Treaty of Alliance and Friendship between France and CzechoslovakiaDone in duplicate at Prague on December 16, 1921.
(L. S.) Dr. EDOUARD BENES
(L. S.) SCHOBER.4.1239 Defense Pact between Estonia and
Latvia
Alliance Members:Estonia and Latvia
Signed On:November 1, 1923, in the city of Tallinn (Estonia). In
force until June 15, 1940, when both allies lost their independence fol-
lowing the Soviet invasion.
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:League of Nations Treaty Series,vol. 23, p. 83.
SUMMARY
Soon after the conclusion of World War I, the newly independent
countries that were once part of the Russian Empire (Poland, Finland,
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) began negotiations for a broad alliance
to counter any possible Soviet influence. The plans collapsed, but
Estonia and Latvia formed this alliance, which later (in 1934) proved
to be the basis for a Baltic pact that also included Lithuania. In the
alliance between Estonia and Latvia, both countries pledged economic
and political cooperation in addition to the terms specifying mutual
defense in case of attack.
Alliance Text
The Republic of Esthonia and the Republic of Latvia, being
firmly resolved to maintain the national sovereignty and inde-
pendence which they have gained at the cost of heavy sacrifices,
and to preserve their territorial integrity, have decided to con-
clude a treaty of defensive alliance.
For this purpose they have appointed as their plenipoten-
tiaries:
Esthonia: M. Fr. Axel, Minister for Foreign Affairs;
Latvia: M. Z. A. Meierovics, Prime Minister and Minister
for Foreign Affairs.
Who, having communicated their full powers, found in good
and due form, have agreed upon the following provisions:
Article 1. The High Contracting Parties undertake to follow
a wholly pacific policy, directed towards maintaining and
strengthening the bonds of friendship and developing their eco-
nomic relations with all nations,more especially with the Baltic
States and neighbouring countries.
Article 2. The two Governments undertake to co-ordinate
their efforts for peace by consulting each other on such ques-
tions of foreign policy as are important to both, and by afford-
ing each other political and diplomatic assistance in their inter-
national relations.
Article 3. The High Contracting Parties undertake to afford
each other assistance should either of them suffer an unpro-
voked attack on its present frontiers.
Accordingly, should one of the High Contracting Parties suf-
fer an unprovoked attack, the other shall consider itself in a
state of war and shall furnish armed assistance.
Article 4. The competent technical authorities of the Esthon-
ian Republic and of the Latvian Republic shall determine by
common agreement the manner in which the two countries will
assist each other, and shall establish the necessary provisions for
the execution of Article 3 of the present Treaty.
Article 5. Should the High Contracting Parties, notwith-
standing their efforts for peace, find themselves in a state of
defensive war, as defined in Article 3, they undertake that nei-
ther will separately negotiate or conclude an armistice or peace.
Article 6. All disputed questions which may arise between
the High Contracting Parties, and which cannot be settled by
diplomatic means, shall be laid before the Court of Interna-
tional justice or submitted to international arbitration.
Article 7. Neither of the High Contracting Parties shall con-
clude an alliance with a third power without the consent of the
other Party. Each undertakes to communicate to the other
forthwith the text of any treaties which it may have concluded
with any other State or States.
Article 8. The present Treaty shall remain in force for ten
years from the date of the exchange of ratifications; thereafter
either of the two Contracting Parties may denounce it on giving
one year’s notice to the other Party.
Article 9. The present Treaty shall be communicated to the
League of Nations for registration and Publication.
Article 10. The present Treaty shall be ratified, and the
instruments of ratification shall be exchanged at Riga as early as
possible.
In faith whereof the plenipotentiaries have signed the pres-
ent Treaty and have thereto affixed their seals.
Done in duplicate at Tallinn on November 1st, one thousand
nine hundred and twenty-three.
(Signed) Fr. AKEL.
(Signed) Z. A. MEIEROVICS.4.1240 Treaty of Alliance and Friendship
between France and Czechoslovakia
Alliance Members:France and Czechoslovakia
Signed On:January 25, 1924, in the city of Paris. In force until Sep-
tember 30, 1938, when France accepted German annexation of Czech
territory in the Munich Agreement.
Alliance Type:Entente (Type III)
Source:League of Nations Treaty Series,vol. 23, p. 165.SUMMARY
Czechoslovakia had been aggressively pursuing a policy of alliance
with neighboring states as a method of aiding the fledgling country
while also stanching any possible reformulation of the Hapsburgs in
Hungary. The French leadership encouraged this policy as a means by
which they could exert at least some control over the region, stem-
ming possible threats from not only the Hapsburgs but also Germany
and the new Soviet Union. This entente, then, fit well with the foreign