September 10, 1919

Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (1919)

Treaty of Saint-Germain Is Signed with Austria

Renner signed first, at ten in the morning, in the château's Hall of the Stone Age. The document would not legally end the state of war for another ten months.

10 September 1919, from 10:00 to 11:15

On 10 September 1919, Allied and Associated plenipotentiaries and the Austrian chancellor Karl Renner assembled at 10 a.m. in the Hall of the Stone Age at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Georges Clemenceau opened the session and invited Renner to sign.

Renner signed first, and the Allied and Associated representatives followed — 27 countries signed with Austria. The parties executed the treaty, a protocol, a protocol of signature and associated declarations, and adjourned at 11:15 a.m.

What the 381 articles set out

The treaty defined Austria's borders, recognized successor states, constrained Austrian independence and armaments, and established reparation obligations. Article 120 capped the Austrian army at 30,000 men, including officers and depot troops.

Article 88 neither used the word Anschluss nor prohibited every economic agreement with Germany; it required League Council consent for acts compromising Austrian independence.

Signed is not the same as in force

Austria's National Assembly had authorized Renner on 6 September to accept and sign the imposed terms under protest. The Austrian parliament approved the treaty on 17 October.

Under the treaty's own final clauses it entered into force — and ended the state of war for ratifying parties — on 16 July 1920. The United States signed it and never ratified.

Sources

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