Cover note and the text of Hitler's decree on Bohemia and Moravia (Czechoslovakia), establishing the protectorate within the Reich, German citizenship for those of "German race," and the governmental and administrative system for the protectorate

Sir N. Henderson to Viscount Halifax. No. 102. Saving (Telegraphic) En clair. MY telegram No. 120
(Received March 18)
Berlin, March 16 1939.
Following is the text of a decree, dated 16th March, issued by , Herr Hitler regulating the status of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia:—
For ten centuries the Bohemian-Moravian lands belonged to the living space of the German people. Force and lack of understanding arbitrarily tore them from their old historical surroundings and finally created a source of permanent unrest by incorporating them within the artificial edifice of Czecho-Slo-vakia. From year to year the danger that a new, appalling menace to European peace would emanate, as had happened once before in the past, from this living space, increased. For the Czecho-Slovak State, and those in potver there, had not succeeded in properly organizing the existence side by side of the national groups arbitrarily united within its boundaries and had thereby failed to awaken the interest of all concerned in the maintenance of their common State. It has thereby proved its inmost incapacity to exist and has for this reason now also fallen into actual dissolution.
The German Reich, however, cannot tolerate permanent disturbances in these territories that are so all-important to its own peace and security and also so important to the general well-being and universal peace. Sooner or later the Reich, as the Power most interested and affected, by history and geographical position, would have to suffer the most serious consequences. Selfpreservation, therefore, requires that the German Reich should be determined to intervene decisively in favour of the restoration of a basis for a reasonable Central European order and should take the requisite measures. For it has already proved in the course of its historical past of a thousand years that it alone, thanks to its greatness and to the qualities of the German people, can be called upon to solve these tasks.
Filled with the earnest desire to serve the true interests of the peoples domiciled in this living space, to guarantee the individual national life of the German and of the Czech peoples, to benefit peace and the social welfare of all, I therefore decree the following, in the name of the German Reich, as the basis for the future existence in common of the inhabitants of these territories :—
Article I
1. The territories which formed part of the former Czechoslovak Republic and which were occupied by German troops in March 1939 belong henceforth to the territory of the German Reich and come under the latter's protection as the "Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia."
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2. In so far as the defense of the Reich demands, the Leader and Chancellor shall take measures differing from the above in respect of individual parts of these areas.
Article II
Inhabitants of the protectorate of German race shall become German nationals and German citizens in accordance with the provisions of the Reich Citizenship Law of the 15th September, 1935 (Reichsgesetzblatt I, Ts 1146). The provisions with regard to safeguarding German blood and German honour shall therefore also apply to them. They shall be subject to German jurisdiction.
2. The remaining inhabitants of Bohemia and Moravia shall be nationals of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.
Article III
1. The Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia is autonomous and self-administering.
2. It shall exercise its sovereign rights within the scope of the protectorate in consonance with the political, military and economic importance of the Reich.
3. These sovereign rights shall be represented by its own organs, authorities and officials.
Article IV 1
The head of the autonomous administration of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia shall enjoy the guard and honours of the head of a State. The head of the protectorate must possess, in order to exercise his functions, the confidence of the Leader and Chancellor of the Reich.
. Article V
1. As trustee of Reich interests the Leader and Chancellor of the Reich shall nominate a "Reich Protector in Bohemia and Moravia." His seat of office will be Prague;
2. The Reich Protector, as representative of the Leader and Chancellor of the Reich and as Commissioner of the Reich Government, is charged with duty of seeing to the observance of the political principles laid down by the Leader and Chancellor of the Reich.
3. The members of the Government of the protectorate shall
be confirmed by the Reich Protector. The confirmation may be withdrawn. .
4. The Reich Protector is entitled to inform himself of all measures taken by the Government of the protectorate and to give advice. He can object to measures calculated to harm the Reich and, in case of danger, issue ordinances required for the common interest.
5. The promulgation of laws, ordinances and other legal announcements and the execution of administrative measures and legal judgments shall be annulled if the Reich Protector enters, an objection.
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Article VI
1. The foreign affairs of the protectorate, especially the protection of its nationals abroad, shall be taken over by the Reich. The Reich will conduct foreign affairs in accordance with the common interest.
2. The protectorate shall have a representative accredited to the Reich Government with the title of a "minister".
Article VII
1. The Reich shall accord military protection to the protectorate.
2. In the exercise of this protection the Reich shall maintain garrisons and-military establishments in the protectorate.
3. For the maintenance of internal security and order the protectorate may form its own organizations. The composition, strength, numbers and arms shall be decided by the Reich Government.
Article VIII
The Reich shall control directly the transport, post and telegraph systems.
Article IX
The protectorate shall belong to the customs area of the Reich and be subject to its customs sovereignty.
Article X
The crown is legal tender, together with the reichsmark, until further notice.
2. The Reich Government shall fix the ratio of one to the other.
Article XI
1. The Reich can issue ordinances valid for the protectorate in so far as the common interest requires.
2. In so far as a common need exists, the Reich may take over branches of administration and create its own Reich authorities therefor as required.
3. The Reich Government may take measures for the maintenance of security and order.
Article XII
The law at present existing in Bohemia and Moravia shall remain in force so long as it does not conflict with the principle of the assumption of protection by the German Reich.
Article XIII
The Reich Minister of the Interior shall issue, in agreement with the other Ministers concerned, the administrative and legal regulations for the execution and amplification of this decree.
Hitler Ribbentrop
Frick Lammers
Prague, March 16.
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