NO PLEDGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 288, 5 December 1929, Page 7

NO PLEDGE.

"RED" PROPAGANDA. Labour Policy On Russian Relations Explained. REASONS FOR RESUMPTION. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, December 4. The resumption of diplomatic relations with Russia was the subject of a debate in the House of Lords initiated by Lord Birkenhead, who called attention to the recent Soviet revolutionary propaganda and invited a statement of policy of the Government. Hβ also moved a resolution that the resumption of relations at present was undesirable. Lord Thomson, replying, said the policy of the Government was to resume normal diplomatic relations with Russia with the least possible delay and at the same time to safeguard British inteiests, not only in this country, but throughout the world. The Government hoped to contribute to the maintenance of world peace and to expand British trade.

It was the Government's view that relations with the Soviet Government should never have been broken off. The policy of refusing relations because they could not accept the promises of the Soviet Government was a policy of despair. It would mean that the present state of affairs would continue indefinitely. Ambassadors had not yet been exchanged and a pledge regarding propaganda had not yet been given. The Government had not renounced, and would not renounce, their right to take any measure "they might think necessary to cheek foreign subversive propaganda, from whatever source it might emanate. Lord Brentford (Sir W. Joynson-Hicks) asked whether, in the face of that declaration, if propaganda continued either in Britain or in the Empire, instigated by the Russian Government, their envoy would be sent out again? Lord Thomson replied: If it is instigated by the Russian Government, most certainly. Lord Birkenhead: Including the Third International? Lord Thomson: "Yes." Continuing Lord Thomson said he did not want to leave the impression that propaganda would cease as if by magic. It could not, in the nature of things, with a body like the Third International. Atrocities and Executions. Regarding the argument that relations should not be resumed with a country where atrocities and executions had taken placje, he said the Government did not condone atrocities and regretted executions, but they believed that a resumption of relations with Russia would tend to diminish the system of executions and atrocities which still prevailed there. "We believe that it is in the best interest of our country to resume relations. We believe that it is absolutely indispensable for the general peace of the world, and that is the reason why the Government are undertaking their present policy." Lord Reading (Liberal) approved the Government's policy as sound and wise and in the interests of real security for universal peace. Hβ would have preferred to see an agreement definitely setting down the terms of the relations that were to exist before the exchange of Ambassadors, but he hoped that when the conditions were laid down they would be as definite and precise as possible. The Archbishop of Canterbury .drew attention to the attitude of the Soviet Government towards Christianity and all forms of religion, but he had received information that there was now a cessation of the more flagrant violations of the elementary principles of justice. He believed there would be a greater chance of securing some alleviation of the difficult position of religious people in Russia if representations could be made through the ordinary diplomatic means to the Soviet Government.