SOVIET CONCILIATORY.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2645, 14 May 1923, Page 5

SOVIET CONCILIATORY.

PROMPT REPLY TO NOTE. RUSSIA DESIRES TO AVOID RUPTURE. MOSCOW OKIES “DOWN WITH CURZON.” I * [By Electric Cable—Copyright.] [Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received Sunday, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 12. The ‘‘Sunday Express” Moscow cor. respondent says a reply to the British Note was handed to Mr Hodgson at noon, o.u Saturday, and cabled to Lon. don. The document, three thousand words long, declares that while the Soviet cannot agree to Britain’s peremptory terms, the points in dispute are capable of settlement by negotiation. M. Tchitcherin, in a speech, said Russia's design was to avoid a rup. ture of relations. M. Trotsky declared that none must say a word to hamper negotiations, but ‘‘if war comes, the Red Army is ready.” . M. Krassin, before his departure by aeroplane for London, said the first object of his journey was to begin negotiations. "The situation is indeed serious, in view of the imperative nature of the British Note, but 1 have not yet lost hope.” Crowds paraded the Moscow streets, singing revolutionary songs and carry, ig Danners bearing the inscription "Down with Curzon,'’ in front of the British Mission building, and an effigy of Lord Curzon was'displayed on a gal. A strong force of Red cavalry presently arrived to guard the Mission, The newspapers make a sensational display of the news that a British gun. boat is on the way to Russian waters. 31. KRASSIN FLIES TO ENGLAND. WITH GOVERNMENT’S APPROVAL (Received Sunday, 7 p.m.) LONDON, May 12. The "Daily Express” Moscow correspondent says the Soviet Government is sending 31. Krassin, Foreign Trade Commissary, to England. He and two secretaries will leave Moscow by aeroplane on Satm'day for Berlin and London. Ho has been granted an Eng. lish passport, and thus comes on his errand with the approval of the British Government, and will either negotiate a settlement or will close down the Loudon Trade 3lission. LABOUR PARTY'S SY3UPATHY. OBJECTION TO USE OF FORCE. (Received Sunday, 7 p.m.) LONDON, 3lay 11. The executive of the Parliamentary Labour Party lias cabled to the Soviet that the British Government’s decision to send a gunboat to 31urmansk, with orders to use force in the event of further arrests of British trawlers, causes grave concern. The Labour Party, in a most friendly spirit, begs the Soviet to refrain from any action precipitating a resort to force or an outbreak of war until further nego. tiatlons have taken place on the Bri. tish ultimatum to Russia. “We are working hero for peace and full recog. nition of Russia,” states the cablegram. “and view with alarm any possibility of a rupture before all means to arbitrate or negotiate have been tried.” A joint meeting of the representa. tives of the Trade Union Congress, the National Labour Pany, and the Parliamentgxy Labour Party, passed unani, raou:/iy a resolution expressing the opinion that the British Note to Russia is calculated to revive attacks by the White Guards on the Russian Govern, meut. and the renewal of a resort to force instead ofnegotiation. The reso. lution asks that the matters in dispute be referred to an international tribunal and strongly protests against any rupture in Anglo-Russinn relations. RUSSLV STANDS TO LOSE. BY CANCELLATION OF AGREE. 3IENT. (Received Sunday 7 p.m.) LONDON, May 11. The “Daily Express” Moscow correspondent says that the Soviet is no more anxiaus than Britain for a rup. ture. There is still a possibility that this will be averted, and that the Sov. iet, having learned the error of its ways, will not cast aside the fruits of Ihe trade agreement, which have been more material for Russia than for Bri. tain. 31 r Hodgson is hopeful of finding a via media.