RUSSIA

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 13 August 1924, Page 5

RUSSIA

SOVIET EXULTANT. MR. MACDONALD’S HAND FORCED BY EXTREME SUPPORTERS. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT Received Aug. 13, 9.5 a.m. LONDON, Aug. 12. The Riga correspondent to the Times says that the, extremist Labour group forced Mr. MacDonald’s hand and compelled him to sign the Anglo-Soviet treaties, according to the official Soviet newspaper Biednota, which relates “that after the breakdown of the negotiations the Labour group hurriedly met and saw Mr. Ponsonby on August 5, demanding that the British Government concede the Soviet demands regarding compensation, for losses. Cabinet on August 6 invited M. Rakovsky to resume negotiations. ’ The Biednota gives credit to M. Rakovsky, asserting that he spurred the Labour group into action. The Biednota attaches the utmost importance to the diplomatic inviolability of the Soviet trade representatives, which presumably refers to the non-commer-cial activities such agents pursue in foreign countries. A foreign commissariat communique exultantly explains that the British creditors will not receive Russian money, but merely a portion of their own money in the shape of a British loan, the balance of which will be available to revive Russian trade.— Times. \ TREATY WITH BRITAIN. (BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 12. The Anglo-Russian commercial treaty was mentioned in the House to-day, the Leader of the' Opposition (Mr. T. M. Wilford) questioning the Premier on the matter. 1 Mr. Massey said he had received a communication from the Prime Minister of Britain on the subject, but he scarcely liked to express an opinion on the position yet. So far as he could judge the position from the cables, what had taken place meant, he thought, that the British Government had taken up a position that was serious. The leaving of the Sovereign out meant that the prerogative of the Crown was being interfered with so far as treaties were concerned. He could not look at it from any other point of view. Later he intended to express his opinion to the (British Government on the matter, and he would probably make a ; statement in the: House in the near future, because' he looked upon the matter as being serious.