New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-04-18

sian and German circles over the con
clusion of the treaty of friendship and
close economic relations between the
two countries, but their jubilation did
not continue long after Lloyd George
hsd given Chancellor Wirth vigorous
dressing down for the attempt 10 slap
over secret agreement while a. CON
other purposes
It was told with great glee that ne
gotiations had been in progress for
months TO ,ay the foundation for a
Russo-German entente, and that 1t had
eliminated in the most happy manner
at the conference. 1t was added that
the treaty pat both Russia and Ger
many in the strongest position and that
il would make new alignment Of Eu-
rope on political lines.
Chafed Under Isolation
When the treaty was first announced
after Tchitcherin and Rathennau had
put in q night on the finishing touches,
it produced the effect of bomb in Al
lied circles 1t seems chat both the
Russian and German delegates had
been chatting under the exclusion
forced upon them by the Allies at some
OF The important conferences and were
determined TO devote themselves to a
After communication with Moscow 1t
was decided TO hurry forward the sign
ing of the treaty, which. according to
observers here. would give both Ger
many and Russia great moral ana
economic advantage. The Russians
nope to utilize the treaty as ciuo
against the Allies by holding forth the
threat Of the conclusion Of an actual
entente cordiale with the Germans un-
less the Allies soften the terms OF ne
gotiations. particularly those affecting
the war debt and resolutions Tor losses
incurred by the Allies as the result OF
the Bolsheviki policies OF the last four
years. ,,
Above all. the treaty marks a blow
aonirst the Treaty OF Versailles which
II is difficult 10 see how the Allies can
absorb without shock. BY the agree
ment. Russia ard Germ wipe out
4he clause in the Versailles treaty
giving Russia a claim for reparatlons
against Germany IN thc event OF the
recognition OF the Russian govern
ment by the Allies. This deprlXes the
Allies Of the possibility of collecting
from Germany a sum estimated at
nearly 2,000,0 900 gold marks. for by
the provision Of the Versailles treaty
whatever sums Germany collects from
Ru.esia for losses suffered during the
revolutions must be surrendered to
the general Allied fund.
First Debt Cancellation
The treaty deprves Russia of the
right to collect from Germany, while
Germany loses all claim for compensa-
ton from Russia. In other words, the
terms of the agreement mark the first
actual instance of the cancellation Of
Gehfq arising out of the
Besides all this there is a provision
in the treaty which returns to Germany
much of the advantage she enjoyed
under tn treaty of 1904, which was
built around the idea of the mutually
favored nation" This old agreement
vas, of course. shattered by the war
and the new one is modelled upon it..
II was also the model for the Brest,
Litovsk agreement. which was cancelled
by the Versailles Treaty In return
for all the concessions made Germany
finally agrees TO recognize the Soviet
government in the fullest extent and
to re-establish diplomatic relations i'm
medistely
OF course, all depends upon the &C
ton of the Allies when they begin to
realize the full meaning Of the treaty.
1t is evident from the developments of
the day that Lloyd George is fully
new situation in manner that will give
Germany no undue advantage, yet will
not pTecipitats breakup Of the Genoa
conference.
That the Germans and the Russians
have been negotiating has been known
in Allied circles since the Bosheviki
reached Berlin, but it was thought that
the final details would not be deter
mined until after the conclusion of the
men and the Russian delegates The
Germans have said little, but have
been working furiously, and Rathenau
has been holding numerous private
conferences. not only with the Rus
SLAMS, but with the representatives of
other nations" 1t would cause no sur
prise if at the next announcement he
should tell of the conclusion of the
terms for great international loan in
which Germany has obtained large
credits.
Smaller Nations Aid Germany
Some smaller countries have been
extremely active in these discussions
supporting Germanys cause with deep
sympathy
Easter Monday was a holiday at the
. conference, and little official progress
y was made, but all the big European
y leaders have been working as usual
1chitcherin expected to return to .
private conference with the representa-
tives of the big four tomorrow, anC
there may be a full sitting Of the pc
litical commission Wednesday. There
10 every reason 10 bring these negotia
lions out in the open without further
delay, because the smaller states are
growing restless and demanding tina
they have an opportunity for hear
ing of the exact situation and Of pre-
senting their views and claims.
The delegates of the Little Entente
who naturally are greatly concerned
shout everything affecting Russia, fee
that the time has come to thrash out
their problem at plenary session oil
the political commission. although
their anxiety lessened a bit this after
noon when the German-Russian agree
msnt became known.
Lloyd George had further long talks
with Louis Barthou, chief of the
French delegation; Foreign Minister
Schanzer, of Italy, and Premier The
unis, of Belgium. and also conferred
for a long time with his own experts
All reports that the Allies had given
an ultimatum to Russia in connection
with the London reconstruction pro-
gram or that the negotiations had
broken down were strongly denied. AS
stated previously in these dispatches
there have been many conflicts of opin-
ion, but there never was a time when
the delegates have been deadlocked.