Evening star., 1933-11-23
to communicate and converse with such

to communicate and converse with such
| national"
StilI another matter. that Of economic
| espionage, was dealt with. this subject
| having received much notice, IN con-
nection with the recent trial Of certain
English engineers in the Soviet Union,
/ and as to this Mr. Litvinof gave, an
explanation in writing which removes
the danger of any American being
punished for disseminating economic
information not obtained by criminal
methods and not within the category
of information which the Government
has impressed with the stamp Of.
secrecy.
Claims and Counter Claims.
After consideration of non-interfer-
ence with our political institutions and
the rights of our nationals, the further
agreements between the President and
Mr.. Litvinoff had reference to the set
tlement of claims and counter claims.
The Soviet government agrees to take
no steps to enforce decisions OF courts
or to start new litigation about amounts
admitted to be due it from American
nationals, or that might be found to
be due it, as the successor of prior
governments of Russia or otherwise,
and assigns all such amounts to the
Government of the United States. These
assets which thus come into the owner
ship Of the United States undoubtedly
total large amount. Beyond this it
was agreed that the Soviet govern
ment shall not make any claim in re-
spect to judgments rendered or that
may be rendered by American courts In
relation to property rights or interest
therein in which the Soviet or its
Il r. lod mo
to have an interest. and shall not make
any claim with respect to acts done or
settlement made by or with the Gov
ernment of the United States, or public
officials in the United States, or its
nationals, relating to property, credits,
or obligations of any government OF
Russia or nationals thereof. And be-
yond all of this the Soviet government
agree to waive any and all claims arls-
ing out of activities of military forces
of the United States in Siberia, or as
sistance to military forces in Siberia
subsequent to January /, 1918, and to
regard them as finally settled and dis
there there Was VI y a joint statement by the he
President and Mr.. Litvinoff saying "n
addition to the agreements which we
have signed today, there has taken
gard to methods of settling all out
claims that permits us to hope for
speedy and satisfactory solution of
these questions which both our gov
ernmentS desire to have out of the way
as soon as possible" While Mr.. Lit
vinoff is remaining in Washington con-
ferences will be- in progress with a
view to effecting such a speedy and
satisfactory solution.
Not in any bostful spirit, but taking
the facts as outlined, may it not be
confidently said that the President by
his successful termination of the ne
gotiations has heightened the list of
fine achievements marking the few
months since his Inauguration? And
may it not be said that few doubtless
conscientious but apparently bewildered
individuals who swiftly imagine serious
evils will be consequent on recognition
would perform a more patriotic service
by withholding pessimistic predictions
not one Of which may ever be verified?
Friendly Normal Relations.
There are now hundreds of American
citizens residing in Russia and 1t is
reasonable to suppose that there will
be very many more as time goes on, and
one supreme value attaching to recog-
milton is that henceforth We will have
competent and active official represen-
tatives in the Soviet Union with full
opportunity to do whatever is required
to protect those citizens in the full en-
joynaent of the rights to which they
are entitled by virtue of the agree
ments and any other fundamental
rights which in any contingency may