The New York herald., 1922-02-18
FRANCO-SOV|ET PACT
DISTURBS GERMANY
Moscow Succeeds in Intimi-
dating Berlin to Support
Schemes for Russia.
.WIRTH WOULD RESIST
Cabinet Objects to Reading
Obligations to Russia
Into Peace Treaty.
STINNES SHIFTS GROUND
Recently Opponent of Minis
try Now Sees Necessity Of
Supporting 1t.
SHINES SHIFTS GROUND
By RAYMOND SWING.


New York Herald Bureau.
Berlin, Feb. IL.
The repeated more or less circum-
stantial reports that Franco Russian
agreement had been consummated
have had the effect of an exceptionally
hard blow struck in German political
and economic circles Now that the
governmental crisis Is over. the here
tofore subdued excitement and uneasi-
ness caused by the reported agreement
are coming to the surface. The rr-
mored pact temporarily oversfadows
everything else in Importance, even
DIR. Walter Rathenau's first Parlia-
mentary speech as Foreign Minister.
If the Soviet's negotiations with the
French were intended to ntimidate
Germany, to make her listen and be-
come a partner to Russia's plans, Mos
COW certainly has succeeded.
other news that is reaching Berlin
is OF a confirmatory nature. The Zcit,
organ of the Industrial party, reports
that four French bankers have arrived
in Moscow. According to another re-
port. Mr.. Targowski of the Polish For
eign Minister'S press bureau declared
in o speech that Poland must go hand
jill hand with France in the reestablish-
ment OF commercial relations with the
Soviet.
Fear Paris and Moscow Agree.
The acute anxiety OF German indus
trial interests seems to be shared in Off
cial circles here. which, it is understood,
seriously believes in the possibility that
an agreement will be concluded between
"A Moscow. They refer MI
Skobeleff's presence in Paris as repre-
sentative of Russia, to NJ. Ipatieff in
Brussels as in a similar capacity, and
10 Karl Radeks negotiations with the
French emissares to Moscow, besides
the recent presence there of a so-called
special courier of the French Govern
nlent. According to the authorities
here, the Soviet policy evidently aims
both at obtaining credits from France
and isolating her from her allies by
separate negotiations. They recall the
French principle Of preparing carefully
for international conferences and the
policy of the Quai dOrsay, which led
France to draft the Turkish treaty.
similar ideas prevail in Berln's dip
Iomatic corps, where it is said that
should the report concerning the Franco
Russian agreement prove true. ana
should it's practical application be at
tempted, the German Government prob
ably will refuse fatty any aclnowl-
edgment. THE New YORK HERALp's in
formant believes that Wilhelmstrasse
intcrprets paragraph 116 of the Ver-
sailies treaty. "Russia's rights are re-
served" merely as an indication that
Russia and Germany should agree in
economic questions which concern both
The German Government would pro-
test violently against any attempt TO use
that paragraph as a means to prescribe
m Obligations
ward Russia IL coerced. it would con-
slider such coercion a violation of its
rights.
IT is eymptomatic OF the effect of any
I'ranco-Russian negotiations upon Ger
man Industrial interests that it is re-
garded as necessity TO unite all forces
and rally Ground the Governments
standard. Hugo SHINES paper. the
Doutschc AUgcmcinc Zeitung. which
only yesterday was the flag bearer in
the struggle against the Cabinet, to-day
feels the necessity OF supporting It,
sovict-German Trade.
Commenting upon recent negotiations
here between Gregory Krassine. Minis
ter of Foreign Trade; Karl Radek. So
Wet envoy to Berlin and Trade Repre-
sentative Stomanjakoff In Berlin. and
representatives OF the German Govern
ment. which centered on the question
Germany Herr SHINES paper says:
Both parties agreed that good pros
poets exist for a settlement. The Ger
man representatives were convinced
that good part of the way to success
was behind them. Thanks are due to
the Russian as we'll as to the German
official representatives 1T is hoped
that further steps in this difficult mat
ter may remain in their hands"
Meanwhile the Soviet follows UP It's
moral success by playing out more
trumps. The ZcifuHD am Miffd0 pub
fishes an interview by its Prague cor
respondent with NJ. Rakowski, head OF
the Ukrainian Soviet republic, who de-
clarcs: "The Soviet federation is ready
at any time to make a 'Wiesbaden
agreement with Germany which will
make Germany sweat less than her
Wiesbaden agreement with France"
Commenting upon this statement the
paper says: by talking about a Wics-
baden agreement between Germany and
Russia NJ. RalyowsSi confirms the secret
intention of the Soviet Government to
obtain German goods without compen-
sation by means of an understanding
with France. Such compulsory supply
would be much less than Russia needs
and could obtain i'm another way. Be
sides, il Russia betrays such secret plans
of blacl<mail and arrives at no under
standing with France. Germany ultt-
mately will give Russia the cold shoul-
der. A policy entirely without character
never has been successful"
The Zeit says "l5y carrying out such
an agreement France would box the
cars of all her European friends. The
report may be true or not anyhow.
there are others who have word to
say on this matter. One thing Is ccr-
tain: France soon will be bitterly dis
appointed"
Vorcdcrs says: I'm order to meet
Russa's claims n joint decision by the
allied and associated Powers Is neccs-
sary. Do Paris and Moscow think that
London and Washington will say yes In
order to facilitate their work OF de-
struction?"
The Rotc Fohnc declares the report
about the treaty TO be "swindle." The
Tde0iicho RundschdW says: Germany
knows that starving Russia must estab-
lish herself abroad. This Is due to dis
trcss and not to desire on the part OF
many Russian leaders. Nevertheless,
nobody will wish to divert Germano-
Russian relations by moves that look
like blacl<mail into a direction which |
the as yet only partly consolidated Ger.
lnany cannot follow"