BRITAIN AND SOVIET

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 81, 30 December 1929, Page 9

BRITAIN AND SOVIET

EXCHANGE OF NOTES PLEDGES REGARDING PROPAGANDA UNDERTAKING EXTENDED TO DOMINIONS (British Official Wlreteos.) Rugby, December 27. The text is Issued of Notes ectehanged on December 20 between the newly appointed Russian Ambassador in London, MSokolnikoff, and Mr. Arthur Henderson, British Foreign Secretary, regarding propaganda. M. Sokolnikoffi in his Note refers to Clause 7 of the Protocol signed on October 3 last by the Soviet Ambassador in Paris on behalf of the Soviet Government and by Mr. Henderson on behalf of the British Government, in which both Govermnments engaged themselves to confirm the pledge regarding propaganda maintained in Article 16 of the general Treaty signed on August 8, 1924, between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Great Britain. Terms of the Pledge. M. Sokolnikoffi repeats the terms of that Article, which were as follows: — “The contracting parties solemnly affirm their desire and intention to live in peace and amity with each other, scrupulously to respect the undoubted right of a State to order its own life within its own jurisdiction in its own way, to refrain and to restrain all persons and organisations under their direct or indirect control, in- ' eluding organisations in -receipt of financial assistance from them, from any act, overt or covert, liable in any way whatsoever to endanger the tranquility or prosperity of any part of the territory of the British Empire or the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or intended to embitter the relations of the British Empire or Union with their neighbours or any other countries.” i Undertaking Confirmed. It was further agreed. -M. Sokolnikoffi adds, that effect should be given to this clause of the aforesaid Protocol not later than the day on which the respective Ambassadors presented their credentials. M. Sokolnikoffi proceeds:— “Having this day presented to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales letters accrediting me as Ambassador of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to His Majesty the King, I have the honour by direction of the People’s Commissary for Foreign Affairs, and on behalf of the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, to confirm the undertaking contained in the article quoted above, and to inform you that the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics regards that undertaking as having full force and effect as between themselves and His Majesty’s Government of Great Britain and the Government of India. I am instructed to add that the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics will be happy to receive, in accordance with Clause 7 of the Protocol of October 3, a corresponding declaration from His Majesty’s Government in Great Britain and the Government of India.”

/ British Acknowledgement. Mr. Henderson, acknowledging the receipt of the Note, says that in accordance with the understanding between His Majesty’s Government and the Government of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics, as recorded , in the Protocol of October 3, His Majesty’s Ambassador in Moscow has been instructed to inform the Soviet Government that His Majesty’s Government and the Government of India for their part also regard the undertaking contained in Article 16 of the Treaty signed on August 8, 1924, as having full force and effect as between themselves and the Soviet Government. In a Note communicated to the British Foreign Secretary, the Soviet Ambassador says that the Soviet Government, in giving the undertaking contained in Article 16 of the Treaty of 1924, and confirmed by the foregoing Notes, has considered that undertaking as also to the Dominions of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, Irish Free State, and Newfoundland. Consequently, as .soon as the Government of any Dominion shall have regulated its relations with the Soviet Government in a manner as the circumstances of the particular case may require, the Soviet Government will be ready to repeat on the basis of reciprocity the undertaking above referred to in a separate exchange of Notes with such Dominion. Mr. Henderson states in reply that the attitude of the Soviet Government as indicated in the verbal Note is being communicated to His Majesty’s Governments in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Irish Free State, and Newfoundland. At the instance of all these Governments he declared that each of them will regard the undertaking contained in Article 16 of the Treaty of 1924 as having full force and effect as between themselves and the Soviet Government. Notes similar to the first two were also exchanged in Moscow. PROPAGANDA AT BREST DISTRIBUTION BY CREWS OF SOVIET WARSHIPS ("Times” Cables.) (Rec. December 29, 5.5 p.m.) London. December 28. The “Times’” Paris correspondent reports that despite the precautions of the authorities the crews of the Soviet warships Pariskaya and Kommuna succeeded in distributing propaganda among dockyard “Mateys” at Brest, who, however, did not receive the full enlightenment the Bolshevists intended, as the leaflets were printed in Russian.