Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-04-19
GERMANY AND RUSSIA.

world, Monday, IN the unexpected an
nouncemcnt that Germany and Rus
sia had executed a treaty by the
terms Of which Germany assents TO
Russia.s claims for payment by the
urges as a justly due war debt. and
granting other concessions that the
Allies have refused to consider. Az a
natural result, confusion was caused
In the councils of the Genoa Con-
ference
This development is most interest
Ing. but whether It will become alarm
Ing only the future viii determine.
1t does, however, effect q radical
change in the European situation in
one important respect.
In 1917, Germany. arrogant in con-
fdent expectation of victory over the
Allies after having shattered the Rus
sian opposition. imposed upon Russia
the Treaty OF Rrest-Litovsk, with
conditions altogether in favor OF Ger
many. This one-sided treaty Is abb
rogated by the new treaty announced
this week. and now Germany and
Russia appear before the rest OF Eu-
rope as allies in a common cause,
ready TO stand united in common de-
mands on the Genoa Conference.
That Russia was fully prepared for
the new Arrangement Il made plain
by the somewhat insolent attitude OF
its delegates to Genoa, and the con-
rdent manner in which these dele
gates presented Russia's impudeni
claims for war indemnity. Maxim
Litvino1, one Of the Russian deiega-
ton at Genoa, on Monday thus Sc,
forth Russia's demands to a cor
respondent for publication:
The Allies having lost their
war with Russia, we are here 10
make peace. We have named our
conditions. We must be paid for
what Russia did for the Allies and
We must be paid for the damage
the Allies did Russia through
Koltchak. Denikin and Wrangel
and by the blockade for which
America also was responsible.
Russia spent In 1914-1917 for the
Allies 10000, 600. 900 gold rubles.
We want that back. The damage
by intervention and blockade was
So 900 900 900 gold rubles. II we
are paid that we will recognize
Russia's pre-war debt
The Allies claim $4,000, 900. 900
gold francs from us- We claim
125,0O0, 100000 gold francs. We
cannot make peace and 90 back
with less than 10000, ,ooo. 900 gold
france."
These remarks are permeated wit
the insolence with which a victo
makes demand for reparation OF
vanquished foe. They present Russi
IN the attitude Of claimant who feel
that Its position is assured and that
can enforce It's demands. OF cours
Russia can do nothing OF the kim
but Russia and Germany united in
common purpose may make troub
Tor Europe.
At this time both Russia and Gel
many are fearfully impoverished, b,
poverty u not always bar TO wal
like operations, and for that matte
no other European nations are real
prepared to finance a positive war
far-reaching proportions. But Russ
has an enormous population whic
after II has been resuscitated fro
starvation by the great charity can
paign which agenciesaof the Unit
States are now conducting so effe
lively in that terribly stricken cou
try, may be organized into formi
able military force. And German
also is populous. while her people. .,
len from defeat In the World War,
doubt would welcome any polite
combination that promised to aid
a restoration of the prestige a.
power that was Germany.s before {
war.
Tho Russian German agreeme
naturally will have effect upon the
liberations OF the Genoa Conferen
France. never in hearty sympat
with this consultation for consider
CON OF tho economic rehabilitation