CHAPTEE II

FROM THE RATIFICATION OF THE TREATY OPVERSAILLES TO THE SECOND ULTIMATUM OP LONDON

I. The Execution of the Treaty and the Plebiscites

The Treaty of Versailles was ratified on January 10,1920, and except in the plebiscite areas its territorialprovisions came into force on that date. The Slesvig plebiscite (February and March 1920) awarded thenorth to Denmark and the south to Germany , ineach case by a decisive majority. The East Prussian plebiscite (July 1920) showed an overwhelmingvote for Germany. The Upper Silesian plebiscite(March 1921) yielded a majority of nearly two toone in favour of Germany for the province as a whole, 1but a majority for Poland in certain areas of the southand east. On the basis of this vote, and havingregard to the industrial unity of certain disputed

1 More exactly, out of 1,220,000 entitled to vote and 1,186,000 actualvoters, 707,000 votes or seven-elevenths were cast for Germany, and 479,000votes or four-elevenths for Poland. Out of 1522 communes, 844 showed amajority for Germany and 678 for Poland. The Polish voters were mainlyrural, as is shown by the fact that in 36 towns Germany polled 267,000 votesagainst 70,000 for Poland, and in the country 440,000 votes against 409,000for Poland.

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