Page:The Constitutions and Other Select Documents Illustrative of the History of France, 1789-1907, Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged.pdf/279

Rh 324. The result of the accounts allowed by the commissioners of the book-keeping is printed and made public.

325. The commissioners, both of the national treasury and of the book-keeping, cannot be suspended or removed except by the legislative body.

But during the adjournment of the legislative body the Executive Directory can provisionally suspend and replace the commissioners of the national treasury to the number of two at most, subject to the reference of it to one or the other council of the legislative body as soon as they have resumed their sittings.

Title XII. Foreign Relations.

326. War can be declared only by a decree of the legislative body upon the formal and urgent proposal of the Executive Directory.

327. The two councils unite in the usual forms upon the decree by which war is declared.

328. In case of imminent or actually begun hostilities, of threats or preparations for war against the French Republic, the Executive Directory is required to employ, for the defence of the state, the means placed at its disposal, subject to giving information thereof without delay to the legislative body. Also, it can indicate in this case the augmentations of force and the new legislative measures which the circumstances may require.

329. The directory alone can maintain political relations abroad, conduct negotiations, distribute the forces of the army and the navy as it deems suitable and determine the direction of them in case of war.

330. It is authorised to make preliminary stipulations such as armistices and neutralizations; it can also arrange secret conventions.

331. The Executive Directory negotiates, signs or causes to be signed all the treaties of peace, alliance, truce, neutrality, commerce and other conventions with foreign powers which it deems necessary for the welfare of the state.

These treaties and conventions are negotiated in the name of the French Republic by the diplomatic agents appointed by the Executive Directory and subject to its instructions.