Overeenkomst nopens Duitse buitenlandse schulden

The Parties to the present Agreement regard the provisions thereof and of the Annexes thereto as reasonable in the light of the general situation of the Federal Republic of Germany and as satisfactory and equitable to the interests concerned. They approve the settlement terms and procedures contained in the said Annexes.

The Federal Republic of Germany will enact such legislation and take such administrative action as may be necessary to give effect to the present Agreement and the Annexes thereto and will modify or repeal such legislation and administrative measures as are inconsistent therewith.

For the purposes of the present Agreement and of Annexes IX and X thereto only, unless the context requires otherwise
(a) “creditor” means a person, other than the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, to whom a debt is owing;
(b) “creditor country” means a country, other than the Federal Republic of Germany, the Government of which becomes a party to the present Agreement and includes any territories to which the present Agreement is extended under Article 37;
(c) “currency option” means a term of a contract under which a creditor has the right to require payment in any one of two or more currencies;
(d) “debt” means a debt as qualified in Article 4;
(e) “fixed,” in relation to the amount of a debt, means established by agreement, by final judgment or order of a court or final decision of an arbitral body, or by operation of law;
(f) “marketable securities” means stocks, shares, bonds and debentures which were issued for public subscription or form part of an issue which is or has been dealt in on a recognised stock market;
(g) “offer of settlement,” as used in relation to a bonded debt, means an offer by the debtor of terms of payment and other conditions which have been established for such debt in accordance with the present Agreement and the Annexes thereto, by negotiation between the debtor and the appropriate creditors' representative, by final judgment or order of a court or final decision of an arbitral body;
(h) “Party to the present Agreement” means any Government as to which the present Agreement has entered into force in accordance with the provisions of Article 35 or Article 36 thereof;
(i) “person” means any natural, collective or juridical person under public or private law, and any Government, including all political subdivisions, corporations under public law, including agencies and instrumentalities thereof and individuals acting on their behalf;
(j) “resides in” or “residing in” means having his ordinary residence in; a juridical person or a partnership shall be deemed to reside in the country under the laws of which it is organised or, if its head office is not in that country, in the country in which its head office is registered;
(k) “settled” in relation to a debt, means that terms of payment and other conditions have been established for such debt in accordance with the provisions of the present Agreement and the Annexes thereto, by agreement between the creditor and debtor, or, in proceedings between the creditor and debtor, by final judgment or order of a court or by final decision of an arbitral body;
(l) “settlement,” in relation to a debt, means the establishment of terms of payment and other conditions in accordance with paragraph (k).

(1). The debts to be settled under the present Agreement and the Annexes thereto are:
(a) non-contractual pecuniary obligations the amount of which was fixed and due before 8th May, 1945;
(b) pecuniary obligations arising out of loan or credit contracts entered into before 8th May, 1945;
(c) pecuniary obligations arising out of contracts other than loan or credit contracts and due before 8th May, 1945;
(2). Provided that such debts:
(a) are covered by Annex I to the present Agreement, or
(b) are owed by a person, whether as principal or otherwise, and whether as original debtor or as successor, who, whenever a proposal for settlement is made by the debtor or a request for settlement is made by the creditor or, where appropriate in the case of a bonded debt, a request for settlement is made by the creditors' representative under the present Agreement and the Annexes thereto, resides in the currency area of the Deutschemark West;
(3). Provided also that such debts:
(a) are owed to the Government of a creditor country; or
(b) are owed to a person who, whenever a proposal for settlement is made by the debtor or a request for settlement is made by the creditor under the present Agreement and the Annexes thereto, resides in or is a national of a creditor country; or
(c) arise out of marketable securities payable in a creditor country.

(1). Consideration of governmental claims against Germany arising out of the first World War shall be deferred until a final general settlement of this matter.
(2). Consideration of claims arising out of the second World War by countries which were at war with or were occupied by Germany during that war, and by nationals of such countries, against the Reich and agencies of the Reich, including costs of German occupation, credits acquired during occupation on clearing accounts and claims against the Reichskreditkassen shall be deferred until the final settlement of the problem of reparation.
(3). Consideration of claims, arising during the second World War, by countries which were not at war with or occupied by Germany during that war, and by nationals of such countries, against the Reich and agencies of the Reich, including credits acquired on clearing accounts, shall be deferred until the settlement of these claims can be considered in conjunction with the settlement of the claims specified in paragraph (2) of this Article (except in so far as they may be settled on the basis of, or in connexion with, agreements which have been signed by the Governments of the French Republic, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America and the Government of any such country).
(4). Claims against Germany of German nationals by countries which were, before 1st September, 1939, incorporated in, or which were, on or after 1st September, 1939, allied to, the Reich, and of nationals of such countries, arising out of obligations undertaken or rights acquired between the date of incorporation (or, in the case of countries allied to the Reich, 1st September, 1939) and 8th May, 1945, shall be dealt with in accordance with the provisions made or to be made in the relevant treaties. To the extent that, under the terms of such treaties, any such debts may be settled, the terms of the present Agreement shall apply.
(5). The settlement of debts owed by the City of Berlin and by public utility enterprises owned or controlled by Berlin, and situated in Berlin, shall be deferred until such time as negotiations on the settlement of these debts are considered by the Governments of the French Republic, the United Kingdom of Great-Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America and by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Senat of Berlin to be practicable.

The Federal Republic of Germany will:
(a) make payments and transfers, in accordance with the provisions of the present Agreement and of the Annexes thereto, on the debts for which it is liable thereunder;
(b) permit the settlement and payment, in accordance with the provisions of the present Agreement and the Annexes thereto, of debts for which any person other than the Federal Republic of Germany is liable, and make provision for the transfer of payments on such debts as are settled, under the provisions of this Agreement and the Annexes thereto.

The Federal Republic of Germany will authorise payment of obligations outstanding at the date of the entry into force of the present Agreement, and authorise transfer within a reasonable time in respect of such obligations where appropriate in the light of the relevant provisions of the present Agreement and the Annexes thereto, provided that such obligations
(a) are non-contractual pecuniary obligations which originated before 8th May, 1945, and the amount of which was not fixed and due before that date, or
(b) are pecuniary obligations which arose out of contracts other than loan or credit contracts and which originated before 8th May, 1945, and became due on or after that day,
and provided that such obligations fulfil the conditions laid down in paragraphs (2) and (3) of Article 4.

The Federal Republic of Germany will not permit, nor will the creditor countries seek from the Federal Republic of Germany, either in the fulfilment of terms of settlement in accordance with the present Agreement and the Annexes thereto or otherwise, any discrimination or preferential treatment among the different categories of debts or as regards the currencies in which debts are to be paid or in any other respect. Differences in the treatment of different categories of debts resulting from settlement in accordance with the provisions of the present Agreement and the Annexes thereto shall not be considered discrimination or preferential treatment.

Transfers of interest and amortisation payments made under the present Agreement shall be treated as payments for current transactions and, where appropriate, provided for in any bilateral or multilateral arrangements relating to trade or payments between the Federal Republic of Germany and the creditor countries.

The Federal Republic of Germany will, until the discharge or extinction of all obligations under the present Agreement and the Annexes thereto, ensure that payments will not be made in respect of obligations which, while covered by paragraphs (1) and (2) of Article 4, are owed to a Government other than that of a creditor country or to any person not residing in or a national of a creditor country and which are or were payable in a non-German currency. This provision does not apply to debts arising from marketable securities payable in a creditor country.

(1). (a) Except as otherwise provided in the Annexes to the present Agreement, debts without a currency option shall be paid in the currency in which they are payable under the terms of the obligation. If such debts are denominated in German currency and, under the provisions of the Annexes to the present Agreement, are to be paid in a non-German currency, they shall be paid in the currency of the country in which the creditor resides.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding sub-paragraph, any payments agreements from time to time in force between the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Government of a creditor country shall apply to debts which, under that sub-paragraph, are to be paid to persons residing in that country in a non-German currency. However, any such payments agreements shall apply to payments on bonded debts payable in a non-German currency other than the currency of the country party to the payments agreement only if the Government of such country agrees that such payments to persons residing in its territory may be made in its own currency.
(2). (a) The question whether payment on debts with a currency option may continue to be required in a currency other than the currency of the country in which the loan was raised or from which credit was advanced shall be determined in a manner to be agreed upon among the Governments of the Federal Republic of Germany and of the countries the currencies of which are concerned.
(b) If a currency option provides for payment of a fixed amount of an alternative currency, the creditor shal be entitled to receive, in the currency of the country in which the loan was raised or from which credit was advanced, the equivalent, at the rate of exchange current on the date payment shall fall due, of such amount of the alternative currency as would have been payable if the option had been exercised.
(c) Payments on debts with a currency option made, prior to the determination provided for in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph, in the currency of the country in which the loan was raised or from which the credit was advanced, shall not be affected by such determination.
(3). The provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Article shall not apply to debts covered by paragraphs 2 and 3 of Annex I to the present Agreement.
(4). Any payments agreements from time to time in force between the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Government of a creditor country shall apply to payments on debts which are subject to the provisions of paragraphs (2) and (3) of this Article provided that these payments are due in the currency of the creditor country.
(5). In the case of debts originating in business transactions of a registered branch office of a creditor, a condition of which was that payment should be made to the country where the branch office is located, such country shall be deemed to be the creditor country within the meaning of this Article.

Interest on short-term credits at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum for the period since the date to which such interest was last paid to the Foreign Bank Creditor or the date of termination of the latest of the previous Agreements applicable thereto (whichever be the later) up to the date of this Agreement shall, at the option of the Foreign Bank Creditor concerned, either
(i) as of the date of this Agreement be added to the principal of the relative short-term credit and form part thereof for the purpose of adherence to and for all other purposes of this Agreement, or
(ii) be postponed and fall due in the relative foreign currency upon the termination of this Agreement, provided however that at any time prior to such termination the Foreign Bank Creditor may be paid pursuant to the provisions of Clause 10 hereof all or any part of such postponed interest in German currency (converted at the official middle rate quoted in the Federal Republic one working day previous to the day on which payment is actually made).
Each Foreign Bank Creditor, upon giving notice to his German Debtor of adherence to this Agreement, shall at the same time notify such Debtor which of the options the Creditor elects to exercise and, if no election is so notified, the Creditor shall be deemed to have elected to exercise option (i).

Rente op kortlopende credieten wordt op de voet van 4 % berekend over de tijd vanaf de dag der laatste betaling van de rente aan de buitenlandse bank-crediteur of vanaf de dag van het aflopen van de laatste der vroegere, hierop van toepassing zijnde overeenkomsten (steeds vanaf de laatste datum) tot aan de dag van de totstandkoming van deze overeenkomst. Naar keuze van de buitenlandse bank-crediteur zullen zij
(i) hetzij vanaf het tijdstip van de totstandkoming van deze overeenkomst toegevoegd worden aan de hoofdsom van het desbetreffende kortlopende crediet en zullen dan met betrekking tot het toetreden tot deze overeenkomst en met betrekking tot alle andere doeleinden van deze overeenkomst een deel vormen van het kortlopende crediet,
(ii) of worden uitgesteld en in de desbetreffende buitenlandse valuta vervallen bij de beëindiging van deze overeenkomst, onverminderd echter dat te allen tijde vóór die beëindiging aan de buitenlandse bank-crediteur, overeenkomstig artikel 10 van deze overeenkomst, het totaal der uitgestelde rente of een gedeelte daarvan in Duitse mark betaald kan worden (omgerekend tegen de officiële middenkoers geldend in de Bondsrepubliek één werkdag voor die der betaling).
Iedere buitenlandse bank-crediteur moet gelijktijdig met het toezenden van zijn verklaring van toetreding aan zijn Duitse debiteur mededelen, welke van deze opties hij wenst toe te passen; indien dit niet geschiedt, zal de crediteur geacht worden van zijn optierecht (i) gebruik te hebben gemaakt.

In the settlement and discharge of any debt denominated in a non-German currency on a gold basis or with a gold clause, the amount to be paid shall, except as specifically provided otherwise in the Annexes to the present Agreement, be computed as below:
(a) The amount to be paid on a debt which, under the terms of the obligation existing at the time of the settlement, is denominated or payable in United States dollars or Swiss francs on a gold basis or with a gold clause, shall be determined without regard to such gold basis or gold clause. Any new contract entered into by the creditor and the debtor respecting such debt shall be denominated in United States dollars or in Swiss francs without reference to the value in terms of gold of such currency and shall not contain a gold clause.
(b) The amount to be paid on a debt which, under the terms of the obligation existing at the time of the settlement, is denominated or payable in any other non-German currency on a gold basis or with a gold clause, shall be determined as follows: (i) the equivalent in United States dollars of the nominal amount due shall be calculated at the rate of exchange on the date when the obligation was contracted or, in the case of a bonded debt, when the bonds were issued;
(ii) the dollar figure so calculated shall be converted into the currency in which the obligation is to be paid in accordance with Article 11 at the rate of exchange between the United States dollar and such currency on the date when the amount payable is due, except that if such rate of exchange is less favourable for the creditor than the rate of exchange between the United States dollar and such currency on 1st August, 1952, the conversion shall be made on the basis of the rate of exchange on 1st August, 1952.
(i) the equivalent in United States dollars of the nominal amount due shall be calculated at the rate of exchange on the date when the obligation was contracted or, in the case of a bonded debt, when the bonds were issued;
(ii) the dollar figure so calculated shall be converted into the currency in which the obligation is to be paid in accordance with Article 11 at the rate of exchange between the United States dollar and such currency on the date when the amount payable is due, except that if such rate of exchange is less favourable for the creditor than the rate of exchange between the United States dollar and such currency on 1st August, 1952, the conversion shall be made on the basis of the rate of exchange on 1st August, 1952.

Wherever it is provided in the present Agreement and the Annexes thereto that an amount shall be calculated on the basis of a rate of exchange, such rate shall, except in the cases provided for in Annex III and in Article 8 of Annex IV of the present Agreement; be
(a) determined by the par values of the currencies concerned in force on the appropriate date as agreed with the International Monetary Fund under Article IV, Section 1, of the Articles of Agreement of the International Monetary Fund; or
(b) if no such par values are or were in force on the appropriate date, the rate of exchange agreed for current payments in a bilateral payments agreement between the Governments concerned or their monetary authorities; or
(c) if neither par values nor rates in bilateral payments agreements are or were in force on the appropriate date, the middle rate of exchange generally applicable for transactions ruling for cable transfers in the currency of the country in which payment is to be made in the principal exchange market of the other country on that date, or on the last date before that date on which such rate was ruling; or
(d) if there is or was no rate of exchange as specified under (a), (b) or (c) at the appropriate date, the cross-rate of exchange resulting from the middle rates of exchange ruling for the currencies in question in the principal exchange market of a third country dealing in those currencies on that date or the last date before the said date upon which such rates were ruling.

(1). The Federal Republic of Germany will take similar action to that provided for in paragraph 6 of Annex I to the present Agreement with respect to any Reichsmark debts for which it has assumed or may assume liability and which are not covered by that paragraph.
(2). In application of the principle of national treatment, the Federal Republic of Germany will further ensure that debts arising from Reichsmark bonds, which are not Goldmark debts with a specific foreign character, and which were owed on 21st June, 1948, to persons who on that date were nationals of or residents in a creditor country, and payment on which under legislation in the currency area of the Deutschemark West can be enforced only for a proportionate part, will be met in the same manner as similar liabilities towards persons residing in the currency area of the Deutschemark West.
(3). In the settlement of other debts payable in German currency and owed to nationals of creditor countries residing in the currency area of the Deutschemark West, the terms shall be not less favourable than those accorded to similar liabilities owed to any other persons residing in the said area.

(1). Only such creditors shall be entitled to benefit under any provision of the present Agreement and the Annexes thereto, including payment thereunder, as, in the case of bonded debts for which an offer of settlement is the appropriate procedure, accept the offer, or, in the case of other debts, assent to the establishment in accordance with such provisions of terms of payment and other conditions in respect of such debts,
(2). (a) In the case of bonded debts for which an offer of settlement is the appropriate procedure, the acceptance of the offer of settlement, within the meaning of paragraph (1) of this Article, shall be effected by submitting the old bonds or coupons (i) for exchange, if new bonds or coupons are issued, or
(ii) for enfacement, if the settlement terms are to be enfaced on the old bonds or coupons.
(i) for exchange, if new bonds or coupons are issued, or
(ii) for enfacement, if the settlement terms are to be enfaced on the old bonds or coupons.
(b) The holder of a bond covered by Annex II of the present Agreement, in respect of which an offer of settlement is made, shall have a period of at least five years from the date when such offer is made to accept such offer. The debtor shall extend this period for a reasonable cause.
(3). In the case of debts, other than those referred to in paragraph (2) (a) of this Article, the assent of the creditor to the establishment of terms of payment and other conditions within the meaning of paragraph (1) of this Article shall, where no definite requirement is laid down in any Annex to the present Agreement, be considered as effected if the creditor clearly indicates his assent in any manner.
(4). A debtor shall be subject to the application of the procedures for settlement prescribed in the present Agreement and the relevant Annexes thereto in respect of a debt only when he has made a proposal for settlement, a notification of adherence or a declaration of participation in respect of such debt under the provisions of the relevant Annex to the present Agreement. Nothing in this paragraph shall, however, be deemed to affect the provisions of Article 17 of the present Agreement.
(5). In giving effect to the provisions of Article 2 of the present Agreement, the Federal Republic of Germany shall be entitled to take into account the provisions of the foregoing paragraphs of this Article.

Whenever a debtor has discharged his debt as settled under the terms of the present Agreement and the Annexes thereto, he shall be deemed to have thereby also discharged all his obligations in respect of such debt as it existed before the settlement, unless such obligations have been previously extinguished by agreement.

(1). The Federal Republic of Germany will afford the creditor the right, within the limits of the present Agreement and the Annexes thereto, to enforce through German courts and authorities
(a) his rights with respect to a debt as they exist at the time when action is taken under this Article if the creditor and debtor do not agree on terms of settlement and the creditor declares his assent to the establishment by such courts of terms of payment and other conditions for his debt in accordance with the provisions of the present Agreement and the Annexes thereto;
(b) his rights under the terms of settlement of the debt if the debtor fails to discharge his obligations in accordance with such terms (including such rights as under the provisions of the present Agreement and the Annexes thereto may be exercised by the creditor upon the failure of the debtor to discharge such obligations), except that the creditor shall not be entitled to the transfer in non-German currency of a principal sum which becomes due as a result of such failure sooner than would have been the case if the debtor had not failed to discharge such obligations.
(2). The creditor shall not be afforded the right provided under paragraph (1) of this Article if, under the provisions of the relevant contract or the present Agreement and the Annexes thereto, the dispute is, at the time that the right provided for under paragraph (1) of this Article is sought to be exercised, exclusively cognisable by an arbitral body or by a court in a creditor country. When such exclusive jurisdiction is provided by the terms of the relevant contract, the debtor and creditor may by agreement waive such a provision and the creditor shall, thereupon, be entitled to such right.
3. (a) Irrespective of whether there is reciprocity between the country in which the decision is rendered and the Federal Republic of Germany, the Federal Republic of Germany will afford the creditor the right, subject to the relevant qualifications contained in paragraph (1) and to the provisions of paragraph (4) of this Article, to enforce through German courts and authorities final decisions concerning a debt rendered by courts and arbitral bodies (i) in a creditor country after the entry into force of the present Agreement;
(ii) in a creditor country prior to the entry into force of the present Agreement, if the debtor does not contest the debt as established by such decision.
(i) in a creditor country after the entry into force of the present Agreement;
(ii) in a creditor country prior to the entry into force of the present Agreement, if the debtor does not contest the debt as established by such decision.
(b) A German court, in any other proceeding respecting a debt which has been the subject of a final decision rendered by a court or arbitral body in a creditor country prior to the entry into force of the present Agreement, shall accept as proved the facts upon which such decision was based, unless the debtor introduces evidence to the contrary. In that case the creditor shall be entitled to introduce rebutting evidence including the transcript of evidence in the former proceeding. The amount of a non-contractual pecuniary obligation established by a decision of a German court in a proceeding under this paragraph shall, for the purpose of paragraph (1) (a) of Article 4 of the present Agreement, be deemed to have been fixed at the date of the final decision of the court or arbitral body in a creditor country.
(c) The Federal Republic of Germany will afford the creditor the right, subject to the relevant qualifications contained in paragraph (1) of this Article, to enforce through German courts and authorities final decisions concerning a debt rendered by courts and arbitral bodies within Germany before 8th May, 1945, or within the territory of the currency area of the Deutschemark West after 8th May, 1945.
(4). German courts may refuse to enforce a decision of a foreign court or of an arbitral body (except an arbitral body established under the provisions of the present Agreement and the Annexes thereto) under the provisions of paragraph (3) of this Article in any case in which
(a) the court which gave the decision had no jurisdiction or the jurisdiction of the arbitral body which gave the decision was not based on the agreement of the parties concerned; or
(b) the debtor, in the proceedings in the original court or arbitral body, was not afforded an opportunity to defend the proceedings; or
(c) the enforcement of the decision would be contrary to public policy in the Federal Republic of Germany; provided that the fact that a judgment is not in harmony with the provisions of the present Agreement and the Annexes thereto shall not be deemed to make its enforcement, within the limits of the present Agreement and the Annexes thereto, contrary to public policy within the meaning of this provision.
(5). The Federal Republic of Germany will afford Bondholders' Councils or analogous bodies referred to in Annex I and creditors' representatives referred to in Article VIII of Annex II to the present Agreement the right to have established through German courts and authorities the terms of the offer of settlement in the event of the debtor (other than the Federal Republic of Germany) failing to make a proposal for settlement on his existing bonded debt in accordance with the relevant provisions of Annexes I and II to the present Agreement.
(6). (a) A debtor who fails to make a proposal for settlement under Annex I or II to the present Agreement shall not, in any proceeding in a German court brought under paragraph (1), (3) or (5) of this Article, be entitled to the benefit of the provisions respecting hardship contained in paragraph 7 (1) (e) of Annex I or paragraph 11 of Article V of Annex II to the present Agreement. When establishing the terms of the offer of settlement or the terms of settlement for the debt, the court shall prescribe the earliest date of maturity which, under the provisions of the relevant Annex, may be applied in settling the debt. The court shall in its judgment award to the plaintiff the expenses referred to in paragraph 7 (h) of Annex I to the present Agreement or paragraph 2 of Article X of Annex II to the present Agreement, to be paid by the debtor; such expenses shall be immediately due and payable. The court shall also provide for payment by the debtor of the costs of the proceeding and of all reasonable costs and expenses incurred in such proceeding either by the creditor of a non-bonded debt or by the Bondholders' Council or analogous body, or by the creditors' representative concerned, in the case of a bonded debt.
(b) If a debtor fails to effect adherence in accordance with Clause 22 of Annex III to the present Agreement, the creditor concerned shall, in any proceeding brought under paragraph (1) or (3) of this Article, be entitled to enforce his rights in accordance with the provisions of the said Annex, but, in the case of a debt owed by a German Commercial or Industrial Debtor within the meaning of the said Annex (whose debt is direct to the creditor), only after the expiration of thirty days after the first meeting of the Consultative Committee provided for in Clause 17 of the said Annex. When ordering payment of the debt in accordance with the said Annex, the court shall award to the creditor the costs of the proceeding and all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by him in such proceeding, to be paid by the debtor.
(c) A debtor who fails to make a declaration of participation required under Article 14 of Annex IV to the present Agreement shall not, in any proceeding in a German court brought under paragraph (1) or (3) of this Article, be entitled to the benefit of the provisions respecting hardship contained in Article 11 of that Annex. A failure based solely upon a denial of the existence of the debt shall not deprive the debtor of such benefit; provided, however, that if the Court of Law or Court of Arbitration referred to in Article 15 of Annex IV finds that such debt exists, the debtor shall not be entitled to benefit from such clause if he fails to make the required declaration within thirty days from the date of the service of the final decision of such court. In a proceeding under this sub-paragraph in which the debtor is not entitled to benefit from the hardship clause the court shall order the payment by the debtor of court costs and all reasonable fees of the plaintiff's counsel.
(7). The Federal Republic of Germany will afford the creditor the right, within the limits of the present Agreement and the Annexes thereto, to enforce through German courts and authorities his claims against a person residing in the currency area of the Deutschemark East out of property owned by such person in the currency area of the Deutschemark West if the claims arise out of obligations which meet the requirements of Article 4 of the present Agreement except as to the residence of the debtor. The right to transfer in foreign currency any sums received by the creditor shall be subject to the foreign exchange regulations from time to time in force in the currency area of the Deutschemark West.

(1). No debtor shall be entitled to invoke against the establishment of an offer of settlement or against the settlement of a debt the expiration of a period of prescription or of a preclusive period of limitation for the assertion of any claim respecting such debt, which has not expired before 1st June, 1933, earlier than a date determined by treating the running of such respective periods as suspended from 1st June, 1933, until the expiration of eighteen months from the date on which the present Agreement and the relevant Annex thereto become applicable to such debt.
(2). Without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph (1) of this Article, periods of prescription and preclusive periods of limitation referred to in paragraph (1) which are applicable to the bonded debts specified in Sections A and B of Annex I and to those covered by Annex II to the present Agreement shall not, for the purpose of a settlement, be deemed to have expired before the respective dates on which the offer of settlement made by the debtor ceases to be open for acceptance in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 8 (b) of Annex I and of Article 15 of the present Agreement.
(3). The acceptance of an offer of settlement or an assent to a settlement by the creditor in respect of a debt in accordance with the provisions of Article 15 of the present Agreement shall effect an interruption of periods of prescription and preclusive periods of limitation for the assertion of a claim respecting such debt.
(4). The periods referred to in paragraphs (1), (2) and (3) of this Article shall not include periods for the lodging of an appeal against the decision of a court, arbitral body or an administrative authority, periods covered by Section 12, paragraph 3, of the German Law on Insurance Contracts, or periods provided by the German Laws on the Validation of Bonds.
(5). The above provisions shall apply whether the periods have been established by German or other law, by order of a court, of an arbitral body or of an administrative authority, by contract or other legal act. The Federal Republic of Germany will ensure that they are applied in German courts even though the obligation is one which, as to its content, is governed by foreign law.

(1). Agreements resulting from the negotiations provided for in
(a) Paragraph 11 of Annex I to the present Agreement (Graeco-German Mixed Arbitral Tribunal Claims);
(b) Paragraph 15 of Annex I to the present Agreement (Liability in respect of Austrian Governmental Debts);
(c) Article 10 of Annex IV to the present Agreement (Payments into the Deutsche Verrechnungskasse);
(d) Sub-Annex to Annex IV to the present Agreement (Swiss Franc Land Charges);
shall be submitted by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany (after its approval, where appropriate) for the approval of the Governments of the French Republic, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America.
(2). Each such agreement shall enter into force, and shall be treated for all purposes as an Annex to the present Agreement, when it is approved by these Governments. A notification to this effect shall be communicated to all the Parties to the present Agreement by the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Payments in respect of debts of the Reich or of an agency of the Reich arising out of unpaid contributions or services rendered under the terms of multilateral international agreements or of the statutes of an international organisation are not prohibited by the terms of the present Agreement. The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany will, at the request of the interested creditors, enter into direct negotiations with regard to these debts.

Annex III to the present Agreement shall be treated as including any agreement or agreements which may be entered into after the date of the present Agreement for the purpose of renewing the agreement contained in that Annex, Any such agreement may contain modifications of the provisions of Annex III but shall be designed to establish means for the restoration of normal conditions for financing the foreign trade of the Federal Republic of Germany in accordance with the general purposes of the present Agreement.

(1). The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany will enter into negotiations with the Governments of the creditor countries concerned, with a view to the settlement of social insurance claims arising under the German laws and regulations in force prior to 8th May, 1945, in respect of any period prior to 8th May, 1945, in so far as such claims are to be considered, under the legislation of, or in accordance with undertakings given by, the Federal Republic of Germany, as its liabilities or as liabilities of social insurance institutions in the Federal territory and have not already been dealt with in an agreement with the Government of the creditor country concerned. Nothing in this paragraph is to prevent the inclusion in such agreements of provisions to the effect that any laws or regulations in force in the Federal Republic of Germany with respect to social insurance, which provide for less favourable treatment for the nationals of other countries than for German nationals, shall not be applied.
(2). The Federal Republic of Germany will provide for the settlement of, and for the transfer in respect of, claims referred to in the preceding paragraph but not covered by agreements with Governments of creditor countries, provided such claims are due to persons who are nationals of, or reside in, a creditor country from which payments on similar claims are transferable to persons who are nationals of, or reside in, the Federal Republic of Germany. Any laws or regulations in force in the Federal Republic of Germany with respect to social insurance, which provide for less favourable treatment for the nationals of other countries than for German nationals, shall not be applied if the creditor country concerned does not discriminate in respect of social insurance payments between its nationals and German nationals or between persons residing in that country and persons residing in the Federal Republic of Germany.
(3). Claims referred to in paragraph (1) of this Article arising from social insurance services which are due to persons who are nationals of, or reside in, a creditor country and are not settled under paragraph (1) or in accordance with paragraph (2) of this Article shall be settled pursuant to the provisions of Article 28 of Annex IV to the present Agreement.

(1). Where, in bilateral arrangements concluded in implementation of Article 30, paragraph (1) of Annex IV to the present Agreement, provision is made for the transfer of payments or for payment in Deutschemarks of debts arising out of insurance or reinsurance contracts or agreements of any kind, or in connexion with such contracts or agreements, such provision shall be consistent with the provisions governing the settlement of other types of debts.
(2). Where no bilateral arrangements have been concluded by 30th June, 1953, debts arising out of insurance and reinsurance contracts shall be settled pursuant to the provisions of Article 30, paragraph (2), and Article 31 respectively of Annex IV to the present Agreement. The time-limit of 30th June, 1953, may by mutual agreement be extended. The most favourable terms contained in any of the bilateral arrangements concluded under paragraph (1) of this Article for the transfer of payments or for payment in Deutschemarks of any category of debt shall be applicable to debts in the same category owed to creditors resident in countries with which bilateral arrangements will not have been concluded.

(1). Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) (b) of Article 4 and of paragraph (5) of Article 5, the present Agreement shall apply to Berlin which shall, within the limits of its jurisdiction, implement undertakings corresponding to those of the Federal Republic of Germany under the present Agreement and the Annexes thereto.
(2). The present Agreement shall enter into force as to Berlin, on or after its entry into force in accordance with paragraph (2) of Article 35, when the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany deposits with the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland a statement that all legal procedures in Berlin necessary for the application of the present Agreement to Berlin have been complied with.

The Parties to the present Agreement will review the present Agreement on the reunification of Germany exclusively for the purpose of
(a) implementing the provisions of the Annexes to the present Agreement regarding adjustments to be made in respect of specific debts upon such reunification, except in so far as such provisions are to become automatically operative upon that event; and
(b) making the provisions of the present Agreement applicable to the debts of persons residing in the area reunited with the Federal Republic of Germany; and
(c) making equitable adjustments in respect of debts in the settlement of which consideration is given to the loss of or inability to use assets located in the area reunited with the Federal Republic of Germany.

Nothing in the present Agreement shall be deemed to affect the validity of any Agreement, respecting the settlement of obligations, entered into by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany before the entry into force of the present Agreement.

In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions of the present Agreement and the provisions of any of the Annexes thereto, the provisions of the Agreement shall prevail.

(1). The Arbitral Tribunal for the Agreement on German External Debts (hereinafter referred to as “the Tribunal”) shall be established for the purposes hereinafter specified. The composition and organisation of the Tribunal and the rules for the exercise of its jurisdiction are contained in the Charter which is appended hereto as Annex IX.
(2). Subject to the provisions of paragraph (5) of this Article, the Tribunal shall have exclusive jurisdiction in all disputes between two or more of the Parties to the present Agreement regarding the interpretation or application of the Agreement, or the Annexes thereto, which the Parties are not able to settle by negotiation, except that any dispute respecting the interpretation or application of Article 34 of the present Agreement shall not be within the jurisdiction of the Tribunal or of any other court or tribunal. In any proceeding before the Tribunal concerning a dispute between Parties to the present Agreement, other than the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, the said Government shall, at the request of any party to the dispute, become a party to such proceeding.
(3). The Tribunal shall have exclusive jurisdiction in proceedings concerning questions of fundamental importance for the interpretation of Annex IV to the present Agreement, referred to in the second paragraph of Article 16 of that Annex, which are submitted to it by any Party to the present Agreement. The provisions of this paragraph shall not affect the jurisdiction of the Mixed Commission as laid down in paragraph (2) of Article 31 of the present Agreement.
(4). The Tribunal shall have exclusive jurisdiction in appeals which are brought under the provisions of paragraph (7) of Article 31 of the present Agreement.
(5). Without prejudice to the provisions of paragraphs (3) and (4) of this Article, the Tribunal shall not have jurisdiction in any dispute which is concerned solely with the interpretation or application of an Annex to the present Agreement if an arbitral body established pursuant to such Annex is competent to decide the question of interpretation or application concerned. The foregoing provision shall not be deemed to limit the jurisdiction of the Tribunal in any dispute as to whether a decision of such an arbitral body is in conflict with any of the provisions of the present Agreement.
(6). Any Party to the present Agreement which is concerned in the subject-matter of a proceeding before the Tribunal shall be entitled to become a party to such proceeding.
(7). The Tribunal shall have power to decide questions as to its jurisdiction under the foregoing provisions of this Article.
(8). A decision of the Tribunal
(a) in a proceeding under paragraph (2) of this Article shall be final and binding upon the parties to the dispute and upon any other Party to the present Agreement which becomes a party to the proceeding;
(b) in a proceeding under paragraph (3) of this Article shall be final and binding upon the party which submitted the question to the Tribunal and upon any other party which becomes a party to the proceeding;
(c) in an appeal under paragraph (4) of this Article shall be final and binding upon the party or parties to such appeal.
(9). The jurisdiction of the Tribunal shall not be affected by the failure of any party to a dispute to enter an appearance in the proceeding before the Tribunal.
(10). Any arbitral body, other than the Tribunal, established under the present Agreement or the Annexes thereto, shall, in reaching decisions respecting the interpretation or application of the present Agreement or the Annexes thereto, be bound by any relevant decision of the Tribunal.
(11). If any Party to the present Agreement so requests, the Tribunal shall render an advisory opinion regarding the interpretation or application of the present Agreement (except with respect to the interpretation or application of Article 34). Such advisory opinion shall not have binding effect.

(1). Only Bondholders' Councils or analogous bodies, recognised by the Governments of the countries in which they are organised as representing the bondholders of such countries (hereinafter referred to as “creditors' representatives”), on the one hand, and debtors, on the other hand, shall be entitled to be parties to proceedings before a Court of Arbitration provided for the decision of disputes falling under Section 7 (1) (g) of Annex 1 to the present Agreement.
(2). A Court of Arbitration described in the preceding paragraph shall, except as otherwise agreed between the parties, consist of three members appointed as follows:
(a) one member to be appointed by the debtor;
(b) one member to be appointed by the creditors' representative concerned and, if more than one, by such creditors' representatives jointly;
(c) a third member, to act as Chairman, to be chosen by the arbitrators appointed in accordance with sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of this paragraph. The Chairman shall be neither a German national nor a national of a country in which a creditors' representative, party to the proceeding, is organised.
(3). Within ninety days of the date on which one of the parties to the proceeding notifies the other party of the appointment of its arbitrator, such other party shall appoint its arbitrator. If such other party fails to appoint its arbitrator within the time prescribed, such arbitrator shall, upon the application of the party which has given notice as aforesaid, be appointed by the International Chamber of Commerce.
(4). If the two arbitrators fail, within thirty days of the date of the appointment of the arbitrator last appointed, to agree upon a Chairman, he shall, at the request of either of the two arbitrators, be appointed by the International Chamber of Commerce. The qualification as to nationality provided in paragraph (2) (c) of this Article shall apply to such appointment.
(5). In the event of any vacancy caused by the death, illness, withdrawal or failure of a member of a Court of Arbitration to carry out his duties, such vacancy shall be filled, in the same manner as the original appointment, within thirty days of the occurrence of such vacancy.
(6). A Court of Arbitration shall determine its own rules of procedure. In the absence of such determination, or in respect of matters not covered by such determination, the Arbitration Code of the International Chamber of Commerce shall apply.
(7). The decision of a Court of Arbitration as to the conversion which is the subject of the arbitration proceeding shall be binding on the parties to the proceeding as to the terms of the offer of settlement and the creditors' representative shall recommend to the bondholders the acceptance of the offer, provided that such offer meets the other requirements laid down in Annex I to the present Agreement.

(1). The Arbitration and Mediation Committee established pursuant to Article IX of Annex II to the present Agreement shall serve notice upon the trustee of a bonded debt to which the said Annex applies of any proceeding concerning the settlement of such debt which is pending before it. The trustee may, within twenty days after the service of such notice, become a party to such proceeding.
(2). In order to assist the trustee of a bonded debt in the discharge of any responsibilities which such trustee may have to holders of such debt, the debtor, at the time it submits to the creditors' representative any proposed offer of settlement pursuant to Article VII of Annex II to the present Agreement shall likewise submit a copy thereof to the trustee of such debt. The trustee may communicate to the debtor and to the creditors' representative any objection which it may have to the terms of the offer under negotiation, which objection shall be submitted for consideration in such negotiations.
(3). Prior to entering into any definitive agreement with the creditors' representative on the terms of the offer of settlement the debtor shall notify the trustee in writing of the terms of such offer of settlement. Within ten days after receipt of such notice the trustee shall have the right to refer to the Arbitration and Mediation Committee any objection which such trustee may have to the terms of the offer of settlement regarding any matter in respect of which, under the terms of the existing indenture, the trustee shall determine, in the exercise of its discretion, that it has responsibility to holders of such bonded debt. The Arbitration and Mediation Committee shall serve notice upon the creditors' representative and the debtor of the institution of such proceeding. The creditors' representative and the debtor may also become parties to the proceeding by entering an appearance within twenty days after the service of such notice. The jurisdiction of the Arbitration and Mediation Committee with respect to such proceeding shall not be affected by the failure of the creditors' representative or of the debtor to enter an appearance in such proceeding. If there is no reference to arbitration within the ten-day period provided for above, the debtor may enter into the proposed agreement with the creditors' representative.
(4). A decision of the Arbitration and Mediation Committee in a proceeding pursuant to paragraph (3) of this Article shall be binding upon the creditors' representative and the debtor to the same extent as is provided in the second sub-paragraph of paragraph 1 of Article IX of Annex II to the present Agreement. In any proceeding to which a trustee becomes a party pursuant to paragraph (1) or (3) of this Article, such trustee shall have the same rights as any other party thereto.

(1). The composition and organisation of the Mixed Commission provided for in Article 16 of Annex IV to the present Agreement and the rules for the exercise of its jurisdiction are contained in the Charter which is appended hereto as Annex X.
(2). The Mixed Commission shall have jurisdiction in
(a) differences between a creditor and a debtor as to the interpretation of Annex IV to the present Agreement, referred to it either by a creditor and a debtor jointly, or by a creditor or a debtor whose Government states that in its opinion the question at issue is of general importance for the interpretation of the said Annex;
(b) cases referred to it under Article 16 of Annex IV to the present Agreement from a Court of Arbitration established pursuant to Article 17 of that Annex, by a Party to the present Agreement or by the said Court of Arbitration, on the ground that such cases are of fundamental importance to the interpretation of Annex IV, provided that in any case before the said Court of Arbitration which is an appeal under Article 11 of Annex IV, only the question in such case which is of fundamental importance to the interpretation of that Annex shall be referred to the Mixed Commission for decision.
(3). Any Party to the present Agreement which is concerned in the subject-matter of a proceeding before the Mixed Commission shall be entitled to become a party to such proceeding.
(4). The jurisdiction of the Mixed Commission shall not be affected by the failure of any party to a dispute to enter an appearance in the proceeding before the Mixed Commission.
(5). The Mixed Commission shall have power to decide questions as to its jurisdiction under the foregoing provisions of this Article.
(6). Subject to the provisions of paragraph (7) of this Article a decision of the Mixed Commission shall be final and binding
(a) upon the parties to any proceeding before it;
(b) upon any party to a dispute referred to the Mixed Commission under paragraph (2) (a) of this Article;
(c) upon a Party to the present Agreement which submits a case or question for decision under paragraph (2) (b) of this Article;
(d) upon a Court of Arbitration by or from which a question is referred under paragraph (2) (b) of this Article;
(e) if a term of settlement of a debt was the subject of the proceeding, in respect of such term of settlement.
(7). A Party to the present Agreement shall be entitled to appeal from a decision of the Mixed Commission to the Tribunal within thirty days of the date of the delivery of the decision on the ground that such decision concerns a matter of general or fundamental importance. The appeal shall be brought only with respect to any matter in such decision which is asserted by the appellant to be of general or fundamental importance. When the Tribunal has rendered its decision with respect to any such matter the Mixed Commission shall take any action in connexion with the proceeding giving rise to the appeal which may be necessary to give effect to such decision.

(1). A creditor and a debtor who, pursuant to the fifth paragraph of Article 17 of Annex IV to the present Agreement, have agreed to refer a dispute to a Court of Arbitration shall each appoint an arbitrator within thirty days of the date of such agreement. If there is more than one creditor or more than one debtor the arbitrator shall be appointed by such creditors or debtors jointly. If an arbitrator is not appointed within the above time-limit, the other parties to the dispute shall be entitled to request the International Chamber of Commerce to appoint such arbitrator. The two arbitrators shall, within thirty days from the date of the appointment of the arbitrator last appointed, choose a third arbitrator to act as Chairman. If a Chairman is not chosen within such time, either party may request the International Chamber of Commerce to make the appointment.
(2). (a) A creditor who, pursuant to the second paragraph of Article 11 of Annex IV to the present Agreement, appeals to a Court of Arbitration, shall within thirty days of service of the decision of the German court (i) notify the German Court which rendered the decision of such appeal;
(ii) notify the debtor of the name of the arbitrator he has appointed to sit on the Court of Arbitration.
(i) notify the German Court which rendered the decision of such appeal;
(ii) notify the debtor of the name of the arbitrator he has appointed to sit on the Court of Arbitration.
(b) The receipt of the notice provided in sub-paragraph (a) (i) of this paragraph shall put an end to all proceedings in German courts in respect of the decision, in so far as it relates to the debt which is the subject of the appeal and such decision to this extent shall have no effect.
(c) Within thirty days of the receipt of the notice provided in sub-paragraph (a) (ii) of this paragraph, the debtor shall notify the creditor of the name of the arbitrator he has appointed to sit on the Court of Arbitration. If the debtor does not make such notification within the time prescribed the creditor shall be entitled to request the International Chamber of Commerce to appoint such arbitrator. A third arbitrator, to act as Chairman, shall be chosen in accordance with the procedure provided in paragraph (1) of this Article.
(d) A Court of Arbitration, which is hearing an appeal under the provisions of the second paragraph of Article 11 of Annex IV to the present Agreement, shall (i) sit at a place within the Federal Republic of Germany, unless the parties to the proceedings agree otherwise;
(ii) apply the principles laid down in the first paragraph of Article 11 of Annex IV to the present Agreement;
(iii) conduct such proceedings as a new trial.
(i) sit at a place within the Federal Republic of Germany, unless the parties to the proceedings agree otherwise;
(ii) apply the principles laid down in the first paragraph of Article 11 of Annex IV to the present Agreement;
(iii) conduct such proceedings as a new trial.
(e) If, in the course of any appeal to a Court of Arbitration under the provisions of the second paragraph of Article 11 of Annex IV to the present Agreement, a question is referred to the Mixed Commission under paragraph (2) (b) of Article 31 of the present Agreement, the Court of Arbitration shall forthwith suspend the proceeding in such appeal until the final decision of the Mixed Commission respecting such question has been rendered. When such decision is rendered the Court of Arbitration shall resume the proceeding and shall take any action which may be necessary to give effect to such decision.
(3). A Court of Arbitration shall, in reaching decisions respecting the interpretation of Annex IV to the present Agreement, be bound by any relevant decision of the Mixed Commission.
(4). In the event of any vacancy caused by the death, illness, withdrawal or failure of a member of a Court of Arbitration to carry out his duties, such vacancy shall be filled, in the same manner as the original appointment, within thirty days of the occurrence of such vacancy.
(5). A Court of Arbitration may determine the manner in which the costs of the proceeding, including counsel's fees, are to be borne and, in an appeal under paragraph (2) of this Article, which party shall bear the costs of the proceeding in the German Court or how such costs should be apportioned between the parties. In the absence of such determination each party to the proceeding shall bear its own costs; the costs in the Court of Arbitration and, if applicable, the costs in the German Court, shall be borne as to the one half by the creditor or creditors and as to the other half by the debtor or debtors.
(6). A proceeding pending before a Court of Arbitration may be withdrawn only with the consent of all parties thereto.
(7). Subject to the provisions of this Article and of Article 17 of Annex IV to the present Agreement, a Court of Arbitration shall determine its own rules of procedure. In the absence of such determination, or in respect of matters not covered by such determination, the Arbitration Code of the International Chamber of Commerce shall apply.
(8). The decision of a Court of Arbitration in any proceeding shall be final and binding upon the parties thereto.

Matters of which disposition is specifically made in a plan approved, or an order or regulation issued, by the Allied High Commission or any of its subordinate agencies designated by it to act with respect to such matters, or any agency succeeding to the powers of the Allied High Commission with respect thereto, under Allied High Commission Laws No. 27 (Reorganisation of German Coal and Iron and Steel Industries) and No. 35 (Dispersion of Assets of I.G. Farbenindustrie A.G.) shall not be heard by the Tribunal or by any other arbitral body established under the present Agreement and the Annexes thereto. In any such disposition the creditor and debtor, the Allied authorities and the Board of Review shall apply the provisions of the present Agreement and the Annexes thereto. Before any plan can be approved or any order or regulation issued disposing of any matter which is in dispute by reason of a question of interpretation or application of the provisions of the present Agreement or the Annexes thereto, such dispute shall be referred to and be decided by the Tribunal or other arbitral body which is competent under the present Agreement and the Annexes thereto. The competence of the Tribunal or of any other arbitral body established under the present Agreement or the Annexes thereto with respect to matters which are not specifically disposed of under a plan, order or regulation as aforesaid or which arise by reason of events subsequent to the entry into effect of such plan, order or regulation shall not be affected by the preceding provisions of this Article.

In the interest of the continuing and effectual carrying out of the present Agreement and the Annexes thereto to the satisfaction of all parties concerned, and without derogating from the obligations which the Federal Republic of Germany has assumed
(a) consultations will be held between the Parties to the present Agreement principally concerned, if the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany or the Government of any of the creditor countries holding a substantial share of the debts covered by this Agreement so requests. Any Party to the present Agreement shall have the right to participate in these consultations, and if it participates it may invite representatives of the interested creditors or debtors of its country to attend;
(b) if the consultations are concerned with a situation in which the Federal Republic of Germany finds that it is faced with difficulties in carrying out its external obligations, attention shall be given to all relevant economic, financial and monetary considerations which relate to the ability to transfer of the Federal Republic of Germany, as influenced by both internal and external factors, and which relate to the continuing fulfilment by the Federal Republic of its obligations under the present Agreement and the Annexes thereto and under the Agreements concerning post-war economic assistance. Due regard will be paid to the principles by which the Conference on German External Debts was guided, to the objectives at which it aimed and to the undertaking of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany to do everything in its power to ensure the fulfilment of these obligations. Advice shall, if the principal consulting Parties to the present Agreement so decide, be sought from appropriate international organisations or other independent experts. A request for such advice may be made by the Federal Republic of Germany or by any of the Parties to the present Agreement principally concerned.

(1). Each of the Governments signatory to the present Agreement shall, after having ratified or approved the Agreement in accordance with its constitutional requirements, deposit with the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland an instrument of ratification or a notification that the Agreement has been approved.
(2). The present Agreement shall enter into force immediately upon the deposit by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Governments of the French Republic, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America with the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland of the instrument of ratification or of the notification required under paragraph (1) of this Article. Such entry into force shall be effective as to all Governments signatory to the Agreement which have at that time deposited the required instrument of ratification or notification. The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland shall notify each of the Governments signatory to the Agreement of the date of its entry into force and of the Governments in respect of which it enters into force.
(3). The date of the entry into force of the present Agreement in respect of any signatory Government which deposits the required instrument of ratification or notification after the entry into force of the Agreement under the preceding paragraph shall be the date of such deposit. The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland shall notify the other signatory Governments, and any Government which has acceded to the present Agreement under Article 36, of such deposit and the date thereof.

(1). Any Government which has been invited by the Governments of the French Republic, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America, or by any of them, and by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany to sign the present Agreement may either sign or accede thereto in accordance with the terms of its invitation. Any other Government which may, after the entry into force of the present Agreement, establish diplomatic relations with the Federal Republic of Germany, may accede thereto. Accession shall be accomplished by the deposit of an instrument of accession with the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which shall notify the other signatory and acceding Governments of such deposit and the date thereof.
(2). The present Agreement shall come into force for any acceding Government on the deposit of its instrument of accession, but not before it comes into force in accordance with Article 35.

(1). Any Government may, at the time of its signature or accession or at any time thereafter, declare by notification given to the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland that the present Agreement shall, as from the date specified in such notification, extend to all or any of the territories for whose international relations it is responsible.
(2). The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland shall inform all signatory and acceding Governments of any notification received by it under this Article.

(1). Any Government which deposits an instrument of ratification or a notification of approval or an instrument of accession to the present Agreement other than in accordance with the terms of its invitation or subject to any other reservation or qualification shall not be deemed to be a Party to the Agreement until such reservation or qualification has been withdrawn or has been accepted by all the Parties thereto.
(2). Any notification given under Article 37 subject to a reservation or qualification shall not take effect until such qualification or reservation has been withdrawn or has been accepted by all the Parties to the present Agreement.

This Agreement establishes terms and procedures which are to govern the settlement of the debts described in Article III below. The Agreement does not in itself modify the terms of the debts to which it applies. Rather, it is contemplated that new contracts will be entered into between each debtor and his creditors pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement. The new contracts shall retain the terms of the existing contracts unless modified by arrangements between creditor and debtor within the framework of this Agreement.

Wherever used in this Agreement, the following terms shall, unless the context requires otherwise, have the meanings indicated below:
Original contract - the contract entered into at the time the loan was first made.
Existing contract - the original contract, except in the case of a contract which has been the subject of an effective conversion or conversions, in which case the existing contract is the contract resulting from the last effective conversion.
Effective conversion - a change made in the terms of a loan contract before 9th June, 1933, or made on or after that date on account of the insolvency or threatened insolvency of the debtor or as a result of free negotiation; provided that
(a) in any dispute as to whether or not a change was freely negotiated it shall be presumed that any arrangement made where the German Custodian of Enemy Property represented the creditor, or which resulted from the mere acceptance by the creditor of a unilateral offer made by the debtor, was not freely negotiated;
(b) in any disputed case the burden shall be on the debtor to prove that the conversion was an effective conversion;
(c) in the case of Church loans, any conversion shall be considered effective.
Creditor - includes any creditors' representative designated pursuant to the provisions of Article VIII of this Agreement.
Germany - all territory within the German Reich on 1st January, 1937.
Resident in - having ordinary residence (mit gewöhnlichem Aufenthalt oder Sitz) in; a juridical person shall be deemed to have its ordinary residence in the Federal Republic of Germany or Berlin (West) if it is entered in the Commercial Register in that territory.

1. The present Agreement applies to every bonded loan and to every non-bonded loan issued or raised outside Germany, if
(a) the loan was made prior to 8th May, 1945; and
(b) under the original contract the loan was to run for a period of five years or more; and
(c) the debtor is a corporation, company, association, firm, partnership, bank, church, welfare institution, or other non-governmental institution; and
(d) the debtor is, on 1st January, 1953, or on any later date when his creditors request an offer of settlement, resident in the German Federal Republic or in Berlin (West); and
(e) the loan is denominated in non-German currency, or is denominated in German currency and contains a non-German currency or gold clause.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article, the present Agreement shall not be applicable to
(i) the following categories of debts, which require separate treatment: (a) debts of public utilities located in and controlled by the City of Berlin;
(b) debts owed by a debtor to any person or persons who, directly or indirecty, own such debtor;
(c) debts in respect of loans the original amount of which, converted at the exchange rate prevailing on 1st July, 1952, was less than U.S. $ 40,000;
(d) debts subject to the Swiss-German Agreements of 6th December, 1920, and 25th March, 1923 (the so-called Schweizer Frankengrundschulden);
(a) debts of public utilities located in and controlled by the City of Berlin;
(b) debts owed by a debtor to any person or persons who, directly or indirecty, own such debtor;
(c) debts in respect of loans the original amount of which, converted at the exchange rate prevailing on 1st July, 1952, was less than U.S. $ 40,000;
(d) debts subject to the Swiss-German Agreements of 6th December, 1920, and 25th March, 1923 (the so-called Schweizer Frankengrundschulden);
(ii) the debts of the jointly owned German-Swiss Boundary power plants on the Rhine. There are outstanding three bonded loans and two non-bonded loans which are owed by German companies to Swiss bondholders and other creditors. Owing to certain special features relating to the operation of jointly-owned power plants along the Rhine, the settlement of these debts is bound up with other issues. Considering these circumstances, the final settlement (upon which it is impossible to agree at this time) is left for direct negotiations between Switzerland and the Federal Republic of Germany. However the creditors agree that, in negotiating such a settlement, they will not ask for payment of an annual amount exceeding 5 million Swiss francs in the first five years after 1st January, 1953.
3. No debt shall be excluded solely because a new debtor becomes or has become liable for it, by operation of law or otherwise, either before or after 8th May, 1945. For example, no debt of an enterprise subject to Allied High Commission Law No. 27, “Reorganisation of the German Coal and Iron and Steel Industries,” shall be excluded by virtue of the assumption of such debt by unit or other successor companies.
4. This Agreement shall not apply to individual bonds or coupons which require validation under the German Validation Law of 19th August, 1949, (Wirtschaftsgesetzbl. p. 295), and the German Validation Law for Foreign Bonds of August, 1952, until such bonds or coupons shall have been validated pursuant to the provisions of any such law and of any intergovernmental agreement which may be entered into which the country of issue respecting such law.
5. The problem of the debts of the German Central Bank for Agriculture (Deutsche Rentenbank Kreditanstalt) is complicated by various factors. As a result of the partition of Germany the assets invested in East Germany are presently uncollectable by the Bank, and to that extent the amount of debt covered by this Agreement is reduced by varying amounts as fixed by existing regulations, the percentage being different in each case and ranging from 20 per cent. to 67 per cent. of the outstanding loans. The German representatives stated that the Federal Government do not at present have the power to alter this situation, which results in particular from the relevant regulations under the currency conversion legislation. They do agree that the Federal Government shall do everything in its power to facilitate the settlement of the debts of the Bank and the payment of interest and amortisation as provided under the said Laws and Regulations.
The creditors' representatives reserve the right of the creditors to take such action as may be open to them to rectify what they consider to be a settlement prejudicial to and discriminatory as between different classes of creditors.
It is understood that the Bank retains its liability to the creditors in respect of the indebtedness secured by assets in East Germany and will service that liability as and when those assets become available to it.
There are several other institutions in a similar position where the same principles should be applied.
6. In dealing with the Potash Loan in any plan of settlement under the provisions of this Agreement, there will need to be considered the special features of this loan.

1. The outstanding amount of any debt is the unpaid principal and all unpaid interest due up to 1st January, 1953, such interest to be computed as simple interest at the rate established in the existing contract, regardless of whether the debt has matured before that date and regardless of the effect of any default under the existing contract prior to that date.
2. An amount is unpaid within the meaning of paragraph 1 of this Article if it has not been received and accepted expressly or implicitly by the creditor. Acceptance by the creditor of funding bonds, scrip or cash from the Konversionskasse constitutes payment of any debt, or of any part of a debt, in respect of which they were accepted.

1. Jurisdiction
In order to forward the settlements between individual debtors and their creditors, an Arbitration and Mediation Committee shall be established. The duty of this Committee shall be to mediate and arbitrate between the debtor and his creditors in the event that they are not able to agree between themselves as to the terms of the offer of settlement to be made. Either party shall have the right to refer a disputed point to the Committee.
The decision of the Committee shall be binding on both parties. The debtor shall be obliged to offer to his creditors the terms set forth in such decision. The creditor shall be obliged to accept such terms (1) See Sub-Annex., or, in the case of a bond issue where the bondholders are represented pursuant to the provisions of Article VIII of this Agreement, the creditors' representative shall be obliged to recommend acceptance of the offer by the bondholders.
Where a creditors' representative has been appointed pursuant to such Article VIII, the rights of the creditors under this Article shall be exercised by such representative.
2. Composition
The Committee shall be composed of four members appointed by the creditors and four members appointed by the debtors. The Committee may elect a further member for any particular case upon request of a majority of its members. The Chairman of the Committee shall be elected from among the creditor members. The first Chairman shall be the United States member. For each member an alternate may be designated. Each member of the Committee including the Chairman shall have one vote.
3. Appointment of Members
The members of the Committee shall be appointed as follows:
(a) The creditor members shall be appointed by organisations designated by the respective Creditor Committees of the United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland and the Netherlands. At the request of the Creditor Committee of a country whose creditors are specially concerned in a particular case, a member appointed by the Creditor Committee in that country shall replace one of these members as his alternate.
(b) The debtor members shall be appointed by the Head of the German Delegation on External Debts.
4. Procedure
The Committee may set up sub-committees for any particular case and may appoint temporary members to sit on such sub-committees.
The manner of submitting disputes, the times and places of hearing, the manner of giving notice of hearings, and all other matters relating to the procedure or administration of the Committee or its sub-committees shall be determined by the Committee.
5. Costs
Members of the Committee and temporary members shall be reimbursed for all travel and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their duties and shall receive in addition remuneration to be established by the Committee for all time spent in connection with the performance of their duties.
All expenses and costs incurred by the Committee or its members or temporary members in a given dispute shall be borne by the particular German debtor involved. In any case, however, where the Committee or the appropriate sub-committee determines that resort to the Committee has not been made in good faith by a creditor or that the appeal is frivolous the costs and expenses shall be borne by such creditor to the extent directed by the Committee or sub-committee.
All other expenses of the Committee and its members, including compensation to the members when engaged in Committee affairs, shall be refunded by the debtors by assessment or otherwise.

1. Principal
There shall be no reduction in the outstanding principal amount.
2. Foreign Currency Debts with Gold Clauses
(a) Gold dollars and gold Swiss francs. In the case of debts expressed in gold dollars or gold Swiss francs, the debts shall be computed on the basis of 1 currency dollar equalling 1 gold dollar and 1 currency Swiss franc equalling 1 gold Swiss franc, and the new contracts shall be expressed in currency dollars or currency Swiss francs respectively.
(b) Other currencies with gold clauses. In the case of other debts with gold clauses (excluding German currency debts with gold clauses - see paragraph 3 below) the amounts due shall be payable only in the currency of the country in which the loan was raised or the issue was made (below referred to as “the currency of issue”), the amount due being computed as the equivalent at the rate of exchange when the amount is due for payment of a sum in U.S. dollars which shall be arrived at by converting the amount of the obligation expressed in the currency of issue into U.S. dollars at the rate of exchange ruling when the loan was raised or the issue made. The amount of currency of issue so reached shall, however, not be less than if it were computed at the rate of exchange current on 1st August, 1952.
3. German Currency Debts with Gold Clauses
(a) The principle is accepted that such financial debts and mortgages, expressed in Gold Marks or in Reichsmarks with a gold clause, as had a specific foreign character shall be converted into Deutsche Mark at the rate of 1 Goldmark, or 1 Reichsmark with a gold clause, = 1 Deutsche Mark.
(b) The definition of the criteria constituting the specific foreign character of the above indebtedness shall be the subject of further negotiation(1) See now Annex VII.. Both sides reserve their position as to the question in which cases and in which way the above principle can be implemented. It shall lie with the German Delegation to decide how the solution arrived at can be fitted into the framework of the German laws on currency reform and on the equalisation of war and post-war burdens.
(c) The above-mentioned negotiation between a German delegation and creditor delegates shall take place not later than 31st October, 1952.
4. Arrears of Interest
Subject to the provisions of paragraph 6 below, two-thirds of the unpaid interest to 1st January, 1953, shall be funded and one-third waived. Such funded interest together with the unpaid principal shall constitute the new principal amount.
5. Future Rate of Interest
Subject to the provisions of paragraph 6 below, interest shall run from 1st January, 1953, irrespective of the date when the new contract is entered into pursuant to this Agreement, at 75 per cent. of the rate of interest provided for in the existing contract. Such new current rate of interest, however, shall not exceed 5¼ per cent. on bonded debts and 6 per cent. on non-bonded indebtedness, nor shall it be below 4 per cent., except that in cases where the interest rate provided for in the existing contract is below 4 per cent. the rate provided for in the existing contract shall be paid.
6. Interest Rate in Cases where there has been an Effective Conversion
In the case of any debt which has been the subject of an effective conversion the debtor shall elect either
(a) to fund all unpaid interest outstanding under the existing contract to 1st January, 1953, and to pay interest from that date at the full rate provided in the existing contract, or
(b) to fund unpaid interest and to pay future interest as though the original contract were still in force and paragraphs 4 and 5 of this Article were applicable.
7. Payment of Interest
Interest for the period beginning 1st January, 1953, shall be payable at least semi-annually. Appropriate adjustment shall be made in any case where the new contract is not entered into until after 1st January, 1954, if the debtor cannot reasonably be expected to pay at once all interest due in respect of the period between 1st January, 1953, and the date the new contract is entered into.
8. Amortisation Payments
(a) Amortisation shall be paid annually from 1958 to 1962 at an annual rate of 1 per cent. of the new principal amount and thereafter until the maturity date at an equal rate of 2 per cent. of such new principal amount. Amortisation payments for each year after 1958 shall be increased by the amount of one year's interest on all debt retired by means of the amortisation payments for previous years excluding, however, debt retired by means of payments made pursuant to sub-paragraph (d) below.
(b) Amortisation payments shall be made on the first interest payment date in any given year. If the first interest payment date in 1958 does not fall on 1st January, the first amortisation payment shall be calculated for the period from 1st January, 1957, to such interest payment date, and the same principle shall apply when the annual rate of 2 per cent. comes into operation.
(c) All such amortisation shall be applied to the reduction of the new principal amount. In the case of bond issues the amortisation payments shall be applied to the retirement of bonds through call by lot at the par or face value unless otherwise agreed between the debtor and his creditors.
(d) As long as the service is maintained in accordance with the new contract, additional amortisation may be made by the debtor in any manner, including acquisition of bonds whether in the open market or otherwise.
9. Maturity
The new contract shall establish a maturity date not less than 10 years nor more than 25 years from 1st January, 1953. The new maturity date must be agreed upon between the debtor and his creditors. The debtor should offer the earliest maturity date, within the above limits, which is practicable in view of his particular circumstances.
It is comtemplated that maturities of 10 to 15 years, or in exceptional cases up to 20 years, should be accorded to industrial debtors, banks and churches; public utilities and basic industries, however, may extend their maturities to 20 years, but not in excess of 25 years in any case; and in the case of non-bonded debt the normal maturity shall be 10 years.
10. Repayment of Small Amounts of Indebtedness
Wherever the outstanding amount of a debt is very small or is small compared to the amount of the original loan, agreements may be entered into for an earlier repayment and final disposition of the entire amount of such indebtedness and arrears of interest without regard to the provisions of paragraphs 8 and 9 of this Article.
11. Hardship Cases
Wherever owing to extraordinary circumstances, including but not limited to a loss of assets in Germany outside the Federal Republic of Germany and Berlin (West), affecting the financial position of a debtor, it becomes impossible or impracticable for him to make an offer for a new contract on the terms specified in this Agreement, agreements between the debtor and his creditors making such adjustments as may be deemed necessary in the light of the particular circumstances shall not be precluded.
12. Security
Subject to other applicable provisions of law, the provisions of the existing contract for liens and collateral and any other type of security for the protection of creditors shall remain in force, but in so far as the security provided under the existing contract no longer corresponds in its nature or extent with the new principal amount of the debt or no longer corresponds with the circumstances prevailing at the time the new contract is entered into, the debtor may propose a change in the nature or extent of the security. The security proposed by the debtor shall, however, be fully adequate and must be acceptable to the creditor.
To the extent that the security has been impaired or substantially altered the debtor shall make such readjustments as are necessary to provide his creditors with at least the degree of protection originally afforded.
The creditor may demand, and his debtor shall provide, reasonable security or other protective provisions acceptable to the creditor.
13. Reserves and Sinking Funds
Because the amortisation payments are only to commence in 1958 and then at the relatively low rate of 1 per cent., and in 1963 increase to only 2 per cent., the debtor shall pursue a policy of assuring a sufficiently strong liquid financial position in order to meet his obligations at maturity. Therefore, additional provisions should be discussed between creditors and debtors which may provide for the establishment of reserves or sinking funds for the debts under which an annual amount, calculated either as a percentage of the net earnings prior to dividend payments or otherwise as may be agreed, shall be set aside.
14. Provision of Foreign Exchange
The debtor shall make the arrangements required under German law for the provision of the necessary foreign exchange to discharge all obligations under the new contract.
15. Default of the Debtor
In the event of default, in addition to any penalties for default provided in the new contract, the creditor shall be entitled, for the period of the default, to receive interest at the rate provided in the existing contract.
16. Modification of Terms
Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent any debtor from obtaining, with the consent of his creditors, terms more favourable to the debtor than those specified in this Agreement.
17. Concessions for Benefit of Debtors
The creditors consider that the concessions made by them under this Agreement should accrue to the benefit of the debtors.

1. Repayment in German Currency
Any debtor may arrange at the request of any of his creditors for repayment of a debt or part thereof in German currency.
2. Change of Creditor
Apart from the case of bonds, the creditor may assign to some other person ordinarily resident outside the Federal Republic of Germany and Berlin (West) his claim or a substantial part thereof provided that the assignment
(a) is made to a resident in the same currency area,
(b) does not entail any modification of the conditions underlying the claim,
(c) does not result indirectly or directly in settlement of the claim.
3. Change of Debtor
The German Foreign Exchange Control Authorities will favourably consider applications for the taking over of an existing debt by a new German debtor, and for the replacement of existing pledged security by a new security.

1. The provisions of and the technical details relating to the new contracts to be entered into between creditors and their debtors shall be included in an offer of settlement to be made by the debtor.
2. All proposed agreements, contracts or indentures shall be subject to approval as to form and content by legal counsel for the creditors if they so desire.
3. Each debtor shall, prior to 30th June, 1953, or within six months of his taking up residence in the Federal Republic of Germany or in Berlin (West), prepare and submit to his creditor a detailed offer of settlement. The creditor may request his debtor to enter into negotiations with him regarding any aspect of the offer, and the debtor shall enter into such negotiations.
4. The term creditor, as used in paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article, shall in the case of any bond issue mean the creditors' representative appointed pursuant to Article VIII.
5. In the case of bonded indebtedness, the terms of the settlement may be enfaced on existing bonds or new bonds may be issued in exchange for existing bonds, and new bonds or fractional scrip exchangeable for bonds may be issued for arrears of interest, depending upon the convenience and prevailing custom in the respective markets in which the bonds were issued. Enfaced bonds or new bonds shall conform to prevailing market practice. The debtor, at his own expense, shall employ suitable banking institutions for the purpose of carrying out the settlement and shall meet all requirements of governmental authorities and securities markets in order to ensure marketability.

The Committees and organisations whose delegates participated in the Conference on German External Debts as representatives of the various national groups of creditors affected by this Agreement (such Committees and organisations being hereinafter referred to as “Creditor Committees”) shall, subject to the right of approval of their respective Governments, appoint as creditors' representatives such persons or organisations as may be required to forward and bring about settlements between particular debtors and their creditors pursuant to this Agreement, or may themselves act in such capacity. Not more than one representative or representative organisation shall be appointed in any particular case, except that, where deemed necessary by the Creditor Committees in order to protect fully the rights of the holders of different issues of bonds of a particular debtor, there may be appointed not more than one representative or representative organisation for each such issue. The German debtor is entitled to request the Creditor Committees to appoint representatives. Participation in the Debt Conference shall not bar any person from serving in any capacity in any negotiations entered into pursuant to this Agreement.

1. The debtors affected by this Agreement shall pay all expenses incurred in connection with the Debt Conference or in the general execution of this Agreement by any Creditor Committee.
2. Expenses incurred by the creditors in connection with negotiations between a debtor and his creditors pursuant to Article VII of this Agreement shall be borne by the debtor involved. Such expenses and compensation shall be paid, in the case of non-bonded debt, to the creditors and, in the case of bonded debt, to the creditors' representatives appointed pursuant to Article VIII of this Agreement.
3. The term expenses, as used in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, includes reasonable compensation for services. Any dispute as to the reasonableness of expenses payable under this Article may be referred to the Arbitration and Mediation Committee.
4. Payments provided for in this Article shall not stand in the way of or bar any creditors' representative from making and collecting additional charges from the bondholders or creditors.

No payments may be made, under the terms of any settlement offer made pursuant to this Agreement, prior to the date of entry into force pf the contemplated Intergovernmental Agreement on German External Debts. Nevertheless, the debtors shall proceed expeditiously to prepare and present offers of settlement to their creditors in accordance with the provisions of Article VII of this Agreement, to conduct such negotiations as may be necessary, and otherwise to take all steps to forward the preparation of the new offers contemplated hereunder.