BRITISH POLICY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 132, 7 June 1930, Page 9

BRITISH POLICY

RECOGNISING RUSSIA CHAMBERLAIN CRITIC HENDERSON IN DEFENCE British Official Wireless. (Received 7th June, 11 a.m.) , RUGBY, 6th Juno. Before the House of Commons adjourned to-day for the Whitsun holiday Commander Oliver Lockcr-Lanipson raised the question of relations with Russia. Sir Austen Chamberlain, the former Conservative Foreign Secretary, said that it was rash of tho first Labour Government of 1924 to sign a new Convention, giving further recognition to the Soviet Government - while they were in open revolt. It was still rasher to sign tho recent second Convention with its formal recognition of tho Soviet as a do jure Government of Russia when the latter had not altered its attitude and to resume diplomatic relations on an agreement which the Foreign Secretary at the time he signed it must have known was differently interpreted—in one way by himself and in another by the Soviet Government.

ACTIVE PROPAGANDA. Sir Austen Chamberlain pointed out that the Foreign Secretary had given an undertaking that Soviet propaganda would not bo tolerated in any form or at any time, but that 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 by the Government with which he had established honourable relations and which had promised to refrain from this propaganda. Tho Soviet autho-ities have boasted of tho action which Mr. Henderson had said that, he would not tolerate. The time, had come when. Mr. Henderson ought to say whether ho was going to keep the pledge ha gave the House. Was he going to insist on the cessation of this propaganda at Home, in India, and elsewhere? NO USE OUTLAWING RUSSIA. Mr. Henderson, replying, said that the whole of the Liberal Party, or practically the whole of it, committed themselves just as definitely as the Labour Party at the General Election, to tho essential importance of ''changing the policy of the late Conservative Government regarding the recognition, of Russia. The Conservative Party was opposed to recognition. 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 Russia 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 that it would have altered the position respecting propaganda in tho slightest. It might have stopped the flow of orders that were beginning to corne in and which .wore likely to come in in an. increasing degree in the next few months.

. lie was not going to try to persuade the House that propaganda was not going on. 'But he had to ; bring the propaganda home to the Soviet Government before ho could take action. If this or any other Government at this stage, with our present economic position, broke off relations with Bussia on, the question of propaganda without being satisfied that the Eussian Government was responsible for inspiring or financing it, it would not be worthy of its position and, so far as he was concerned, ho would not be any party to the Government's taking such a step. • While the Government had responsibility and must consider Kussia in its relation to world peace and British trade, it must be judge in tha first instance of what had occurred, ADEQUATE MACHINERY. They had, moreover, set up machinery in connection with this matter. Having set up tho machinery, they would at the right time take appropriate action. One. would have thought the mere fact that the Government had indicated _its dissatisfaction with tho present position! and set up that machinery would have given satisfaction to tho.members of the House. The result that they all desired was to bring about a of propaganda, and satisfy themselves, if it continued, that the Government with whom they were in friendly relations was not responsible. He askei the House to continue its confidence. The Government was determined that tho machinery set up should test aU information available.