The New York herald., 1922-01-26
SAYSFRANCE TREATS
With SOVIET RUSSIA
Berlin Hears Poincare Now Is
Negotiating With Moscow
Government.
POLAND NAY PLAY PART
Germans Believe England Will
Not Permit French DOM
inatiOn i'm Ruhr.
BY RAYMOND SWING.

q. I'M NUN - ~ WING.
Special Gable to THE New YORK HERALD.
Copyright, 1922, By THE New York HERALD
New York Herald Bureau,
Berlin, Jan. 2J.
Russia, after all. may be the nation
10 gain most from the Genoa confer
ence, according to the judgment of
Berlin political observers. The theory
that the Allies at the conference table
would be able to undermine the Soviet
/ regime more effectively than they have
been able TO do on the battlefield has
been abandoned.
This is the opinion here because of
the surprising information received in
Berlin that negotiations between the
Soviet Government of Russia and the
French Government of Raymond Poin-
care already have taken place or will
take place in the near future.
Count Won Reventlow, writing in the
Dcutsches Tc0e6latt to-day. declares
that Karl Ra6ek, who is the real for
inuIator of the Soviet foreign policy,
went to France before Christmas and
passed through Berlin recently on his
way home. This was denied at the
Russian Soviet bureau here, when it
was declared that Count Won Revent-
| low had tapped an old source" to get
his facts. Still THE NEW York HERALD
correspondent here Is able to say that
there will be a conference between the
Russians and the French soon, and
that IL will be held quite openly.
The united front on the Russian ques-
ton which the British Prime Minister.
Mr.. Lloyd George, and NJ. BRAND hoped
20 establish at the Genoa conference
has been lost by the overthrow of the
BRAND Government in France. Mean
while Russia has leaped into dute a
fortunate position of playing off Eng
| land and France against each other.
Seeking German Recognition.
Another new development is the effort
OF the Russians TO get formal do jure
recognition by Germany before the Ge-
noa conference begins. This topic. in
cluding several new Russian offers 60
facilitate commerce with Germany. IS
supposed to be the subject for the Sc
cret meetings of the Foreign Affairs
Committee OF the Reichstag these days.
DE jure recognition by Germany would
put Russia on . footing OF solidarity
with the Germans at the conference.
And with France and England bidding
for preference and Germany already in
line the Russians would find themselves
In an astonlshingly favorable position
hi 10 lat .r-z
expectations entertained a short time
back. At first II was regarded ss GER
tain that Premier Poincare would try
sabotage In connection with the Genoa
conference and would bend all his en-
ergy to defeat the movement 20 have
the Soviet Government recognized But
there has been n sudden swerve in n
new direction. This has been observed
in Poland. and numerous reports have
reached here that Poland. dancing In
the shadow of coming events. is trying
TO capture the dignity OF playing mid
dlernan between Russia and France
Just what is Russias offer to NJ.
Poincare or NJ. Poincare's offer 10 Rus
sia Is not clear one report is that
Russia will be invited 10 subscribe TO
the Versailles treaty and make a rep
srations claim against Germany These
would be paid IN the wares which are
utSDfEAitlF Httueu ON lNuHSld una Nne
would then be able to finance loan
with which TO meet her Indebtedness
TO France.
BoIshevtki Ready 90 Bargain.
The idea of subscribing TO the Ver-
sailles treaty is opposed to the Com
fnunist doctrine. but the Bolshevist
leaders have always shown themselves
10 be shrewd ncgotiators and they are
better politicians than Communists. as
has been proved by their new economic
policy. What would move them to ac-
cept or reject such an offer would be
that which was found 10 serve their
interests best. This would depend on
how much England offered and what
Germany was free 90 offer.
The Germans are taking stock Of the
situation and are waiting TO see what
comes OF Herbert Hoovers unofficial
program for Genoa. n there r. n para
graph in the program which demands
revision OF the reparations agreement
Premier Polncare may have to stay
away from Genoa and deal with Rus
sia independently Berlin thinks the
conference may even be postponed. but
II & Ia held and rcparations are taboo