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Naval History and Heritage Command

Measures for Execution of the Naval Terms of Armistice with Germany

ALLIED NAVAL COUNCIL

No. 249.A.

          EMERGENCY MEETING NOVEMBER 13th, 1918.

Measures for Execution of the Naval Terms of

Armistice with Germany.

                                 

              C O N C L U S I O N S.

                                 

     The following conclusions were reached by the Council:-

1. It was agreed that the Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet1 shall concert and take all the necessary measures for the surrender of the German submarines and for the internment of the specified German surface warships in Neutral or Allied Ports.

It was also agreed that representative ships of the Allies and the United States of America shall be attached to the Grand Fleet to assist in carrying out the measures arranged by the Commander-in-Chief, Grand Fleet.

2. It was decided that Scapa Flow would be the most suitable place for the internment of the specified German surface warships.

3. All German submarines will in the first place proceed to British Ports which will be specified by the Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet.

4. The further disposal of the submarines and surface warships after assembly at the specified Ports will be discussed and decided later.

5. The execution of such Naval Clauses of the Armistice as cannot be carried out directly by the Commander-in-Chief, Grand Fleet, will be supervised by a Commission consisting of Representatives of the British, French and United States Navies.

The Italian Member2 is seeking further instructions from Rome regarding the inclusion of an Italian Representative in this Commission.

6. The preliminary arrangements for the work and procedure of this Commission will be made by the Commander-in-Chief, Grand Fleet, who will acquaint the German Admiral3 of the arrangements proposed after having received from the German Admiral an account of the present state of the German Fleets.

The Commander-in-Chief, Grand Fleet, will issue the necessary instructions with regard to the procedure and work of this Commission.

7. The British Naval Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean4 will concert and take necessary action with regard to Russian warships seized by Germany in the Black Sea, as soon as possible after his arrival at Constantinople.

(Sgd.) J. E. CREASE5  

Secretary.

13th November 1918.

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 520.

Footnote 1: Adm. Sir David Beatty.

Footnote 2: Adm. Paolo Thaon di Revel, Chief of Staff, Italian Navy.

Footnote 3: RAdm. Hugo Meurer, Commander, 4th Battle Squadron, High Seas Fleet. Meurer acted as the representative of Adm. Franz von Hipper, Commander, High Seas Fleet, during negotiations with Beatty regarding the surrender of the High Seas Fleet.

Footnote 4: Adm. Sir Somerset Gough-Calthorpe.

Footnote 5: Cmdr. Thomas E. Crease, Secretary, Allied Naval Council.

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