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Primary Documents - Treaty of Bucharest, 7 May 1918: Articles 14-23

Romanian Prime Minister Ion IC Bratianu

Article 14

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 15

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 16

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 17 to 23.

Article 17

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 18

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 19

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 20

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 21

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 22

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 23

Expenses incurred by the Allied Powers within the occupied territories for public works, inclusive of industrial enterprises, 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 enterprises 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.

"Wipers" was the British nickname for the Belgian town Ypres.

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Treaty of Bucharest

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