Berlin Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance

Berlin Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance

The Kaiser of the Hanse Reich and the Grand Duke of the Menshevik White Russia ; Desiring further to develop friendly relations between the Hase Reich and the Menshevik White Russia; Being convinced that the strengthening of good neighborhood relations and cooperation between the Hanse Reich and the Menshevik White Russia lies in the interest of both countries; Expressing their firm endeavor to collaborate towards the maintenance of mutual peace and security; and Expressing their firm endeavor to collaborate towards the maintenance of peace and security in the European continent: Have for this purpose agreed to conclude the present agreement and have agreed to the following provisions:

Article 1

In the eventuality of the Hanse Reich, or the Menshevik White Russia, becoming the object of an armed attack by any hostile state, both High Contracting Parties will, true to their obligations as independent states, fight to repel the attack. Both High Contracting Parties will in such cases use all of their available forces for defending their territorial integrity by land, sea, and air, and will do so within their frontiers in accordance with obligations defined in the present agreement and, if necessary, with the assistance of or jointly with, the other High Contracting Party.

In the cases of aforementioned the Hanse Reich will give the Menshevik White Russia the help required, the giving of which will be subject to mutual agreement between the Contracting Parties.

In the cases of aforementioned the Menshevik White Russia will give the Hanse Reich the help required, the giving of which will be subject to mutual agreement between the Contracting Parties.

Article 2

The High Contracting Parties shall confer with each other if it is established that the threat of an armed attack as described in Article 1 is present.

Article 3

The High Contracting Parties confirm their pledge not to conclude any alliance or join any coalition directed against the other High Contracting Party.

Article 4

The High Contracting Parties give assurance of their design to act in a spirit of cooperation and friendship towards the further development and consolidation of economic and cultural relations between the Hanse Reich and The Menshevik White Russia.

Article 5

The High Contracting Parties pledge themselves to observe the principle of the mutual respect of sovereignty and integrity and that of non-interference in the internal affairs of the other state.

Article 6

The present agreement shall be ratified and remains in force ten years after the date of its coming into force. The agreement shall come into force upon the exchange of the instruments of ratification, the exchange taking place in the shortest time possible in Berlin.

Provided neither of the High Contracting Parties has denounced it one year before the expiration of the said ten-year period, the agreement shall remain in force for subsequent five-year periods until either High Contracting Party one year before the expiration of such five-year periods in writing notifies its intention of terminating the validity of the agreement.

In witness hereof the Plenipotentiaries have signed the present agreement and affixed their seals.

Done in the city of Berlin on the 30th day of January, 1940, in two copies, in the German and the Russian languages, both texts being authentic.