Russia Recognized

In the Quai d'Orsay, French Foreign Office, on the forenoon of a typical Paris October day, Premier Herriot made a momentous decision.

At 12 o'clock, the wireless apparatus on the top of the Eiffel Tower spoke to the world: "France has recognized Russia."

In a note, Premier Herriot had acquainted the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Russia) that de jure recognition had been extended by the French Republic.

In an acknowledgement, signed by Kalinin, Rykov and Tchitcherin, the U. S. S. R. voiced its pleasure with the action of France, suggested an immediate exchange of ambassadors.

The terms of recognition were virtually negligible. It was understood by the two Governments that neither should interfere in the domestic affairs of the other. As, according to the Russian Government, the Communist (Third) Internationale is in no way connected with the Government, the latter will, of course, not be responsible for the dissemination of propaganda in France by the Internationale.

All matters concerning debts, loans, property, treaties, etc., are to await discussion by conference of the two parties. Hence recognition follows the same formula as that laid down by Premier MacDonald last spring when he extended a virtually meaningless recognition to the Moscow autocrats (TIME, Apr. 28).

In the capital of Tsarist Russia (Paris), royal Russians and those loyal to royal Russians staged a demonstration protesting against the recognition of their enemy the Bolsheviki. Their plans were to run up the Imperial Flag on the old Embassy, but it was thought that they would be persuaded not to do so as such an act would inevitably bring them into collision with the Paris police.

Meantime, former Imperial Russian Ambassador to France, M. Maklakov, called upon M. Herriot to hand over the Embassy buildings. M. Herriot told M. Maklakov that he was a private citizen and said that the Embassy was automatically the property of the Bolshevik Government; therefore, M. Herriot could not receive the Embassy and M. Maklakov could not give it.

Later, M. Maklakov requested the Papal Nuncio. Monsignor Cerretti, to hand over the building to the Bolsheviki. It was believed that the Pope's Ambassador accepted the mission, but the report was unconfirmed. At all events, the royalist Russians removed all their papers and documents to another building before quitting the Embassy.