RED ROUBLES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 144, 19 June 1926, Page 9

RED ROUBLES.

SOVIET AND BRITAIN. QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE. LONDON, June 18. In the House of Commons, Commander Locker Lampson (Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs) asked whether the Government was considering the advisability of withdrawing recognition of the Soviet Government, in view of the offer of money from Moscow for a general strike in Great Britain. Sir Wm. Joynson Hicks replied thai the Government having protested in the most formal manner to the Soviet Government, did not propose at present to take the step indicated by Commander Locker Lampson. The Government was equally indisposed to forbid so-called charity gifts in connection with industrial disputes, but was carefully watching for further action of the Soviet Government and affiliated organisations. It would not fail to act if a change of policy should be necessary. He declared that His Majesty's Government was satisfied the Soviet Government and the various Communist and trade union organisations are under a single controlling authority. He mentioned that a sum of £380,000 had been contributed byRussia to the Council of Trade Unions in connection with the miners' dispute. A discussion developed, during which, in reply to Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald and others, Sir William Joynson-Hicks said the Government would arrange for a discussion of the widest possible character in regard to Russian relations. In reply to a question in the House of Lords, the Earl of Balfour, Lord President of the Council, said the avowed object of the Soviet Government was to destroy the social system of Britain. The presumption was that the money sent to England was not contributed by the workers, but by the Soviet Government. He was not quite sure that Britain should have recognised the Soviet. That was an arguable point, but there was a great difference between breaking off relations and not entering into relations at all. The first course would produce disturbances far beyond the confines of the two countries and w*as the last course any responsible statesman would like to take. It was one which, without an adequate object, would add a new social disturbance to an over-disturbed world. "What are we going to gain by breaking off relations?" said Lord Balfour. "I am quite unable to see any gain. Until the situation develops in a manner in which I hope it will not develop, I suggest that we. go on diplomatically as at present. "Nothing is to be gained by formal gestures. When we cordially disapprove of a Government whose action we can in no manner control, I am in favour of leaving things as they are, having quite explicitly explained that we are not tne dupes of Russian policy. "With public opinion behind us, we have nothing to fear from the contrivances and intrigues of any nation in the world."—(A. and N.Z.I"