NORTHERN ADVOCATE DAILY Registered for transmission through the post as a newspaper. FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 1924. RUSSIA'S OPPORTUNITY.

Northern Advocate, 22 August 1924, Page 4

NORTHERN ADVOCATE DAILY Registered for transmission through the post as a newspaper. FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 1924. RUSSIA'S OPPORTUNITY.

! The successful result of the lengthy negotiations between tho British Government and the representatives of the Russian Soviet continues to l>o an iteresting topic. The Soviet has often assorted that formal recognition by other countries is a matter of little importance, but it has, nevertheless, persistently sought to establish relations with ot'iier peoples, and has achieved some success in this respect. For sonic time after the revolution the Soviet Government was isolated, other nations held no communication ; with Russia, and the entry of Bolsheviks into other countries was prevented as far as it could be. The first to modify the policy of boycott were tho Baltic States, who signed treaties with the Soviet during t\\? year 1920, and since then their relations with Moscow have boon more or loss norma!. Their example was soon i followed by other minor European Powers. Not long afterwards Britain lifted the ban on trade with Russia, but tho removal of the embargo"made no real difference, for the Russian trade was negligible. Then Germany, which had already accorded recogj nition to Russia, entered into a commercial treaty with the Soviet. In February of this year both Britain and Italy at last granted formal recognition. Since then China and Russia have concluded a treaty conferring mutual advantages upon each other. The existence of the treaty'recently reported to have been arranged between Russia and Japan has beer, denied, .but if Russia would come to terms with Japan over the Blagoveshchensk "massacre" the final obstacle to her recognition by the latter wouTl xlisappear. For long France was obdurate, but M. Herriot has announced that his Government intends to resume relations with Russia. The return to Russia of General Wrangol's fleet (its fighting value, at the best of times inconsiderable, will not have boon improved by the four years in which the ships have lain rusting in Bizerta harbour) is thought to be a step in that direction. Alone among great Powers America remains inflexible. Her Government still regards Russia as being outside the pale. But if she sees other nations extracting any material advantage out of their recognition America perhaps will experience a change of heart. The recognition by Britain was a feather hi the cap of the Soviet, but from t'he Russian point of view has yielded 1.1 eoidedly disappointing results. Of course nothing was over to be expected from a Coalition or a Conservative Government, but Labour was a different proposition. British Labour, no doubt, is hopelessly bourgeois, and Mr. Ramsay Macdonald is a member of that delectable class, the intelligentsia, to whom, in Russia, the happy despatch has boon given. But surely he and his party might be supposed to possess some sympathy for the more advanced brethren—the adherents of the Third International. Surely he could without difficulty be induced to grant , some financial aid; nor would ho inquire too closely into the prospects of repayment. But these 'have not been fulfilled. Mr Mac Donald j has shown himself anything but pliable. So far from extending open arms to Russia, ho has intimated that ! she is, as it were, on probation, and if j good relations are to be maintained she will, have to display good fait'h. When the Soviet delegation arrived in London Mr Mac Donald spoke very plainly j

of the obligations of the vSoviet Government. Though all that we have been told of the agreement that was at last achieved is not very definite, we must conclude that Russia has admitted the principle of liability to British interests and given assurances of good faith. British financial interests, with the approval of the Government, made it clear that they would not listen to Kussia's request for accommodation unless her public and private debt were acknowledged, confiscated British property restored, and the sanctity of private property and contract recognised. In view of what had happened in the past no one could trust Russia without ample guarantees. The British Government 'has given tlie Soviet an opportunity to furnish evidence of honesty and good intention, and it is for the Russians to substaatiate their claim to recognition.