Evening star., 1922-04-18
LONDON CONDEMNS
RUSSO-GERMANA ACT
Signing of Treaty Termed
Open Defiance and In
suit to Entente.
ENTENTE PARTLY BLAMED
ENJOYS Negligent Of Duty, One
Paper Says-Declared Blow
at Conference.

LONbo-N, April lo~ll Wooio NV ~
easy to imagine any possible happen
ing at Genoa which could excite
greater astonishment or more mis-
givings than the announcement or
the Russo-German treaty produced In
the majority of this mornings London
newspapers.
With one or two exceptions the
new pact is condemned in the strong
est language as a deadly blow aimed
at the conference, at the Versailles
treaty and at the peace of Europe,
and its negotiators are charged with
completely and bad faith.
The Times says it is IAN open de-
fiance and studied insult to the en-
tente powers who summoned the con-
ference and in a less degree TO all
who were invited to it. The German
pretense of choice, time and place
for the signature was without sig
nificance and is pure impertlnence;
- Russia for the bofshevists, and
the bolshevists for u.s. has been the
basis of the German policy ever since
the German government sent Lenlh
across the frontier with the dehDer-
ate intention that he should poison
the whole social organism of Russia.
Germany hoped then, and has been
hoping ever since. that when the poi
son had done it's work she would prey
ON the corpse. She has now arrived
at a stage which she hopes will soon
leave her stronger and Wealtnler than
before the war.
Sees Repetition Of Terrorx.
with the resources and man pow
er of Russia under her control she
would be able at her pleasure to pro-
nounce the treaty of Versailles
scrap of paper. and visit western Eu-
rope again with the terrors insepara-
Ia hai ra n mill
tarist state.
ut is earnestly to be hoped that
the entente powers. especially Eng
land and France, will seize the earl1-
challenge so boldly thrown down and
teach the Germans and bolshevfsts
alike that the allies are not to he de-
fled and f1outed with impunity. If the
challenge is not taken up promptly
and firmly. there is an end to the en-
tente.'
The Daily Telegraph thinks it Is
the obvious intention of the Russians
to force the powers to grant them
recognition on, the same full scale as
is accorded them by Germany.
Short-Sighted Folly.
"The agreement is testimony alike
to the astuteness of the Russian del
egation and to the short-sishted fof-
" of their German colleagues
whose action cannot but. vastly in
tensify the distrust of Germany.
which is the dominating feature OF
the French policy the newspaper
adds.
They have placed all the mediat-
ing influences of the conference In a
position of extreme dif1culty. ana
inflicted severe setback on MT.
Lloyd Georges strenuous efforts to
lead all parties in the conference
forward in the path of conciliation
and mutual cooperation.
The clauses in the treaty which
provide for the abandonment of all
claims for compensation respecting
the soviet confiscation of foreign
property in Russia amount to be-
trayal of all the principles which
heretofore have governed Interna-
tional obligations. and in effect in
dorse the bofshevik doctrine ana
every civilized state as striking at
the roots of organized society
3. Intimidation to Allies.
Says the, Morning Post: Germany
and bolshewist Russia have won a
brilliant diplomatic victory|the
treaty is an intimidation to the allies
that Germany and Russia have re-
gained complete diplomatic freedom
and are ready to use that freedom
to make arrangements entirely in
dependent of the treaty OF Versailles
or any other allied settlement.
Inc DOlSUeNLStS Slioulu pC diihosS
hysterical with delight. They have
struck at fine moment.
At last Germany and Russia have
sealed the friendship which brought
Lenin to Russia. which broke the
strength of the Russian armies.
sapped the moral strength of the
Russian people, almost ruined the al
lied cause and ended in the betrayal
of BreSt-LitovSk.
The one real menace to the peace
;s h oS Rns
sia and Germany. Once started on
policy of economic cooperation, there
Is no saying to what political, and.
indeed, military, agreement the two
countries may not ultimately reach.
The newspaper urges Great Britain
and France speedily to end their diff
ferences. and to reach a complete un-
derseanding, which alone can MAIN
tain peace in Europe" for If they re-
main divided "the new treaty becomes
a menace pregnant with war"
The Yves minister Gazette contends
that the treaty profoundly modifies
the European situation and entirely
changes the basis of the Genoa con-
the ground Of their discussions from
under their feet
Its possibilities are unending, its
implications without limit it de-
ciares. I'm the first surprise. we can
only await developments which must
come within a few days. The future
of Europe has been taken out of the
hands of those who were affecting to
direct it, and the initiative Is now
definitely with Russia and Germany"
Conference Termed Negligent.
The Daily Mail says the trick
which the Germans and Russians
have sprung on the allies will not
surprise those know the ways of the
boche and bolshevik," but reserves
its severest STRUCTURES for the lead
ers of the conference. who, it de-
clares. failed to take 1.-The most in
fantile precautions to guard against
the notorious maneuver to set the
allies by the ears" 1t expresses
special indignation at "the fatuous
want of provision on the part of
British diplomacy.
On the other hand. the Daily
Chronicle. stanch advocate of Mr.
LLOYD George, refuses to be disturb
ed 1t admits that the treaty sign
ing "was perhaps not tactfully timed
for it will at least give an excuse
for the outcry of critics, to whom
any Russo German dealings furnish
ground for suspicion and fear"
Not Dismnyed by Action.
1t argues. however. that more
terms of the treaty on their merits,
need find little intrinsic fault with
them"
The newspaper is not dismayed by
the restoration of diplomatic and
consular relations between Russia
and Germany, while it maintains that
the mutual cancellation of financial
course where both parties are in
solvent" and contends that the most
favored nation clause. inasmuch as it
prejudices no other nations claims