TERMS OF RESUMPTION OF RUSSIAN RELATIONS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7060, 7 November 1929, Page 7

TERMS OF RESUMPTION OF RUSSIAN RELATIONS

Propaganda Pledge

FOREIGN SECRETARY PRESENTS HIS CASE BALDWIN ATTACKS TREATY

Cnited Press Association —By Eleetrli Telegraph—Copyright. Received Wednesday, 7 p.m. RUGBY, Nov. 6.

Mr. A. Henderson in tho House of Commons moved tho following resolution: “That this House is of opinion that tho resumption of full diplomatic relations between this country and Russia is desirable and approves the procedure for tho settlement of questions outstanding between the two countries, including those relating to propaganda and debts, as Bet out in tho protocol of October 3.” In dealing with the economic disadvantages of the present stnto of affairs, Mr. Henderson said that exports of British produce and manufactures to Russia had considerably fallen off since relations were broken off. In 1925 they amounted to £0,240,000, while in 1928 they amounted to only £2,716,000. The recently issued report of the very important trade delegation which visited Russia indicated that the committee was satisfied there was a great volume of business available for Britain, subject to diplomatic recognition being afforded and if arrangements could be mafle for the financing of business on long-term credits.

There had been a good deal of misapprehension on one point. “I want to say emphatically,” said Mr. Henderson, “that the Government does not intend to recommend Parliament to pledge the credit of British taxpayers to any loans raised by the Soviet Government.” Under the protocol a condition of the resumption of relations was tho exchange of reciprocal guarantees relative to propaganda. He read article XVI of the treaty signed on October 5, 1924, which dealt with propaganda. “We stood by the declaration which we mado to the effect that we could not allow any direct interference from outside in British domestic affairs and would t require that promises given by the Soviet Government to refrain from any acts likely to endanger the tranquility or prosperity of the British Empire, and to restrain from such acts all persons and organisations under its direct and in* direct control, including organisations in receipt of any financial assistance from it, Buch as the Communist International, should bo carried out in letter and spirit. It had been plainlystated'to the Soviet representatives that the Communist International would be rogarded by tho British Government as the organ of tho Soviet Government. \

In referring to the attitude of tho Dominions, Mr. Henderson said not one had expressed dissent from the general policy which had been pursued. All tho Dominions except one, whoso views had not been received, had requested that tho guarantee against propaganda should ho made applicable to them. He believed the House had a mandate from the- electors for the restoration of diplomatic relations with tho Soviet Union.

In seeking to give effect to that mandate the Government had honoured the conditions relating to propaganda and other matters. The policy which ho invited the House to endorse was conceived in a spirit of peace and cooperation. “In my judgment,” concluded Mr. Henderson, “it is a wise policy and is as sound as it is necessary., I therefore leave our action to the judgment of the House, in tho confident belief that its decision will bo to approve what we have done, to encourage us to go on with the negotiations, in tho hope of solving issues still outstanding between tho two Governments.”

Mr. Stanley Baldwin, the Conservative leader, said he had one charge to make against tho Foreign Secretary—that of having made a humiliating surrender to Russia. The Foreign Secretary would doubtless, to the best of his ability, insist on the guarantee regarding propaganda, but would he be prepared to break off negotiations if propaganda did not cease?

Mr. Baldwin moved an amendment: “That this House deplores the failure of the Government to maintain the conditions which the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary had laid down for tho resumption of diplomatic relations and condemns the resumption of such relations until these preliminary conditions have been satisfied.” Mr. Lloyd Georgo supported _ Mr. Henderson’s motion.

Mr. Baldwin’s amendment w r as defeated by 324 votes to 219. All the Liberals present and three Conservatives, Lady Astor, Messrs Robert Boothby and John Buchan, voted with the Government and against Mr. Baldwin’s amendment.

Diplomacy Is Of No Assistance to Trade TIMES REFUTES ARGUMENT Received Wednesday, 9 p.m. LONDON, Nov. 6.

“Tho plea that an exchange of Ambassadors with Russia will increase trade cannot be justified,” says tho Times in an editorial. “The United States does an immense Russian trade and tho Washington Government always flatly refuses to resume relations. Only the business rides involved restrict trade at presort and these will not be lessened bj- tho presence of a Soviet Ambas’sador at London. The Soviet promise to abstain from propaganda is worthless, for Bolshevism is not a political system, but a revolutionary creed and as such it must spread or die. Tho Bolshevists are irrevocably committed to work for world revolution, the path to which is still 'across the corpse of the British Empire.' They havo never hidden their scorn for the MacDonald Gov-

ernment. Mr. Henderson’s weak nr-

gument to exchange ambassadors first and negotiato afterwards has given them an advantage they wilPtcrtain* ly exploit to the full.”