Evening star., 1922-04-19
GERMANY IGNORED,
ASSERTS SRATHENAU
Says He Found Situation
Where Allies Were About to
Force Agreement.
Rr the Associated Press.

GENOA, April 1S.-Dr. Walter
Rathenau. the German foreign min
lister, declared to the Associated Press
tonight that the German delegation
came to the Genoa conference with
the best intentions in the world, but
found itself confronted with situa-
tion where the allies were about TO
force Germany to accept an agree
ment between them and Russia WITH
out even consulting Germany. whose
most vital interests We're at stake
Il have been told" he said. that
our arrangement with RUSSIA mas
caused great surprise. The neSotla-
tions about the arrangement are not
new; they have been proceeding 1or
two months and were practically con-
Cluded as they now stand a fortnight
ago. l have heard no criticism re-
garding the contents of that arrange
ment, but of the proceedings.
Gave Up Own Claims.
at has been said that the arrange
ment is against the Versailles treaty,
but this would only be correct if We
gave up the claims belonging to the
entente. Sut we gave up our own
claims as Russia gives up hers; so
that the Russo German treaty IS not
prejudicial to any other country.
Another criticism is that we have
been treating with one single nation
while assembled here in European
conference. This has .oeen done In
all conferences. but in our case we
did not leave the conference table; II
was the allies who treated first with
Russia privately. Still we never COM
planned although the negotiations be-
tween the allies. and Russia did not
take into account our interests
icf; Out of Program.
''The report of the allied experts
who met at London was about to be
approved with some modification. thus
establishing a vast program of Euro
pcan policy which would have given
advantages to all countries except
US.
IF we had not taken measures to
counteract this situation we would
have found one day an arrangement
between the allies and Russia put De-
fore us for our signature without our
having participated in its conclusion,
and if We had not signed it. all would
have said We We're disturbing the
harmony OF the conference.
Our conversations with Russia
We're not secret. l desired to inform
Mr.. Lloyd George personally. but al
though | asked to see him in the last
days of the preceding week. IL was
impossible. ON account of his occupa-
ton; therefore ! was obliged to no
of a member of the English delega
ton. We informed him that we could
not agree to the program contained
in the report of the allied experts
and were forced to negotiate with
Russia direct. SO do not understand
this surprise.
Followed Spirit, He Says.
"I was thankful to all who brought
us here together. especially Mr. Lloyd
,ieorEe We followed the spirit of
the conference by concluding the first
real peace treaty based on reciprocal
concessions, on the waving of all
reciprocal claims and agreeing on
reciprocal reconstruction
I'm the report of the allied experts
we especially objected to reference
TO article 1l6 of the treaty of Yer
sailles, which would have maintained
against us Russian claims which
Russia was ready TO give up. Our
treaty was signed Easter Sunday be-
cause it was the last moment pos
siblc to do so.
II might have signed it before
leaving Germany, but l desired to
come here with my hands free
When. however. L saw that the allies
We're trying to make arrangements
with Russia without even consulting
us. then l decided TO sign it here On
Friday last | was emi-ofhcially in
formed that an agreement between
the allies and Russia was about to be
concluded. As the communication
was made in such way as to lead
me to consider it official, two days
later / signed the treaty
At the end of his declaration DIR.
Rathenau was asked whether he did
not consider that Germany, in con-
Guiding a treaty in which the Rus
sian debts are condoned. had by this
mere fact violated the Cannes resolu-
ton, which implicitly stipulates
recognition of war debts by Russia.
DR.. Rathenau promptly replied: by
accepting conformation of her debts.