DISARMAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 19535, 18 April 1927, Page 5

DISARMAMENT

THE COMING CONFERENCE SOVIET’SWISS BREACH HEALED RUSSIA MAY PARTICIPATE. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, April 15. In view' of Russia’s repeated refusals to attend the League or other conferences on Swiss soil since the murder of Vorovsky during the Lausanne conference, the utmost importance is attached to the news from Moscow to the effect that the breach between tho Soviet and Switzerland has been healed. A communique from the Soviet Foreign Office states that a protocol has been signed by M. Krestinsky for the Soviet, and M. Reufenacht, the Swiss Minister, in which the Swiss Federal Council again declares its condemnation of the Vorovsky crime, and proclaims its willingness to negotiate in a spirit of conciliation on all outstanding questions and to grant material aid to Vorovsky’s daughter. Finally, it is declared on behalf of both countries that the existing conflict has been ended, and mutual restrictive measures have been abrogated. It is considered not unlikely that Russia will now participate in the Disarmament Conference at Geneva. AGREEMENT SIGNED. SOVIET FOREIGN OFFICE’S ANNOUNCEMENT. MOSCOW, April 16. The Soviet Foreign Office has announced the signing of an agreement at Berlin adjusting tho long-standing controversy with Switzerland over the assassination of the Soviet representative Vorovsky at the Lausanne conference in 1923. The announcement states that Switzerland expresses regret, and has provided monetary compensation for Vorovsky’s family. DIPLOMATIC VIEWS. POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF RECONCILIATION. LONDON. April IT, (Received April 18, at 1.30 a.m.) It is recognised in diplomatic quarters that the Soviet-Swiss Reconciliation may have a most important repercussion on European affairs. It is said that Germany influenced the rapprochement. It must be remembered that Germany always has one eye_ on the Russian market, and maintains the most friendly relations with the Soviet. The importance of the agreement from the League point of view lies in the fact that the Russian border States, from Finland to Rumania, have all along contended that thev could not be expected to_ reduce their armaments so long as Soviet Russia, remained outside the disarmament discussions.

Moscow, although invited to participate in the Preparatory Disarmament Committee’s deliberations, declined on the ground that she was unable to attend any conference held on Swiss soil on account of the death of Vorovsky. ft is expected that Moscow will now agree to be represented at the Disarmament and will also be willing to participate in tho Economic Conference on May 4, when the questions of tho production and distribution of raw material - and the harriers to international trade will be discussed. It must be remembered, however, that the Soviet’s attitude towards disarmament is somewhat similar to that of Germany. Tho latter cynically insists that because she was completely disarmed by the Powers the Powers must also completely disarm. The Soviet’s interest in _ disarmament is suspected to he similarly cynical, and is aimed merely at creating general embarrassment among the Powers, who are determined to combat the disintegration of their own countries by the insidious germs of Bolshevism. There is no question, however, that Russia’s reappearance in the European conclave would be a signficant event. She has been for so long isolated that the keenest interest would he taken in her attitude. Moreover, she would be obliged, as she has not been in the past, to com© out inlo the open and meet men who would be well able to counter her duplicity.

[On May 10, 1923, three Russians who were sent as delegates to the Lausanne Conference (MM. Vorovsky, Ahrens, and Dimitrieff), were dining at tho Hotel Cecil, at Lausanne, when shots were fired from a neighboring table. Vorovsky was killed and the other two were wounded. The assassin was Conradi, formerly a captain in the Russian army. Questioned why lie had murdered Vorovsky, he replied': “To avenge my father and uncle who were victims of Bolshevism.” Vorovsky was said to be one of Lenin’s tools. M. Ahrens subsequently stated ; “ I formally accuse the Swiss Government of being accomplices in this matter, because, despite, the measures against us, no precautions wore taken to safeguard us.” In reulying to the Russian complaint the Swiss police stated that for several weeks they had guarded Vorovsky. although lie had refused the protection. The guard was withdrawn when it became clear that Vorowsky would not be allowed to attend the conference, which, placed him on tho same standing as a private citizen.] ’