103 years ago today, on April 16th, 1922 (March 20th, 1922 in the lunar calendar), Germany and Russia signed the Treaty of Raballo. On April 16, 1922, Allied delegates spitted in Genoa and were very annoyed. They gathered to discuss the financial restructuring of Europe. They hoped to force Soviet Russia to repay the tsar's debts. Before the meeting in Genoa had hardly begun, the Allies were surprised to learn that German and Soviet representatives were talking in nearby Lagello, and even signed a new treaty. German Foreign Minister Walter Ratling reached an agreement with Soviet People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs Checherin, who succeeded Trotsky. Germany agreed to be the first country to recognize the Soviet Union. Both countries are in favor of canceling all pre-war debts and abandoning the enigmatic demands of wartime. Germany has also accepted very favorable trade concessions. The conference of Raballo had destroyed the conference of Genaie, and the Allies wondered whether the new treaty would also destroy the treaty of Versailles.