PROGRESS OF NEGOTIATIONS

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 167, 17 July 1920, Page 5

PROGRESS OF NEGOTIATIONS

BRITAIN'S CONDITIONS

[Press Association.?]

(Reuters Telegrams,)

(Received July 16, 8.30•p.m.) LONDON, July 15. In the Houso of Comi'nons Mr Bonar Law submitted a memorandum showing the condition under which the Government would agree to negotiate for a, resumption of trade lelations witli Russia, as follows:—• Ea,ch party shall undertake to refrain from official propaganda, the Soviet agreeing to refrain from military action or propaganda in Asia,, which the British Government regards as a. fundamental conditio ir preliminary to any trading agreement. Tlie British proposal is tantamount to a. general arniistice. All Britisli civilians in Russia shall be released. The Soviet,; in-return for a corresponding undertaking by Britain, shall recognise the liability for compensation to private citizens for services rendered to the Soviet.

Britain desired ta leave the nn,al determination of the* claims to a future mutual settlement, but considered it to be. necessary that tho Soviet should make a dec-laration oh this point in order to give the necessjiry confidence to western merchants and manufacturers.

Britain agrees to the conditions proposed by the- Soviet regarding commercial, facilities, provided that they a.re mutual Britain does not intend barring any Russian on/the ground of his holding * Communist opinions, provided that the Soviet agents comply with the, normal conditions of . internal intercourse. ,