The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-04-18
SIGNING OF TREATY BY GERMANY
AND RUSSIA CAUSES CONFUSION


caused profound astonishment and re-
sentiment among the allied delega-
tions. The ministers of the powers
which convened the conference decid-
ed at a meeting held tonight to have
committee of experts examine this
treaty tomorrow morning to deter
mine whether it conflicts with the
Cannes resolutions or the treaty Of
Versailles.
Subsequently the converting powers
will meet with Poland, Czecho- -Slo-
vakia, Rumania and Jugoslavia to
ascertain the views of the lesser pow
ers and deal with the report of the
experts.
The British and French delegates
declared tonight that they considered
the signature of the treaty disloyal
act. Apparently it may imperil the
conference.
1t is stated that the signing of the
treaty, which took place at Rapallo
yesterday, was unknown to the allied
leaders, when Lloyd George, Barthou,
Schanzer and Theunis met this after
noon to consider the reply which the
Russians might make to the conditions
imposed on that country, but as soon
as the delegates learned of the treaty
their program was changed, and the
situation, which is considered ex-
tremely grave, fully discussed.
M. Barthou, head of the French
delegation, is seeking further instruc-
tions from his government at Paris
and declared that he would not sit be-
side Russians in semi-official meet
ings, while M. Colrat, French under
secretary Of state, speaking to the
correspondents, said: "I have taken
all necessary measures to cancel the
meeting of the third commission over
which I preside as the members at
present do not want to sit on the same
commission as the Germans and Rus
sians." : ~. !.
The action of the Germans and Rus
slams, on first announcement, had an
EESsa ssss g sa as Hs alliss; sS
these countries had been negotiating
for months but was not aware they
had signed a treaty until late this
afternoon.
The situation is so critical that the
most prominent delegates are reserv-
ing their opinions until after the ex-
perts examine the new document,
which is generally regarded in allied
circles as an infringement of the Ge-
noa agenda, because it has to do with
reparations and affects existing treat
les. The French have insisted that
neither of these things should be done.
Clearly there are stormy times ahead.
The treaty provides for renuncia-
tion of war expenses, damages and
expenditures incurred through war
prisoners, and remuneration also of all
claims Of German individuals or the
state itself against the Soviet repub-
lie. Resumption Of consular and dip
lomatic relations is to take place i'm
mediately, commercial relations are to
be regulated on the most favored ma
tional principle and the rights of the
nationals of both countries in the ter
ritory of the other are to be con-
served.
The two governments will assist
each other in their economic difficult
ties and the German government de-
clares itself ready to facilitate eco
nomic contracts between private en-
terprises in the two countries.
Genoa, April 1.-THE Russo Ger
man treaty, signed on Sunday at Ra
pallo by George Chitcherin and DR..
Walter Rathenau, contains the follow
ing provisions:
Article 1. (a) The German and Rus
sian governments have agreed to sett
tie war time questions on the follow
ing basis:
The German government and the
Soviet republic reciprocally renounce
reimbursement Of war expenses as
well as reimbursement Of war dam
ages and also damages suffered by
their subjects in the war territories
DeCauSt VI hiihtdTy HeaoufcoS hiSiuu-
ing acquisitions carried out in the
enemys country. Likewise the two
contracting governments renounce re-
endorsement of civil damages caused
by the socalled exceptional laws or by
coercive measures by state authori-
ties.
(b) All legal relations concerning
questions of public or private law re-
sulting from the state of war, includ-
ing the question Of merchant ships
acquired by either side during the
war, shall be settled on basis Of
reciprocity.
(c) Germany and Russia mutually
renounce the repayment OF expenses
caused by prisoners Of war in the
same way as the reich renounces re-
payment of expenses caused by the In
ternment of soldiers of the Russian
army. The Russian government re-
n L. (yarVrt NJ