429] THE PLEBISCITES IN THE PEACE TREATIES 131 



plebiscites, but they grant option with the right, not de- 

 mand, of emigration.^ 



By the force of the Peace Treaty between the Allied and 

 Associated Powers and Germany, the Treaties of Brest- 

 Litovsk and Bucharest have both been annulled. It is 

 chiefly the Treaty of Versailles which requires considera- 

 tion of territorial changes on the basis of the plebiscite.* 



According to Articles 32, 33 and 34 of the Treaty of 

 Versailles, Germany " recognizes the full sovereignty of 

 Belgium over the whole of the contested territory of Mores- 

 net [called Moresnet neutre]," and she renounces in favor 

 of Belgium German sovereignty over Prussian Moresnet 

 and the whole of the Kreise of Eupen and of Malmedy. 

 " During six months after the coming into force of this 

 Treaty, registers will be opened by the Belgian authority at 

 Eupen and Malmedy in which the inhabitants of the above 

 territory will be entitled to record in writing a desire to see 

 the whole or part of it remain under German sovereignty." 



No expression of opinion is provided for in Neutral and 

 Prussian Moresnet. 



The result of the public expressions of opinion in Eupen 

 and Malmedy " will be communicated by the Belgian Gov- 

 ernment to the League of Nations, and Belgium under- 

 takes to accept the decision of the League." 



The expression of opinion here provided for is not a 

 free public vote in the sense of a plebiscite for the reason 

 that what is requested is the expression of opinion in writing 

 in public registers. Though the Treaty does not specify the 

 mode of registry, it is clear that in order to give to these ex- 

 pressions in writing any value and significance the indi- 

 vidual thus expressing his opinion must either attach his 

 signature or divulge his name to the supervisor of the 



3 Text used is that pul)lished for the United States Department 

 of State. "Text of the Roumanian 'Peace' (With Maps)," Wash- 

 iiiRton, Govt. PrintiiiR OfTicc, 191S. 



* Text used is that of tlie "Treaty of Peace with Germany" pub- 

 hshed as number 142 by the .American Association for International 

 Conciliation, New York, Sept., 1919. 



