Rakovsky's Recall

Moscow remaining dully silent to French reminders that Ambassador Christian G. Rakovsky had become persona non grata, (the diplomatic equivalent of demanding his recall), the French Government decided last week to take stronger steps.

M. Rakovsky incurred French displeasure some months ago while in Moscow conferring with his government. Although in every sense an ambassador accredited to the head of a foreign country, he was undiplomatic enough, or brazen enough, to sign a Bolshevik proclamation calling upon the workers and soldiers of European countries to strike and revolt against their governments in the event of a war with Russia.

Exasperated, the Paris press in particular looked upon the action as little less than impudence and forthwith began a campaign look-ing .toward his recall. The French Government was constrained to ask its envoy in Moscow, M. Jean Herbette, to make friendly recommendations to the Kremlin to this effect. But the Bolshevik authorities remained deaf to the French request and dumb so far as M. Rakovsky was concerned.

Then the naval mutinies broke out in the south of France (TIME, Oct. 10) and the voice of the French press grew louder. The Government, earnestly desiring to avoid a row, according to Foreign Minister Aristide Briand, was last week compelled by force of public opinion to demand unequivocally the recall of Soviet Ambassador Rakovsky from France.

Failure of Moscow to act might lead the French Government to hand M. Rakovsky his passports, thus compelling him to return to Russia, an act that might be regarded as "unfriendly" by the Bolsheviki.