FRANCE AND RUSSIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19216, 4 January 1926, Page 8

FRANCE AND RUSSIA.

TREATY SOUGHT BY SOVIET. NEGOTIATIONS EXPECTED. LONDON. Dec. 22. . It is now revealed that, during his visit to Paris, the Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs, M. Tchitcherin, informed tie Premier of Franco, M. Briand, that tho Soviet now did not attach much importance to the Treaty of Rapallo and its friendship with Germany, and would be prepared to denounce that treaty provided it could como to terms with France. There is good authority for stating, says the Paris correspondent of the Times, that M. Tchitchcrin's offer was not altogether refused. Ho was told that a political agreement must be preceded by a settlement of the Russian debt and other outstanding questions, and that the French Government attached the greatest importance to the Locarno Pact as a guarantee of security. The Soviet Minister was also told that France considered that the best way to ensure Europe's peace was to reinforce the League of Nations' powers and prestige. Consequently, if the Soviet wished to maintain European peace, it should enter tho League on the same terms as tho others had done. M. Tchitcherin "Bras given to understand that the > French Government had no objection to concluding a special agreement with the Soviet, provided that the terms wore compatible with France's obligations to her Allies, and that the main object of such agreement was to ensure Europe's political a stability. France, it was added, would not participate in any combination directed against Britain. Tho Russian Minister declares that he is perfectly satisfied with his conversations with M. Briand, and that official negotiations will be opened early in January.