Russo-Turk Treaty

At Paris, M. Georg Tchitcherin and Tewfic Rushdi Bey, respectively the Foreign Ministers of Soviet Russia and Turkey, signed a three-year mutual guarantee compact in three articles and with three attached protocols:

The Articles. 1) Neither country shall attack the other. 2) Should naval or military action be taken against either party by a third power or powers, the other party agrees to remain neutral. 3) Neither party shall participate in any union or agreement of an economic or political nature which may be directed against the other party by a third power or powers.

The Protocols. 1) Both countries shall have entire mutual freedom of action, outside of the obligations just entered into. 2) The words "economic" and "political" in Article 3 (above) shall be interpreted in the widest sense, to cover all hostile agreements against either country under these heads. 3) The contracting parties mutually agree to determine upon a method of peaceably regulating differences arising between them which are not susceptible of adjustment through the normal diplomatic channels.

The Significance. Observers were inclined to smile at the bow to old school "secret diplomacy" which was made by the signatories in keeping their negotiations under cover until last week, although the signatures were affixed on Dec. 17. Diplomats widely averred that the treaty constitutes a standing bluff on the part of Soviet Russia and Turkey to the effect that neither will join that "union of an economic and political nature," the League of Nations. Diplomats opined that a further tang of bluff is given to the agreement by the fact that mutual neutrality instead of mutual aid is promised between the parties. The more excitable newspapers of the U. S. hailed the agreement as a threat to Great Britain's power in the Near East, especially in Mosul.