cease-fire line and the Mediterranean coast, of an Autonomous Province in France. This would provide a region of self government for the different ethnic groups represented by the non-Gallo New French Alliance, which had expressed its desire for a separate identity within the Republic of France. The Peace Agreement was concluded within the framework of the UN resolutions and the conditions accepted by both the French government and the New French Alliance.
Dear President Suarez,
I have much pleasure in conveying to you, on behalf of the Government of France, the following declaration of sympathy with the aspirations of the New French Alliance, which has been submitted to, and approved by the President.
“The Government views with certain reserves - notably its refusal to entertain any other status to the region than a certain autonomy within the Republic of France, as defined by our constitution - the establishment in Provence of an autonomous region for the populations that have manifested their desire to be considered as separate minority ethnic groups with certain specific rights defined under the terms outlined by their representatives, the so called 'New French Alliance', and our government will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing French communities in Province, or the rights and political status enjoyed by those minority ethnic groups in Metropolitan France.”
I should be grateful if you would bring this declaration to the knowledge of the New French Alliance.
Yours sincerely,
Marcel Berat
Treaty
Whereas the European Federation has agreed, to guaranty the status of the Autonomous Region of Provence, which constitutes a province of the French Republic, within such boundaries as fixed by the Conference of Evian; and
Whereas the European Federation has agreed that they should be responsible for putting into effect the declaration originally made, by the Government of the Republic of France, and adopted by the European Federation, in favour of the establishment in Provence an Autonomous Region for the minority ethnic groups represented by the New French Alliance, it being clearly understood that nothing should be done which might prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing communities in Province.
Whereas recognition has thereby been given to the established connection of the minority ethnic groups represented the New French Alliance with Provence and to the grounds for constituting an Autonomous Region in that region.
Whereas the European Federation has accepted the Republic of France as responsible for the Autonomous Region; and
Whereas the responsibility in respect of the Autonomous Region has been formulated in the following terms and submitted to the Federal Parliament for approval; and
Whereas the French Republic has accepted the responsibility in respect of the Autonomous Region and undertaken to exercise it on behalf of the European Federation in conformity with the following provisions; and
Whereas by the afore-mentioned, it is provided that the degree of authority, control or administration to be exercised by the French Republic, not having been previously agreed upon by the European Federation, shall be explicitly defined by the Commission of the Federation;
Confirming the said mandate, defines its terms as follows:
Article 1.
The French Republic shall have full powers of legislation and of administration, save as they may be limited by the terms of this agreement.
Article 2.
The French Republic shall be responsible for placing the Autonomous Region under such political, administrative and economic conditions as will secure the establishment of the minority ethnic groups represented by the New French Alliance, as laid down in the preamble, and the development of self-governing institutions, and also for safeguarding the civil and religious rights of all the inhabitants of the Autonomous Region, irrespective of race and religion.
Article 3.
The French Republic shall, so far as circumstances permit, encourage local autonomy.
Article 4.
An appropriate agency shall be recognised as a public body for the purpose of advising and co-operating with the Administration of the Autonomous Region in such economic, social and other matters as may affect the establishment the region and the interests of the minority ethnic groups in the Region, and, subject always to the control of the Administration, to assist and take part in the development of the Autonomous Region.
The New French organisation, so long as its organisation and constitution are in the opinion of the French Republic appropriate, shall be recognised as such agency. It shall take steps in consultation with the French to secure the cooperation of all groups who are willing to assist in the establishment of the national home for minority ethnic groups.
Article 5.
The French Republic shall be responsible for seeing that no part of the territory of the Autonomous Region shall be ceded or leased to, or in any way placed under the control of, the Government of any foreign Power.
Article 6.
The Administration of the Autonomous Region, while ensuring that the rights and position of other sections of the population are not prejudiced, shall facilitate the settlement of ethnic minorities under suitable conditions and shall encourage, in co-operation with the New French Alliance settlement by minorities, on land, including State lands and waste lands not required for public purposes.
Article 7.
The Administration of the Autonomous Region shall be responsible for enacting a residence law for the ethnic groups present as well as for new Settlers. There shall be included in this law provisions framed so as to facilitate the acquisition of permanence residence status by ethnic minorities who take up their permanent residence in the Autonomous region.
Article 8.
The privileges and immunities of foreigners, including the benefits of consular jurisdiction and protection as formerly enjoyed by citizens of the French Republic, shall not be applicable in the Autonomous Region.
Article 9.
The French Republic shall be responsible for seeing that the judicial system established in the Autonomous Region shall assure to foreigners, as well as to natives, a complete guarantee of their rights.
Respect for the personal status of the various peoples and communities and for their religious interests shall be fully guaranteed. In particular, the control and administration of Muslims shall be exercised in accordance with religious law and the dispositions of the founders.
Article 10.
Pending the making of special extradition agreements relating to the Autonomous Region, the extradition treaties in force between the French Republic and other foreign Powers shall apply to the Autonomous Region.
Article 11.
The Administration of the Autonomous region shall take all necessary measures to safeguard the interests of the community in connection with the development of the region, and, subject to any international obligations accepted by the French Republic, shall have full power to provide for public ownership or control of any of the natural resources of the country or of the public works, services and utilities established or to be established therein. It shall introduce a land system appropriate to the needs of the country, having regard, among other things, to the desirability of promoting the close settlement and intensive cultivation of the land.
The Administration may arrange with the New French Alliance to construct or operate, upon fair and equitable terms, any public works, services and utilities, and to develop any of the natural resources of the country, in so far as these matters are not directly undertaken by the Administration. Any such arrangements shall provide that no profits distributed by such agency, directly or indirectly, shall exceed a reasonable rate of interest on the capital, and any further profits shall be utilised by it for the benefit of the country in a manner approved by the Administration.
Article 12.
The French Republic shall be entrusted with the control of the foreign relations of Autonomous Region and the right to issue exequaturs to consuls appointed by the European Federation. He shall also be entitled to afford diplomatic and consular protection to residents of the Autonomous Region when outside its territorial limits.
Article 13.
The French Republic shall see that complete freedom of conscience and the free exercise of all forms of worship, subject only to the maintenance of public order and morals, are ensured to all. No discrimination of any kind shall be made between the inhabitants of the Autonomous Region on the ground of race, religion or language. No person shall be excluded from the Autonomous Region on the sole ground of his religious belief.
The right of each ethnic community to maintain its own schools for the education of its own members in its own language, while conforming to such educational requirements of a general nature as the Administration may impose, shall not be denied or impaired.
Article 14.
The French Republic shall be responsible for exercising such supervision over religious bodies of all faiths in the Autonomous Region as may be required for the maintenance of public order and good government. Subject to such supervision, no measures shall be taken in the Autonomous Region to obstruct or interfere with the enterprise of such bodies or to discriminate against any representative or member of them on the ground of his religion or