PACT SIGNED

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 August 1939, Page 7

PACT SIGNED

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT DETAILED PROVISIONS GIVEN [by cable—press assn.—copyright.] (Received August 24, 2.45 p.m.) BERLIN, August 23. It is officially announced that the Russo-German Pact has been signed in Moscow, by Herr von Ribbentrop and M. Molotov, in the presence of M. Stalin. The Pact will run for ten years. Article One says: The two contracting parties undertake to refrain from any act of force, and any aggressive act or any attacks against each other,, either individually, or . in, conjunction with other Powers. Article Two: If 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 Three: The Governments of the two contracting Powers will in future remain in :co<nsultation with one another, to inform themselves upon questions touching their common interests. Article Four: 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 Five: In the event of differences or between the

two contracting .Powers on questions of any kind, the two partners will solve the disputes and conflicts exclusively by a friendly exchange of views, or, if necessary, by arbitration commissions. Article Six: The agreement is for a- duration of ten years, with the stipulation that, unless one of the partners gives notice of its termination one year before expiration it will automatically be prolonged for five years. Article Seven: The present agreement shall be ratified in the shortest possible time. Ratification documents will be exchanged in Berlin. The treaty will operate immediately after .signing. GERMAN INTERPRETATION. LONDON, August 23. The German spokesman declared that Article Four precludes a Soviet alliance with Britain, but does not preclude a closer Soviet agreement with Germany.