MOSCOW TRIAL SEQUEL

Northern Advocate, 3 May 1933, Page 5

MOSCOW TRIAL SEQUEL

DRASTIC POLICY PRAISED PERSUASION FUTILE. HUGE DEBTS UNPAID.

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph,—Copyright.) (Received noon.) • niI!!LONDON, May 2.

In the House of Lords, Lord Mount Temple, seeking a statement of the Government’s policy toward the Soviet, welcomed the present change from lire former procedure,' “Negotiations backed only by persuasion have been entirely ineffective,’’ he said.

“You cannot treat with Russia as though she is civilised, for beneath the veneer of civilisation there is a Tartar .and a savage,” he said. “There should be, no diplomatic relations till the Lena goldfields award is settled and some payment made towards Russia’s debts to Britain. Our taxpayers are paying £43,000,000 annually in interjest, due to Russia’s failure to meet her obligations.” Lord Marlcy (Labour) said that no objections were raised to the recognition of Russia in the Czarist days. The Russian people, now described as savages, had not changed in 13 years. He said that Mr Baldwin had pointed out that the Lena goldfields capital joss was £8,300,000, and the suggestion of an award of £18,000,000 was hopelessly exaggerated. The recent embargo on Russian trade has robbed Britain of an expanding market, and trade was now going to France, Italy and Japan. The decision would throw GO.OOO men out of work.

The Earl of Stanhope said that no statement of policy was possible at present. They had to be careful with their statements, as everyone desired the liberation of Messrs Thornton and MacDonald. The Government was giving attention to the question of the debts and the Lena award.

Mr Baldwin’s reference to £3,500,000, said Earl Stanhope, was the company’s actual capital loss, not the total damages suffered. Ho believed that, as a result of the Government’s action in the recent case, Britishers resident in Russia would not be likely to bo molested, but he recommended others to postpone their prospective visits. Further interference with British subjects would create oven more serious Anglo-Soviet relations than the, recent trial had done.