New-York tribune., 1922-05-05
Rapallo Treaty
Held Valid bv
League Critics
Rcparation Commission No.
tities Berlin Agreement
Does MOI Infringe Upon
Decisions at Versailles
Poincare Calls Cabinet
France May Appeal to Coun-
ell of Ambassadors to
Enforce Its Opposition

Copyright 1922, New York Tribune Inc
PARIS, May 4-The Allied Repara-
tion Commission notified the German
ing in the Russo German agreement,
signed at Rapallo. that seemed to vio-
late the terms of the Treaty of Yer
sailles and therefore, required no in
tervention by the commission. The
commission made it plain, however,
that if the provisions Of the treaty,
when put into effect, jcopardized the
interests of any Of the Allies Germany
might be called upon by the Entente to
nulllfy the treaty or any part Of it.
When word had been received by
Premier Poincarc that this note had
been sent. he called the French Cabi-
ret into session to discuss measures
for annulling the Russo German treaty.
1t is expected that the ambassadors
council will be appealed to.
After long discussion Of the Genoa
situation, in which the Cabinet de-
voted principal consideration to the
proposed non-aggression pact for
Europe. it was decided that France
would adhere to the agreement with
certain reservations which Louis Bar
thou chief of the Paris delegation at
Genoa, was instructed to communicate
to the conference on his return there
He will leave Paris for Genoa to-mor-
row.
Reserves Rights in Rule
The gist Of the French reservations
to the non aggression pact was that
as long as it intcrfered in no way
with the rights granted to France
under the Treaty of Versailles the
Paris government would support 1t. 1t
was made plain that France was de
termincd to reserve her right to m
wade the Ruhr valley and to apply
other penalties to Germany IN case OF
a default in payment of the rcparatlons
account.
The Cabinet was agreed that Frances
nosition at the conference as already
outlined must be maintained. Barthou
was instructed to attempt to induce
Lloyd George to accept the French
point Of view. II was generally be
lcved that he would succeed
it was nOnted out at the Cabinet
meeting that Lloyd George has changed
the British House Of Commons that
be would insist that Russia return all
private property to Che original owners.
Ii was argued, therefore, that Barthou
should be able to hold him to his orig
NAL attitude. which the French and Bel
gians maintain in THEW refusal 20 sign
the Allied note to Russia. The french
view is that Lloyd Georges present
position is indcfensible and that he Will
be forced to come back to his original
insistence on private property rights.
Confer With Theunis
PARIS, May 4 (By The Associated
Press) Premier Poincarc and NJ. bar
thou already are engaged in ncgotla-
tions with Premier Theunis as to the
future attitude of the French and Bel
gian delegations at Genoa on RUSSIAN
affairs and an effort is being made to
find text for reservation to the
memorandum to Russia which the con-
ference is likely to accept and that
at the same time will satisfy the Bel
cians. The latter are understood here
to fear strongly that concessions Tor
property in Russia originally owned by
Belpium and now nationalized by Rus
sia, will be traded with by the Soviet
representatives, and that possibly the
concessions will be granted other par
ties.
Until some way is found to satisfy
the Belgian delegation the French Will
refuse to sign the memorandum to
Russia. This means that France VIII
hold aoof from the conference on Rus
sian affairs unless the subcommittee
which framed the memorandum decides
to withdraw it.
I m 90 a n
German government tonight the Repa-
rations Commission fails to find any
immediate violation of the Treaty Of
Versailles in the provisions Of the
Russo German Rapallo treaty, but re-
serves to itself the right to examine
closely the application Of the treaty
and take any action necessary to pro
tect the Allied lien on all German re
sources.
The decision was sent to all the
Allied governments and a copy was
telegraphed to the British Prime Min
lister at Genoa.
The commission asks Germany to
confirm in unmistakable language the
assumption OF the commission that
Germany has no intention Of renounc-
ing rights which have been or should
be transferred by Germany to the com
mission under Article 260 Of the Yer
sailles Treaty.
Explicit assurances from Germany
are requested also that the Rapallo
treaty contemplates no new charges
against the German budget in connec-
tion with compensation for its ma
tionals or for the reconstruction OF
Russia Germany is asked further tc
make clear that the German property
in Russia given up by the provision'
Of the Rapalo treaty is privately
owned and not state property.
The note concludes with the follow
ing qualification of the commission
decisions: at must be understood that
the commission has confined its OBJ
servatons to practical questions which
fall within its own immediate province
1t is not within the function of tn,
comm ssion to deal either with specific
questions affecting the provisions O
the Treaty of Versailles, which arr
outside its competence, or with an,
general questions arising either out .
/ the actual terms Of the Treaty o
Rapallo or out of the circumstance
! in which it was concluded"
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