The Government of the German Reich and The Government
of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Desirous of strengthening the
cause of peace between Germany and the U.S.S.R., and proceeding from the
fundamental provisions of the Neutrality Agreement concluded in April,
1926 between Germany and the U.S.S.R., have reached the following
Agreement:
Article I. Both High Contracting Parties obligate
themselves to desist from any act of violence, any aggressive action,
and any attack on each other, either individually or jointly with other
Powers.
Article II. Should one of the High Contracting
Parties become the object of belligerent action by a third Power, the
other High Contracting Party shall in no manner lend its support to this
third Power.
Article III. The Governments of the two High
Contracting Parties shall in the future maintain continual contact with
one another for the purpose of consultation in order to exchange
information on problems affecting their common interests.
Article IV. Neither of the two High Contracting
Parties shall participate in any grouping of powers whatsoever that is
directly or indirectly aimed at the other party.
Article V. Should disputes or conflicts arise
between the High Contracting Parties over problems of one kind or
another, both parties shall settle these disputes or conflicts
exclusively through friendly exchange of opinion or, if necessary,
through the establishment of arbitration commissions.
Article VI. The present Treaty is concluded for a
period of ten years, with the proviso that, in so far as one of the High
Contracting Parties does not advance it one year prior to the expiration
of this period, the validity of this Treaty shall automatically be
extended for another five years.
Article VII. The present Treaty shall be ratified
within the shortest possible time. The ratifications shall be exchanged
in Berlin. The Agreement shall enter into force as soon as it is signed.
SECRET PROTOCOL TO THE TREATY OF NON-AGGRESSION
BETWEEN GERMANY AND THE USSR CONCERNING DELIMITATION OF GERMAN AND
SOVIET SPHERES OF INTEREST IN EASTERN EUROPE
August 23, 1939
On the occasion of the signature of the
Non-Aggression Treaty between the German Reich and the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics, the undersigned plenipotentiaries of the two
Parties discussed in strictly confidential conversations the question or
the delimitation of their respective spheres of interest in Eastern
Europe. These conversations led to the following result:
Article I. In the event of a territorial
and political transformation in the territories belonging to the Baltic
States (Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), the northern frontier of
Lithuania shall represent the frontier of the spheres of interest both
of Germany and the USSR. In this connection the interest of Lithuania in
the Vilna territory is recognized by both Parties.
Article II. In the event of a territorial
and political transformation of the territories belonging to the Polish
State, the spheres of interest of both Germany and the USSR shall be
bounded approximately by the line of the rivers Narew, Vistula, and San.
The question whether the interests of both Parties
make the maintenance of an independent Polish State appear desirable and
how the frontiers of this State should be drawn can be definitely
determined only in the course of further political developments.
In any case both Governments will resolve this
question by means of a friendly understanding.
Article III. With regard to South-Eastern Europe,
the Soviet side emphasizes its interest in Bessarabia. The German side
declares complete political désintéressement in these territories.
Article IV. This Protocol will he treated by both
parties as strictly secret.
Moscow, August 23, 1939
For the Government of the German Reich
v. RIBBENTROP
With full power of the Government of the U.S.S.R.
V. MOLOTOV