The New York herald., 1922-05-02
TCHITCHERIN SAYS
NO SECRET CLAUSES
SAYS Russo-Gcrman Trenty
Guiltless of Military apd
Political Pacts.

GENOA, May I (Associatet press) -
NJ Barthou. head of the French delega-
tion. who will leave Genoa tomorrow to
confer with Premier Poincare on the
non-a aggression pact and the proposal TO
hold a meeting OF the signatories OF inc
Versailles Treaty for a general discus
sion of the German rcparations Question.
also will explain to the Premier the de-
tails of the memorandum TO be presented
to the Soviet delegates which was com
pleted to-day. and will point out that
Frances legitimate interests are pro-
tected.
In to-day's session of the subcommis-
sion dealing with Russian affairs NJ Bar
thou read letter written to him by M
Tchitcherin assuring him there We're no
secret military or political clauses In
the Russo-Cerman treaty signed Easter
SUNDAY at RapaIIo Tchtcherin said
Russia is not hostile|toward France, not
Withstanding Frances unfrlendly atti-
tude toward Russia,
The letter said that in the comments
of the French press by the heads OF the
French Government it was apparent That
the agreement worked out in Berlin ana
signed by the Russian ard German For
elGn ministers at fNdpdlio hdu p'oii ii
terpreted as an action against the IN
terests of France.
The letter further said official denials
by the Russian and German delegations,
as we'll as a declaration by the German
Chancellor to the press, had not allayed
suspicious concerning the real sense and
character of the Russo-German agree
ment
ION that account II said, "the Rus
sian delegation, in the interest OF truth
and in order to dssipate possible mis-
understandings about the pacific charac-
ter of it's policy, has determined to
address you this letter The Russian
delegation announces in the most cate
gorical manner that the Rapallo Treaty
does not contain any secret clauses OF
military or political character, and the
Russian Government has not engaged
| In any action of any sort against the
interests OF the French nation or any
other nation whatsoever.
THE agreement at Rapallo had for its
object only the regulation OF certain
questions pending between the two
states which had been at war and felt
the necessity Of reestabishing peaceful
relations in their own interests and IN
She interest OF everybody.
Far from being directed against
France or any other Power, the Russo
German agreement is only the first of a
series of agreements intended IN the
mind of the Russian delegation to com
l,plete those, geDeral understandings for
which AFE the. Powers represented At
! Genoa .arc striving. These are needed
as a basis for peace throughout the
! world
| with regard to the particular posi-
| tion OF France. the Russian Government
1 ~ "a DOintS
of contact in the interests of tie two
countries which will facilitate an agree
ment between them. In this connection
| tho policy of Russia has never varied.
despite the hostile attitude which France
has maintained toward Russia for more
than four years. The Russian Govern
ment cannot conceal that Frances
hostility has created in Russian public
opinion lively resentment against
France.
There is no reason why friendly re-
lations should not be established be-
tween Russia and France and her allies.
The Russian Government is convinced
that a change In the attitude of France
is as necessary to the interests or France
In Russia and eastern Europe as IL
is to the economic reconstruction of
the world"
In commenting upon the above letter.
NJ. Barthou said France had never
shown any hostility to the Russian pco-
pie and that France was anxious to
resume relations with RUSSIA, which had
been an ally up to four years ago.
France, he said. was only against the
Government which signed the Brest-
Litovsk treaty.
NJ. Tchitcherin also sent to Foreign
Minister Skirmunt, chief Of the Polish
delegation. another note reiterating the
Soviet protest against Poland's action
I'm joining the great Powers i'm question
ing the right Of Russia and Germany
to sign the Easter treaty at Rapallo.
The note announced that Poland's recent
reply 20 the Soviet delegation did not
explain away the Russian charge that
Poland had violated both its peace
treaty with Russia and the recent agree
ment entered into at Riga with Russia
and the Baltic states. II said In part:
"If Germany had violated some agree
ment with the third Powers by signing
the Treaty of Rapallo, the way was
open for diplomatic representation on the
part of thhe third Powers. Instead OF
which the signatories OF the notes OF
April rs and April 90 arroEated the
right. without even informing Russia
purely and simply of annulling some
clauses OF the treaty. BY thus placing
obstacles IN the way OF mutual annul-
mont on the part OF Russia and of other
States OF their reciprocal claims, Poland
prevents the economic resurrection OF
Russia. She closes forever the only
road which would permit Russia to
emerge from the crisis through which
she ls passing. BY hindering In this
way the vital interests OF Russia Po-
land violates the Treaty of riga, which
stipulates friendly relations. between
Poland and Russia.
'Tt is. therefore. impossible for me,
though expressing once again Russa's
constant and unshakable desire for
peace. not to express regret that the
latest steps Of the Polish delegation are
hardly OF such a nature as to CONSOLE
date the relations created by the Treaty
OF Riga botwewcn Russia andd Poland"
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