READERS’ OPINIONS RUSSIAN TRADE AGREEMENT

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 12398, 10 November 1934, Page 3

READERS’ OPINIONS

RUSSIAN TRADE AGREEMENT

(To the Editor.) Sir,—When Britain cancelled the old trade agreement- with Soviet Russia, our pro-Soviet New Zealanders and similar people in England proclaimed the cancellation as a grave error. They urged a new agreement on the ground that the millions orders would pour into the Ok! Com. try for plant, coal, etc., and do a

great deal to relieve Britain's unemployment. It was useless to remind these people that though Britain was buying many millions more from Russia, granting credits to encourage sale.and doing all she could to got tiade. yet the Soviet authorities were using their favorable trade balance to purchase in other countries. The new trade agreement made in February last definitely undertook the intention of tho agreement, while the Soviet Government is apparently continuing the boycott set up in 1930, and ignoring the spirit and intention of the agreement altogether. This entirely disposes of the argument put forward by pro-Soviet Britishers that a tr&le agreement would materially assist Britain to solve her unemployment problem. It lias done nothing whatever to relieve the position. It was futile to expect the Soviet leaders to honestly try to work with Britain in trade when their agents in England are actively working to hamper British industry—by instigating industrial strife. Me are. Yours, etc., N.Z. WELFARE LEAGUE.