ARTICLE 278.—Germany undertakes to recognize any new nationality which has been or may be acquired by her nationals under the laws of the Allied and Associated Powers, and in accordance with the decisions of the competent authorities of these powers pursuant to naturalization laws or under treaty stipulations, and to regard such persons as having, in consequence of the acquisition of such new nationality, in all respects severed their allegiance to their country of origin.

ARTICLE 279.—The Allied and Associated Powers may appoint Consuls General, Consuls, Vice Consuls, and Consular Agents in German towns and ports. Germany undertakes to approve the designation of the Consuls General, Consuls, Vice Consuls, and Consular Agents, whose names shall be notified to her, and to admit them to the exercise of their functions in conformity with the usual rules and customs.

CHAPTER V.—GENERAL ARTICLES

ARTICLE 280.—The obligations imposed on Germany by Chapter I. and by Articles 271 and 272 of Chapter II. above shall cease to have effect five years from the date of the coming into force of the present treaty, unless otherwise provided in the text, or unless the Council of the League of Nations shall, at least twelve months before the expiration of that period, decide that these obligations shall be maintained for a further period with or without amendment.

Article 276 of Chapter IV. shall remain in operation, with or without amendment, after the period of five years for such further period, if any, not exceeding five years, as may be determined by a majority of the Council of the League of Nations.

ARTICLE 281.—If the German Government engages in international trade, it shall not in respect thereof have or be deemed to have any rights, privileges, or immunities of sovereignty.

SECTION II.—Treaties

ARTICLE 282.—From the coming into force of the present treaty and subject to the provisions thereof the multilateral treaties, conventions, and agreements of an economic or technical character enumerated below and in the subsequent articles shall alone be applied as between Germany and those of the Allied and Associated Powers party thereto:

  1. Conventions of March 14, 1884; Dec. 1, 1886, and March 23, 1887, and final protocol of July 7, 1887, regarding the protection of submarine cables.
  2. Convention of Oct. 11, 1909, regarding the international circulation of motor cars.
  3. Agreement of May 15, 1886, regarding the sealing of railway trucks subject to customs inspection, and protocol of May 18, 1907.
  4. Agreement of May 15, 1886, regarding the technical standardization of railways.
  5. Convention of July 5, 1890, regarding the publication of customs tariffs and the organization of an international union for the publication of customs tariffs.
  6. Convention of Dec. 31, 1913, regarding the unification of commercial statistics.
  7. Convention of April 25, 1907, regarding the raising of the Turkish customs tariff.
  8. Convention of March 14, 1857, for the redemption of toll dues on the Sound and Belts.
  9. Convention of June 22, 1861, for the redemption of the Stade Toll on the Elbe.
  10. Convention of July 16, 1863, for the redemption of toll dues on the Scheldt.
  11. Convention of Oct. 29, 1888, regarding the establishment of a definite arrangement guaranteeing the free use of the Suez Canal.
  12. Convention of Sept. 23, 1910, respecting the unification of certain regulations regarding collisions and salvage at sea.
  13. Convention of Dec. 21, 1904, regarding the exemption of hospital ships from dues and charges in ports.
  14. Convention of Feb. 4, 1898, regarding the tonnage measurement of vessels for inland navigation.
  15. Convention of Sept. 26, 1906, for the suppression of nightwork for women.
  16. Convention of Sept. 26, 1906, for the suppression of the use of white phosphorus in the manufacture of matches.
  17. Conventions of May 18, 1904, and May 4, 1910, regarding the suppression of the white slave traffic.
  18. Convention of May 4, 1910, regarding the suppression of obscene publications.
  19. Sanitary conventions of January, 1892; April 15, 1893; April 3, 1894; April 19, 1897, and Dec. 3, 1903.
  20. Convention of May 20, 1875, regarding the unification and improvement of the metric system.
  21. Convention of Nov. 29, 1906, regarding the unification of pharmacopoeial formulae for potent drugs.
  22. Convention of Nov. 16 and 19, 1885, regarding the establishment of a concert pitch.
  23. Convention of June 7, 1905, regarding the creation of an International Agricultural Institute at Rome.
  24. Conventions of Nov. 3, 1881, and April 15, 1889, regarding precautionary measures against phylloxera.
  25. Convention of March 19, 1902, regarding the protection of birds useful to agriculture.
  26. Convention of June 12, 1902, as to the protection of minors.