It states that:  bearing in mind that on the request of the then Imperial German Government an armistice was granted on November 11, 1918, by the principal allied and associated powers in order that a treaty of peace might be concluded with her, and whereas the allied and associated powers, being equally desirous that the war in which they were successively involved directly or indirectly and which originated in the declaration of war by Austria-Hungary on July 28, 1914, against Serbia, the declaration of war by Germany against Russia on August 1, 1914, and against France on August 3, 1914, and in the invasion of Belgium, should be replaced by a firm, just, and durable peace, the plenipotentiaries, (having communicated their full powers found in good and due form) have agreed as follows: 

From the coming into force of the present treaty the state of war will terminate.  From the moment and subject to the provisions of this treaty, official relations with Germany, and with each of the German States, will be resumed by the allied and associated Powers.

SECTION I

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

[Sidenote:  Specific duties of the League of Nations.]

The covenant of the League of Nations constitutes Section I of the peace treaty, which places upon the League many specific, in addition to its general, duties.  It may question Germany at any time for a violation of a neutralized zone east of the Rhine as a threat against the world’s peace.  It will appoint three of the five members of the Sarre Commission, oversee its regime, and carry out the plebiscite.  It will appoint the High Commissioner of Danzig, guarantee the independence of the free city, and arrange for treaties between Danzig and Germany and Poland.  It will work out the mandatory system to be applied to the former German colonies, and act as a final court in part of the plebiscites of the Belgian-German frontier, and in disputes as to the Kiel Canal, and decide certain of the economic and financial problems.  An International Conference on Labor is to be held in October under its direction, and another on the international control of ports, waterways, and railways is foreshadowed.

MEMBERSHIP

[Sidenote:  How states may become members or withdraw.]

The members of the League will be the signatories of the covenant and other States invited to accede who must lodge a declaration of accession without reservation within two months.  A new State, dominion, or colony may be admitted, provided its admission is agreed to by two-thirds of the assembly.  A State may withdraw upon giving two years’ notice, if it has fulfilled all its international obligations.

SECRETARIAT

[Sidenote:  Permanent secretariat at Geneva.]

A permanent secretariat will be established at the seat of the League, which will be at Geneva.