STILL ACTIVE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 133, 7 June 1930, Page 9

STILL ACTIVE.

"RED" PROPAGANDA.

British Action to Determine

Responsibility.

COMMONS DEBATE.

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received 12.30 p.m.)

RUGBY, June 6,

Before the House of Commons adjourned to-day for the Whitsun holiday, Sir Oliver Lock'er-Lanipson raised the question of the relations ■with Russia.

Sir Austen Chamberlain, former Congervative Foreign Secretary, said it was rash of the first Labour Government of 1924 to sign a new convention giving further recognition to the Soviet Government while tliey were in open revolt.

It was still more rash to sign the i-recent second convention with its formal recognition of the Soviet and the de iure° Government of Russia when the latter had not altered their attitude, and to resume diplomatic relations on an agreement which the Foreign Secretary "(Mr. A. Henderson) at the time he sicmed it must have known was differently interpreted, in one way by himself and in another by the Soviet Government. Sir Austen pointed out that the Foreign Secretary had given an undertaking that Soviet propaganda would not be tolerated in any form or at any time, but, he declared, propaganda had never ceased for a day. It was as active to-day as ever. The Foreign Secretary had allowed his solemn word to be treated with contempt w the Government with, whom he had established honourable relations, and who had promised to refrain from this propaganda. The Soviet authorities boasted over the action which Mr. Henderson ht>l said he would not tolerate. , The time had come when Mr. Henderson ought to say whether he was going to keep the pledge he gave the House. Was he going to insist on the cessation of this propaganda at Home, in India and elsewhere? ■a. Labour's Reply. Mr. Henderson, replying, said the whole Liberal party, or practically the whole of it, committed themselves just as definitely as the Labour party at the ceneral election to the essential importance of changing the policy of the late Conservative Government regarding the recognition of Russia.

.• The Conservative party was opposed to the recognition, and the Labour party was in favour of it, and one would better begin by appreciating that there was a big gulf between the two parties. Did anyone try to persuade himself that if one outlawed a country like Kussia, it had no effect upon European or world peace ? He did not think anyone would dare to challenge that.

Supposing the Labour Government had broken off relations with Russia, there was no guarantee it would have altered the position respecting propaganda in the slightest. It might have stopped the flow of orders that were beginning to come in, and which werje : likely to come in, in an increasing degree in the next few months. He was not going to try to, persuade the House that propaganda was not going on, but he had to bring propaganda home to the Soviet Government before he could take any action. If this or any other Government at this stage, with our present economic position, broke off relations with Russia on the question of propaganda without being satisfied the Russian Government was responsible for inspiring or financing it, they would not be worthy of their position, and so far as he was concerned he would not be any party to the Government taking such a step.

While the Government had the responsibility, and must consider Russia in its relation -to world peace and British trade, they must be the judge in the first instance of what had occurred.

They had, moreover,_ set up machinery in connection with this matter. Haying set up machinery they would at the right time take the appropriate action. One would have thought the mere fact that the Government had indicated its dissatisfaction with the present position and set ,up that machinery would have given satisfaction to the members of the House.

The result that they all desire was to bring about cessation of propaganda, and to satisfy themselves, if it continued, that the Government with whom they were in friendly relations, was not responsible.

He asked the House to continue its confidence. The Government was determined the machinery they had set up' should test all information available.