The German-Russian Pact was signed in Moscow early this morning. It is to run for ten years, and the terms are as follows:
Guided by the desire to strengthen the cause of peace between Germany and the Soviet Republics, and based on the fundamental stipulations of the neutrality agreement concluded in April, 1926, the German Government and the Soviet have come to the following agreement:╤
Article 1.
The two contracting Powers undertake to refrain from any act of force, any aggressive act, and any attacks against each other, or in conjunction with any other Powers.
Article 2.
If one of the contracting Powers should become the object of warlike action on the part of a third Power the other contracting Power will in no way support the third Power.
Article 3.
The Governments of the two contracting Powers will in future remain in consultation with one another in order to inform themselves about questions which touch their common interests.
Article 4.
Neither of the two contracting Powers will join any other group of Powers which directly or indirectly is directed against one of the two.
Article 5.
In case differences or conflict should arise between the two contracting Powers on questions of any kind the two partners will solve these disputes or conflicts exclusively by friendly exchange of views or, if necessary, by arbitration commissions.
Article 6.
The agreement is concluded for the duration of ten years with the stipulation that unless one of the contracting partners gives notice to terminate it one year before its expiration it will automatically be prolonged by five years.
Article 7.
The present agreement shall be ratified in the shortest possible time. The ratification documents are to be exchanged in Berlin. The treaty comes into force immediately after it has been signed.
The pact was signed by Herr von Ribbentrop and Mr. Molotoff in the presence of Stalin.
The German Foreign Minister will leave Moscow this afternoon to report to Herr Hitler at Berchtesgaden.
British Warning to Hitler
There were signs of deepening crisis in Europe yesterday, and in Britain further steps towards complete preparedness for any emergency were taken.
The British Ambassador in Berlin flew to see Hitler in Berchtesgaden yesterday to take to him what our Diplomatic Correspondent calls ╥the most solemn warning conceivable.╙ The meeting is said to have been a short one and last evening the official German news agency made the following abrupt announcement about it:╤
The Fuehrer left the British Ambassador in no doubt that the obligations entered into by the British Government cannot induce Germany to renounce her right to stand up for her vital national interests.
For some time there has been talk in Berlin of Germany demanding her 1914 frontiers once more. A significant comment in the ╥Frankfurter Zeitung╙ says: ╥No one should be surprised if Germany, contrary to earlier possibilities, takes the only possible standpoint, which is to demand 1000 per cent reparation of the wrong of Versailles.╙
