Great Falls tribune., 1922-04-19
GERMANY AND RUSSIA


THE formal announcement tina
Germany and Russia have sign
ed trade treaty and treaty o.
amity between the two nations, BY
the terms of which each country
abandons all war claims against thu
other and Germany accords full
recognition to the soviet govern
ment, will create some agitation
among the allied powers represent
ed at Genoa. Germany gives uT
a good deal to Russia under this
treaty. The Russians created ter
rible damage in East Prussia in the
carly part Of the war. Later Le'
nine and his associates murdered
the German ambassador at Mos.
COW, and confiscated much individ-
ual German property in Russia. All
this is to be forgotten and wiped
out without indemnity. What Ger
many is to get in return for its
abandonment of claims against Rus
sia is not very plain in the short
condensed statement of the purport
Of the treaty now at hand. But the
Germans were always good bar
gamers, and we are pretty sure
that they have not given anything
for nothing in this new treaty.
BY reason of it's geographical
situation and the fact that it has
the technical skill and large ex.
pert industrial population, Germany
seems the natural source of sup
ply for manufactured goods oper
to Russia. The latter for some
time to come at least, must expect
to produce raw materials mostly
and Germany needs raw materials
as much as Russia needs manufac-
tured goods. A close trade re1i-
ance between Russia and Germany
would be beneficial to both of
them no doubt. Moreover, if Ger
many is to pay her war debt to the
allies, she must find some large
outlet for her exports such as Rus
sia would furnish. However. Eng
land and France and Italy have
their eye on Russian trade in the
future also, and will not sit idle
while Germany gets away with it.
But there are political as well as
trade considerations mixed up with
the consideration of this Moscow
Berlin treaty. IF trade friendship
between the two countries ripens
into political friendship also, a
German Russian alliance in the fu-
ture might light the flames OF war
again in Europe, for Russia has
the men and Germany could furnish
the material for great armies in the
future. The policy of France a
least, has been to cut Russia off
from Germany. That is why she
has aided Poland so materially. She
wants strong military power be-
tween Germany and Russia.
Just what the reaction at Genoa
may be over these developments
remains to be seen, but we are sure
that we are not far astray in saying
that the news Of the new treaty
will not be very pleasing to the
French people. The French have
long regretted their investment in
Russian friendship. They paid
pretty heavy for it in cash. Every
time the cars government wanted
cash to build a railroad or a palace
it floated loan in France. The
stockings Of the French peasants
are fat with Russian bonds which
have been repudiated and the
thrifty Frenchman does not love
a nation that has cheated him out
of his hard-earned savings. Besides
the Russians quit the fight before
it was ended, and made terms with
their mutual enemy. Had not Uncle
Sam come in with his millions Of
men and billions of money to take
the place of the Russians, France
and England might have lost the
fight. SO the French do not like
the Russians very well and who
can blame them? This new treaty
of peace, amity, and trade between
Berlin and Moscow will be search
ed rather critically at Paris, and we
presume that in it will be found
another reason why France should
maintain a big army and be ready
to fight for its life at any time.
Things did not look any too favor
able, for Lloyd Georges plans at
Genoa before. This Russian Ger
man treaty will probably add to
his troubles.