LOST LEGATION

Northern Advocate, 22 August 1924, Page 5

LOST LEGATION

SOVIET RECOVERY EFFORTS. UNDESIRABLE DEVELOPMENTS. DIPLOMATIC CORPS OBJECTIONS. (Received 11.25 a.m.) WASHINGTON, August 21. The efforts of the Soviet Government of Russia to regain possession of the Legation properties at Peking, lost when the Czarist Government was overthrown and diplomatic relations with China were severed, involve questions regarded here as of great importance. They have already brought, the American minister in China, Mr. Sehurman, to the necessity of conferring directly with the " Soviet Ambassador, M. Kara khan, whose Government is not recognised by the United States, and have given rise to problems the solution of which is viewed with concern by other members of the Diplomatic Corps whose Governments are against recognition of the Soviet.

One point emphasised by Mr. Schurman is that before the Diplomatic Corps agrees to a return of the properties sought by the Soviet it must be considered beyond all doubt that nothing that transpired in that connection would be considered as implying recognition. Another puzzling- phase is the probable in Peking of Soviet troops, once the properties are surrendered to the Moscow Government, and none of the Legations wish their guards to associate with Soviet troops.

It is pointed out, too, since all the members of the Peking Diplomatic Corps hold the rank of Minister, that thp presence of a. Soviet Minister at once gives the Moscow Government senior representation a? Peking and automatic-ally causes transfer of the deanship of the corps to Soviet hands. —"Router.