TRADE AGREEMENT.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18919, 7 February 1927, Page 9

TRADE AGREEMENT.

RUSSIANS PERTURBED

(AUSTRALIA* AHO N.Z. CASLK AeSOCIAft6I».) (Received February 6th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, February 4. The Agitation by a section of the Presß in England in favour of the abrogation of the Angle-Russian Trade Agreement is apparently causing some uneasiness in Moscow, judging by a lengthy statement made by the ootingForeign Commissary, M. Litvinoflf, and transmitted from Moscow, reviewing the situation in China. M. Litvinof! professed regret that the coupling of peace negotiations with threats of intimidation and military intervention had caused a breakdown. He asserted that the British Conservatives WerO now trying to shift their own mistakes On to the shoulders of tho Soviet Government by the ridiculous legends that the Chinese Nationalist movement was duo to tho machinations of Soviet agents. llie Soviet Government sympathised with tho Chineso Liberativo movement, but it by no means followed that it recommended the Canton. Government to strain its relations with Great Britain or that it should stand in tho way of a peaceful agreement with Britain. M. Litvinoff declared that t tho Soviet Government never fdrgot its obligations under tho Anglo-Uusaian Treaty of 1921. The straining of Anglo-Rus-sian relation* would be a Wow to the interests hot only of the whole of Britain but also to those of the very financial industrial groups which were now most loudly demanding the rupture of relations. JAPAN ALARMED.

THREAT TO SfilZß IRON MINE. (Snmit "Sen" SBBVtCB.) (Received February 6th, 6.5 p.m.) TOKIO, February 4. It \b reported that the Chinese Nationalist* are planning to seiie the H*nyeh.plfdt irftn mine abovo Hankow This is vastly worrying tho Japon6*e, irho ■£ in " th* nrtt heavy blow. Tins mine is *«** ll *"A Im* «Atirce of nig- ron for Japan'* GovOr mtlli6ns m invested, -rapnft a »» Srwt« in tho wine are "J a treaty, forrning M I »?p6rt*»* W* It those inWfests* in Chin* which Mr Shidohara declared J«P«n must nfftUfct.

LABOUR'S GRATIFICATION. (AtoSMAMAK AKD »C.r. CABLS ASSfICIAtIOK.) LONDON, Februftfy 4. The National' Jbint Labonr Council telegraphed Mr Chert rtprttftin* gAt - fication at his aslurance that their S has enabled tho contihuation 3 theT negotiations, which th* Labour Party firmly supports and hopes t at thd parties concerned will make l»p»* sible. .. ITALY'S ENDORSEMENT.

(AUSTBAIJAS AKD SZ. "BUS ASSdcUMbK.) ROME, February 4. It is reported that WJ" ** l 'J Note to the British Government endowing the lattor's ainese policy «* Staging the rights of Powers to defend their interests m China. MR CHURCHILL'S VIEW. (ACSmtUN AKO XZ.CABM A*S6CIAT«6K.) * LONDON, February 4. "I do not beliero there aro any ground for gravo anxiety in the Chinese situation" said Mr Winston Churchill, speaking as a guest at tho Manchester Constitutional Club. "We sought nothing in China, but we are Able to Sell to tho Chinese the goods they desire, and reeeivO »n exchange therefor good* teJ»£; selves. We regard the 4W,000,UW Chinese as potential friends and customers. The last thing you usually do to a potential customer is to shoot him, and the last thing w shftble w that the potential customer shoot you. I believe that if supported by the public we will, with patience and sellrespecting firmness, procure ft great, amelioration in tho Chine«e position before the ond of the year.''