Coal land concessions for fifteen years in the Don district to the Stinnes group.

Land concessions in Kuban and Terek, involving settlement by German colonists.

Oil concession in Grozhno to the Krupps.1

1On the treaties and trade agreements of Soviet Russia, see Commerce Reports, June 25, 1923, p. 809.

VII. THE RUSSIAN-TURKISH TREATY

Bolshevist policy toward the Near East has been defined officially as "a policy of compromises leading to understanding with the Oriental nationalistic states which are struggling for their independence against western imperialism." The treaty signed by Moscow with the Angora Government of Turkey on March 16, 1921, is an interesting example of that policy. By it the Russians renounced all the historic Russian claims in Turkey and studiously repudiated any policy which they were certain would be followed by the western states in respect of Turkey. The reasons for such a show of generosity are to be found in the fact that on some of these the Bolshevists set no value while with regard to others they knew that their action would embarrass other states. This treaty of Moscow reads as follows1:

Sharing the principle of the brotherhood of nations and of the right of the peoples to self-determination, and confirming the solidarity which unites them in the struggle against imperialism, as well as the fact that any difficulties raised before one of the peoples are liable to complicate the situation of the other, the Government of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic on the one hand, and the Government of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on the other, animated by the desire to establish lasting and cordial relations, and by a continuous and sincere friendship based on their mutual interests, have decided to conclude with one another a treaty of friendship and brotherhood, and with this object have appointed as their plenipotentiaries:

The Government of the R. S. F. S. R.: George Vassilievich Chicherin, People's Commissary for Foreign Affairs and member of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, and Djelal-Eddin Korkmassoff, Member of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee; and the Government of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey: Yussuf Kemal Bey, People's Commissary for National Economy of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and Deputy from Kastamuny to the aforesaid Assembly; Dr. Riza Nur Bey, People's Commissary for Education of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and Deputy from Sinop to the aforesaid Assembly; Ali Fuad Pasha, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the 'Translation by Alexander Nazaroff, from Current History, November, 1922, p. 277.

Grand National Assembly of Turkey and Deputy from Angora to the aforesaid Assembly.

These plenipotentiaries, after having exchanged their respective credentials, which were found to be in due and legal form, have come to the following agreement:

ARTICLE 1. Neither contracting party will recognize treaties or international acts which are imposed by force on the other party. The Government of the R. S. F. S. R. agrees to recognize no such international acts concerning Turkey that have not been recognized by the Nationalist Turkish Government as represented by the Grand National Assembly.

The frontiers of Turkey are understood in this treaty to include all the territories enumerated in the National Turkish Pact which were agreed to and proclaimed by the Chamber of Deputies on January 28, 1920 (1336, Turkish calendar), in Constantinople. The text of this pact was communicated to the press as well as to all the powers.

The northeastern boundary line of Turkey is specified as follows: This line starts from the Village of Sarp on the Black Sea coast, crosses the mountain Khedis-Mta, and follows the watershed line of the mountains Shavshet and Kanni-Dag. Thence it follows the northern administrative frontier of the sanjaks of Ardahan and Kars, and the bed of the rivers Arpa-Tchai and Arax, thus reaching the mouth of the Lower Kara-Ssu (Appendix I., A and B).

ART. 2. Turkey agrees to cede to Georgia the suzerainty over the city and the port of Batum, as well as over the territories north of the frontier, which are specified in Art. 1 of the present treaty and which form part of the Batum district, on condition that

1. The population of the territories defined in this article shall enjoy a broad administrative autonomy which will secure to every community the respect of its religious and cultural rights; the population shall be granted the possibility of enacting such agrarian laws as it may wish to enjoy.

2. Turkey shall be permitted full use of the port of Batum for the transit of all imported and exported merchandise, free of custom dues or any levies. This right of Turkey shall be hampered by no regulations, and no special taxes shall be exacted from her for the use of this port.

ART. 3. The two contracting parties agree that the district of Nakhichevan, the frontiers of which are specified in Appendix I. (C) of the present treaty, shall form an autonomous territory under the protectorate of Azerbaijan, provided Azerbaijan shall cede this protectorate to no other country.

The triangular territory of Nakhichevan is formed by the line which follows the bed of the river Arax, and passes by the mountains Dachna (3829), Veli Dag (4121), Bagarzik (6587), Kemurlu Dag (6930), and

Serai-Bulak (8071). Thence it reaches the station Ararat, and rejoins
Arax at the crossing with Kara-Ssu. A commission of delegates from
Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia will fix this line laid down above.

ART. 4. Recognizing that the national movements in the Orient are similar to and in harmony with the struggle of the Russian workingmen for the new social order, the two contracting parties assert solemnly the rights of these peoples to freedom, independence and free choice of such forms of government as they themselves desire to have.

ART. 5. With a view to guaranteeing the freedom of the Straits and their free passage for commercial purposes to all countries, both parties agree to intrust to a special conference, composed of the delegates from all the riverain states, the drafting of the definitive and international status of the Black Sea and of the Straits, on condition that its decisions shall not prejudice the absolute sovereignty and the safety of Turkey and of her capital, Constantinople.

ART. 6. Both parties recognize that all the treaties theretofore concluded between them do not correspond to their reciprocal interests. Therefore, they agreed to consider the aforesaid treaties void and abrogated. The Government of the R. S. F. S. R. declares, in particular, that it considers Turkey free from any financial or other obligations based on international treaties concluded between Turkey and the Government of the Tsar.

ART. 7. The Government of the R. S. F. S. R. considers the capitulatory régime to be incompatible with the free national development, and with the sovereignty of any country, and it regards all the rights and acts relating in any way to this régime as annulled and abrogated.1

ART. 8. Both contracting parties undertake not to allow on their respective territories the formation and the sojourn of groups that would lay claim to the rôle of Government in the country of the other party, or in a part of it, as well as of groups that intend to struggle against the other party. Russia and Turkey assume analogous obligations based on the principle of reciprocity with regard to the Transcaucasian Soviet Republics. It is agreed that Turkish territory, as defined in this article, is understood to include only that part of the country which is under the direct military and civil administration of the Government of the Grand National Assembly.

ART. 9. With the object of facilitating intercourse between their respective countries, both parties agree to take in concert with each

'The Turkish text refers specially to Turkey, viz., “The . . . Soviet Republic, recognizing that the régime of the capitulations is incompatible with the national development of Turkey, as well as with the full exercise of its sovereign rights, considers null and void the exercise in Turkey of all functions and of all rights under the capitulatory régime.

other all measures necessary to maintain and develop within the shortest possible time railway, telegraphic and other ways of communication. [Measures will also be taken to secure the free and unhampered traffic of passengers and commodities between the two countries. It is understood, however, that the passenger traffic, as well as the export and import of commodities, will be subject in every country to the regulations existing to that effect.]1

ART. 10. Citizens of each of the contracting parties living on the territory of the other contracting party will share all the rights and obligations based on the laws of the country in which they sojourn, with the exception of the obligations relating to the national defense, of which they shall be free. Questions relating to family law and to the law of inheritance, as well as to the juridical competency of the citizens of both countries, shall also make an exception to the stipulations of this article, and shall be regulated by a special convention.

ART. 11. Both parties agree to accord the most-favored treatment to the citizens of each party residing on the territory of the other party. The stipulations of the present article apply neither to the citizens of the Soviet Republics allied to Russia, nor to the citizens of the Moslem countries allied to Turkey.

ART. 12. Every resident of the territories which prior to 1918 formed part of Russia, and which by virtue of the present treaty are recognized by the Government of the R. S. F. S. R. as passing under the sovereignty of Turkey, shall be free to leave Turkey, taking with him his belongings and property, or an equivalent sum of money. The same right is granted to the residents of Batum, suzerainty over which by virtue of the present treaty is ceded by Turkey to Georgia.

ART. 13. Russia undertakes to convey, at her own expense, all Turkish military and civil prisoners now in her territory to the Northwestern Turkish frontier. In the Caucasus and in European Russia this shall be carried out within three months from the day of the signature of this treaty, while in Asiatic Russia the time is extended to six months. The details of this repatriation shall be the subject of a special convention to be drawn up immediately after the signature of this treaty."

ART. 14. Both contracting parties agree to conclude in the nearest future a Consular agreement, as well as such treaties regulating economic, financial and other questions, as are necessary for the establishment of the reciprocal friendly relations outlined in the introduction of this treaty.

'The bracketed clauses are omitted by the Turkish version.

"The Turkish version, representing obviously a later addition, makes the agreement mutual, viz., "Turkey enters into a similar agreement respecting Russian prisoners of war and civil prisoners who are still in Turkey."