AGREEMENT SOON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 155, 4 July 1939, Page 11

AGREEMENT SOON.

MOSCOW PACT TALKS. Soviet Much More Friendly To Britain And France. HALIFAX SPEECH PUBLISHED. Independent Cable Service. LONDON, July 3. j It is authoritatively stated in J Paris that a pact with the Soviet may now be concluded in principle! within 48 hours. The attitude of the Soviet is reported to be much j more friendly toward Britain and j France, as is indicated by the publication in full of Viscount Halifax's warning to aggressors.

According to news agency reports from Moscow, there was a conversation at the Kremlin yesterday, which lasted two hours, between the Soviet Foreign Minister, M. Molotoff, and the British and French Ambassadors, together wjth the British Foreign Office Counsellor, Mr. William Strang, says a British official wireless message.

The initiative in the talks, it is understood, came from the French and British side. It is anticipated that there will be a further exchange of views soon, when the Russian rejoinder will lie heard.

The Foreign Oflico lias received a | report from the British Ambassador. Sir William Seed*, on yesterday's talks. It is not likely, however, that Mr. Chamberlain at question time in the House of Commons to-morrow will I have anything of importance to add to his earlier statements regarding the Moscow negotiations. RUSSIA'S STRENGTH. Soviet Admiral Claims Swift Growth Of Naval Power. BIG SUBMARINE FLEET. (Received 11.30 a.m.) MOSCOW, July 3. Admiral Ivan Isakoff, Deputy-Commis-sar of the Navy, who recently returned from the United States, where, it is believed, he sought facilities for the construction of warships' armour-plate, declared that the rapidity and magnitude of Russian naval construction was unprecedented in the history of the world's war fleets. The admiral also claimed that the Russian submarine fleet was among the leaders in the world's navies. I NO STATEMENT. Russian Reply Sent To Britain And France. CHAMBERLAIN QUESTIONED. (Received 1.30 p.m.) RUGBY, July 3. Replying to questions in the House of Commons in reference to the negotiations between Britain and Russia, Mr. Chamberlain said: "Further instructions have been sent to Sir William Seeds, British Ambassador, and in company with M. Naggiar, French Ambassador, he had another interview with M. Molotoff on Saturday.

"Britain is now awaiting the considered reply from the Soviet, and I do not think it would be advisable to make a further statement at this stage of the negotiations." He added that he could not expect to make a more definite statement until this considered reply had been received. M l . Molotoff has communicated to Sir William Seeds and M. Maggiar the Soviet reply to the British and French proposals, states a cable from Moscow.