BRITISH NOTE TO SOVIET

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 110, 10 May 1923, Page 7

BRITISH NOTE TO SOVIET

DEFINITE ISSUES RAISED

TEN DAYS FOR A REPLY.

(BNHtB PKISS ASSOCIATION.— COPJRISBTj jUWTSUUAN . jrevr ZEAIAND CABLB ASSOCIATION.) (Reoeived 10th May, 10 a.m.) LONDON, 9th May. ] The text of the British Note, sent to Russia by aeroplane, has been issued. The Note gives the Soviet ten days in .which to comply with its requests, the alternative being that Britain will recognise that the Soviet does not wißh the exis^ng relations maintained. The Note demands an apology for, and the cessation of, the Soviet's anti-British ; propaganda and hostile action, partic-1 ularly in the East, and the recall of the | officials responsible for this propaganda. The Note also demands an admission of the Soviet's liability for, and undertaking to pay compensation in, cases where British subjects have been maltreated in Russia, and where British ships have been seized. It also demands the unequivocal withdrawal of the offensive reply to British .representations regarding the Archbishop Zeiplak and! Budkevitch. The Note states that though Britain has scrupulously observed the article in the Trade Agreement promising to refrain from any hostile act, the Soviet has flagrantly violated it. The Note, in citing outrages against British subjects, mentions the murder of Davison, in January, 1920, and the arrest and imprisonment on a false charge of Mrs. Stan Harding. Compensation is demanded for the loss of the Magneta and the seizures of the vessels St. Hubert and James Johnson, and an assurance is sought that British trawlers will not be further interfered with outside the three-mile limit.

Referring to Russia's reply to the British representations on behalf of the archbishopg, the Note says: "It seems difficult to arrive at any other conclusion than that the Soviet is either convinced that Britain will accept any insult sooner than break with the Soviet, or that the Soviet desires to terminate the relations created by the Trade 'Agreement."