The New York herald., 1921-05-17

Special Cable to THE NEW YORK HERALD
Copyright, 1921, By THE NEW YoRK HEnALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Berlin, May 16.
The agreement between the German
and the Russian Soviet Governments
IS more far reaching than those which
England and Poland entered into with
the Russians recently. Avoiding the
name of treaty to save the face of the
Berlin Foreign Office after the oft re-
peated assertion that Germany would
Russia until reparation was accorded
for the assassination of Count Won
Mirbach, German Ambassador, in Mos
COW in 1918, the Russo-German agree
ment none the less constitutes prac-
tically a resumption Of consular and
of limited diplomatic relations between
the two countries.
The agreement is more far reaching
than the one between the British and
the Russians, In that not only are
means found to carry on port trading
4
can within tine others country acquire
property, carry on trade and approx
mately enjoy such protection as is ac-
corded by international law.
DR.. Walter Simons, German Foreign
Minister, in a speech in the Reichstag
on April %. paved the way for the agree
ment. when he declared that Germany,
increasingly cut off from trade with the
West must turn eastward with redoubled
Efforts. He made distinction between
the Communist party and Soviet Gov
ernment tactics. emphasizing the fact
that the latter was making extensive
concessions In the direction OF recogni-
tion of the rights Of private property and
trade. The agricultural and industrial
rehabilitation OF Russia was only pos
sible with the collaboration of the Ger
mans. DR.. Simons declared.
The German-Sovict agreement is d.
versely interpreted regarding the extent
of the diplomatic and consular recogni-
tion extended the Moscow Government
by Germany. Scheinmann. the Soviet
signatory. declares that Germany recog-
nizes the Soviet Republic as alone repre-
sentative OF the Russian States and tho
rights of Russian citizens. German Of
ficial circles call attention to the fact
that, despite the clause in the agreement
giving the Soviet Government exclu-
sive representation Of the Russian
States. there has not yet been removed
the privilege accorded to the Czarist
Consular Bureau In Berlin relative to
representation of Russian subjects. Ger
man bourgeois circles interpret the
agreement as a recognition of Soviet
Russia's right of representation, but not
exclusive right.
The trade rights accorded citizens of
both countries are OF capital importance.
Soviet citizens enjoy full consular and
legal protection of person and property
in Germany. Germans who go into Rus
sia to trade now enjoy consular protec-
tion and individual protection OF prop
erty imported and acquired after the
conclusion of the agreement. This In
wolves time and other limitations. be-
cause nothing is said In the agreement
concerning German property prior to the
pact, and protection Is only accorded
Germans IN Russia for trade purposes
within that country. Also. a special
protecting letter must be issued in each
instance
The agreement accords Germans in
Russia an exclusive position over the
subjects OF all other countries and priv
ileges in their business dealings far
beyond those accorded even to Soviet
citizens themselves.
Scheinmann is optimistic regarding
the consequences of the agreement.
German exporters can now send their
wares without fear to Soviet Russia and
the Soviet Government can now send
capital and wares to Germany without
fear of their confiscation," he said. This
agreement sufiices for the reestablish-
ment OF normal trade relations between
Germany and Soviet Russia and can
later serve as a basis for a farreaching
commercial treaty."