RUSSO-GERMAN PACT SIGNED

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 199, 24 August 1939, Page 12

RUSSO-GERMAN PACT SIGNED

TERMS ANNOUNCED Treaty Finalised In Presence Of Stalin TEN-YEAR AGREEMENT (Received 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, this day. An official Berlin message announces that the Russo-German pact was signed at Moscow by Herr von Ribbentrop and M. Molotoff in the presence of M. Stalin. Article I of the Russo-German Treaty states that the two contracting parties undertake to refrain from any act of force or aggressive act or any attacks against each other, either individually or in conjunction with other Powers. Article 2.—lf one of the contracting Powers becomes the object of warlike action on the part of a third Power, then the other contracting Power will in nowise support the third Power. Article 3.—The Governments of the two contracting Powers will in future consult one another to inform themselves on questions touching their common interests. Article 4. None of the two contracting Powers will join any other group of Powers which directly or indirectly is directed against one of the two. Article s.—That in the event of differences or conflicts arising between the two contracting Powers on questions of any kind, the two parties will solve such disputes or conflicts exclusively by the friendly exchange of views or, if necessary, by arbitration commissions. Article 6.——The agreement is for the duration of ten years, with a stipulation that unless one of the partners gives notice of its termination one year the expiration, it will automatically be prolonged for five years. Article 7.—The present agreement shall be ratified in the shortest possible time. The ratification documents will be exchanged in Berlin. The treaty operates immediately after signing. The German spokesman declared that Article 4 precludes a Soviet alliance with Britain, but does not preclude a closer Soviet agreement with Germany.