Evening star., 1924-02-14

RECOGNITION HELD
VITAL FOR TRADE
-. 49, --. 49,
Litvinoff Says Pscts Will Be Re.
fused Nations That
Hold Of. :,
MAY GET sPITZBERGEN
Russia Likely to Admit Norway's
Sovereignty.
Dy the Associg ted Press

Gy the Associated Press.
MOSCOW, February 1i.-Maxim
Litvinoff, deputy minister of foreign
affairs, in connection with tho recent
action OF Great Britain and Italy in
recognising the soviet As tho de jure
government In Russia, and tho an
EounceTiaent that Norway also had
accorded the government full recos-
milton, gave an interview to the
newspaper correspondents here. NJ.
Lltvinod outlined the general prin.
ciple that the soviet government
you'd. refuse >to-sign any cop1mercial
treaties with countries prior to their
de jure recognition of Russia
TO a .dtrcct question if this state
ment meant there could be no trade
agreement between the United
States and Russia unless there was
dc 1ure recognition. NJ. Litvinoff said
there was a distinction between trade
Rgresnants n1fpl Sfngt de. facto -resog-
milton and commercial treaties At
any rate, -he-atiG ed; ;;-Russir -hai-not
yet been approached on this subject.
Regarding Europe. however, it
seemed obvious from LitvinoH' S
statement that the soviet feels it
N'Sf 4ioAoo NhS ~ Slhp
Wants Recognition First.
Some countries go on muttering
about old debts said Litvinoff. I'VE
refuse to consider any preliminary
condition to commercial treaties.
Countries first must recognize us de
jure, then we will discuss matters
with them.
with Great Britain Italy, Ger
many. Norway and the border states,
we now have an ample field for our
economic activities and to export raw
and import manufactured materials.
Recognition now is OF much less i'm
portanceL.to. US. :. There is not the
slightest doubt that. other European,
and also American Countries. in the
near future will throw over their
illusions hopeless expectations and
eral recognition"
According to Litvfnoff, countries
which have not Yet established official
relations with Russia will not be per-
mitted to have official or semi-official
representatives. in soviet territory.
He added that the Japanese govern
ment had been informed; that its So
called consuls at various points in
Siberia could be considered now only
private citizens.
Status OF Consuls.
About a year ago, when negotiations
were under way for q Japanese. rus
sian agreement, these 'consuls'' were
permitted considerable official stand
ing.
In consequence Of Norway's recog-
milton OF Russia, which is uncondi-
tional, soviet Russia probably will
recognise Norway's sovereignty over
Spitzbergen, which IS provided for in
the treaty of Paris. to which Russia
hitherto has refused to adhere.
Woman May He Envoy.
The first fully accredited woman
minister plenipotentiary in diplomatic
history may serve for Russia in con-
sequence Of NorwAy.s .ssrecoEnition of
the soviet government. She is Mmc.
Alexandra -koltantay, Russian trade
representative in Norway. If she Is
persona grata, to the Norwegian gov
eminent. NJ. L;twnoff. deputy minis
ter Of foreign affairs. said that her
sex would he no bar to her being
Nine. koliantay is about forty-five
years old. She flas long been a revo-
tutionist. Once she held the post of
.ommisssr Of public welfare. In 1921
she was reprimanded By tho COM
munist Earty for participating With
the opposition group in it's activities
She has been married several times.
HGf last husband Is NJ. Bibenko.
sailor during the time Of the revolu?
ton and later q member of tho COM
niissariat Of war and marine.