of the peace treaty, and, in so far as it is
not therein stipulated to the contrary, will enter into force simultaneously with the
latter. The same applies to the reestablishment of public and private legal relations,
the settlement of military and civil damages, the exchange of war prisoners and
interned civilians, the decree of amnesties as well as the treatment of river boats and
other means of traffic that have come into the power of the opponent.

ARTICLE XXX.

With regard to the interpretation of this treaty, the German text and the Roumanian
text will

be authoritative in the relations between Germany and Roumania; the German text,
the Hungarian text and the Roumanian text with regard to the relations between
Austria~Hungary and Roumania; the Bulgarian text and the Roumanian text in the
relations between Bulgaria and Roumania, and the Turkish text and the Roumanian
text in the relations between Turkey and Roumania.

ARTICLE XXXI.
This peace treaty shall be ratified and ratifications exchanged in Vienna as soon as
possible. In so far as it is not otherwise stated herein, the peace treaty goes into force
at the time of its ratification.

In faith whereof the Plenipotentiaries have signed this peace treaty and affixed their
official seals to it.

Done in quintuple original in Bucharest, 7 May, 1918.

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