The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-04-23
SOvIET-GERMAN
TREATY READY
FOR SIGNATURE
Industrial Needs Force
New Alignment
lspeoIaI to rhe oalIy worker,

especial TO The Daily Worker)
BERLIN, April Fl - The Soviet
German treaty is practically ready for
signature, It was announced today by
government spokesman.
"Thls new treaty does not mean q
challenge to the west" said the gov
eminent spokesman, "the treaty Is not
an alliance, but 1t aims to preclude
the possibility of war with the East"
Officials declare the treaty is in ac-
cordance with the Locarno pacts.
The Importance of the treaty is very
great, in the opinion Of observers here.
1t marks the return of German state
policy to an understanding with the
Soviet Union and is consequence Of
the failure Of the league of nations to
admit Germany to membership in the
supreme council.
Promise Of Neutrality.
Despite the official denials of the
Luther cabinet that political commit
ments are involved it is known that
these are part of the treaty, just as
they were in the case of the Rapallo
agreement. 1t is believed there are
definite provisions for German neutral
ity in the event of a war involving the
Soviets. These would be in conflict
with the application of article XVI of
the league of nations covenant If Ger
many should join the league next fall.
That article obligates member states
to cooperate in league measures, even
to military action, against any coun.
try which the league council has Off
cially declared is threatening world
peace. The clause will be used against
the Soviet Union at the first opportun-
ity, is the view of students of the
league policies which are dictated by
the Anglo-French combination.
AS the league regulations require
the registration Of all treaties, on be-
coming member Germany would be
obliged to register this Soviet agree
ment, The league council would then
be in position to interpret" article
XVI and its application to Germany's
neutrality promise. 1t would be GER
tain to declare the provision conflict
ing with Germany's commitments to
the league and demand that the Sec
ton be repudiated. The German gov
eminent would then have to choose
again its orientation, whether to the
east with the Soviets or to the west
with France and England.
Soviet Understanding Necessary.
Grave issues are involved in such
choice for Germany. The Soviet
Union furnishes the most advantage
GUS market for German products. 1t
affords base for raw materials for
German industry. In the present
critical condition Of commerce and
trade and production in general, to-
gether with the unprecedented unem-
ployment, the reactionary German gov
eminent must make every effort for
the closest economic alliance with
their neighbor to the east regardless
Of how much they hate and fear its
communist example and influence.
France and EneIand-RlvaIs.
1t is contrariwise with the countries
to the west. France and England are
both the great commercial rivals of
Germany. They can furnish a market
only for certain German products,
those which they themselves do not
manufacture sufficiently for their own
needs. The extent of these demands
is comparatively small. The national
policy Of these powers has been, and
must continue to be. that not only Of
supplying in full the needs of their
home market but in addition to ex-
clude from foreign markets the COM
petition of German traders and manu-
facturers. Nor, outside of an under
standing with the French over the
supply Of iron ores from the former
German territories, has either France
or England raw materials to supply
Germany.