The Hawera Star. SATURDAY. NOVEMBER 16, 1929. RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 16 November 1929, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

SATURDAY. NOVEMBER 16, 1929. RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA.

Delivered every evening by 6 o’clook in Hawera, Manaia, Kaupokonui, Otakeho, Oeo, Pihama, Opunake. Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Ngaere, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Te Kiri, Mahoe, Lowgarth, Manutahi, Kakaramea, Alton, Hurleyville, Patea, Whenuakura, Waverley. Mokoia, Whakamara, Ohangai, Meremere. Fraser Road and Ararata

It is to .be feared that the Et. Hon. Arthur Henderson, British Foreign 'Secretary, has, by tire weakness of the terms' of his agreement with Russia', sacrificed some of the prestige which the Labour Government alt Home Iras achieved in the field of foreign affairs through the agency of Mr Snowden and Mr MacDonald. Mr Henderson said that “the Government had honoured the conditions relating to propaganda aimd other matters,” but it has always been understood hitherto that guarantees of good faith in regard to propaganda. and financial obligations must be given .by Russia before diplomatic relations could be resumed; Mr Henderson has confessedly reversed the order of events. Even in the matter of trade it is difficult to imagine how relations lean be maintained especially on “long term credits” —with people who make a practice of repudiating their debts, while in the matter of propaganda, ithe “humiliating surrender” which Mr Baldwin deplores is likely to prove as futile as it is discreditable. The Foreign Secretary’s motion, asking the House of Commons to approve the Government’s action and procedure in seeking to resume relations with Russia and settle “outstanding questions,” was opposed by Mr Baldwin on noticeably restricted grounds. The Conservative leader’s amendment, asked the House to “deplore” only the Government’s failure to insist on .the conditions first laid down by the Prime Minister and’the Foreign Secretary for resumption, and to condemn resumption only “until these preliminary con'ditions have been satisfied”; and. the cabled summary of his speech emphasises the same point-, his bringing against Mr Henderson the “one charge” of having made “humiliat'ing surrender to Russia,” in relenting and allowing the exchange of Amibasjsadors to precede the negotiation of a full agreement. “The Times” goes a good deal further; it. believes that the hope of trade advantages to follow the reopening of diplomatic relations is an I empty on e, and attaches no value whatever to the Soviet Government’s j>rooiise to stop anti-Britisli propaganda. It is possible to assent, with very little qualification, to what “The Times” says on the second point and to allow that it may perhaps 'be proved right on the first; nevertheless, more important truths are that it would be unwise

•to hold aloof from Russia, and .that official reconciliation, though it will not remake the character of Bolshevism,

offers the best chance of its exhausting itself igra dually and harmlessly, ■while more trustworthy, reforming influences get scope and .time to work in Russia. Mr Henderson’s difficulties will begin if —or when —the Russian Government .begins to 'disregard its promise 1 neither to carry on nor to countemanoe hostile and revolutionary propaganda in and against .the Empire. Stalin, who is now more powerful in Russia than his predecessors ever were, recently said: “What we arc concerned with are not the reforms, compromises, said agreements, hut. the uses they can be put to and the advantages to be gained. ’ ’ In view of that utterance there would appear to be very good reasons for fearing that it might not be dong before Mr Henderson and the 'Cabinet will be given cause .to regret the way in which they have submitted 'to Russian dictation of terms.