BRITISH POLICY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 5 December 1929, Page 5

BRITISH POLICY

RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA

DEBATE IN HOUSE OF LORDS STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT'S VIEWS (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, 4th December. Resumption of diplomatic relations with Russia was the .subject of a debate in the House of Lords, iniliat#d by Lord Birkenhead, who called attention to the recent .Soviet revolutionary propaganda and invited a statement of the policy of the Government, and, moved a resolution that the resumption of relations at present was undesirable. Lard Thomson, replying, said the policy of the Government was to resume normal diplomatic relations with Russia with the least possible delay and at the same time to safeguard British interests not oiilv in this country but throughout the world. The Government hoped to contribute to the maintenance of world peace and to expand British trade. It was the Government's view that relations with the Soviet Government should never havo been broken off. The policy of refusing relations because they could not accept the promises of the Soviet Government was a policy of despair. It would mean that the present state of affairs would continue indefinitely. Ambassadors had not yet been exchanged and a pledge regarding propaganda had not yet been given. The Government had not renounced and would not renounce its right to take any measure it might think necessary to check foreign subversive propaganda from whatever source it might emanate. Lord Brentford asked whether in the face of that declaration if propaganda continued, either in Britain or in the Empire instigated by the Russian Government, its envoy would be sent out again. Lord Thomson replied: "If it is instigated by the Russian Government, most certainly." Lord Birkenhead: "Including the Third International?" Lord Thomson: "Yes."

Continuing, Lord Thomson said he did not want to leave the impression that propaganda would cease as if by magic, it could not in the nature of things with a body like the Third International. Regarding the argument that relations should not be resumed with a country where atrocities and executions had taken place, he said the Government did not condone atrocities and regretted the execution, but it.believed that the resumption of relations with Russia would, tend to diminish the system of executions and atrocities which still provailed there. "We believe that it is in the best interests of our country to resume relations. We believe that it is absolutely indispensable for the general peace of the world, and that is the reason why the Government is undertaking its present policy. Lord Reading (Liberal) approved the Government's policy as sound and wise, and in the interests of real security for universal peace. He would have preferred to see an agreement definitely setting down th e terms of relations that were to exist before the exchange of Ambassadors, but he hoped that when conditions were laid down they would be as definite and precise as possible. . The Archbishop of Canterbury drew attention to the attitude of the Soviet Government, towards Christianity and aii forma of religion, but he had received information that there was now a cessation of the more flagrant violations of the / ejemeni.ary principles of justice. He believed there would be a greater chance of securing some alleviation of the difficult . position of religioug people in Russia if representations could be made through ordinary diplomatic means to the Soviet Government. DOMINIONS KEPT INFORMED (Received sth December, 1.30 a.m.) LONDON, 4th December. In the House of Commons, asked whether the Commonwealth had intimated the conditions on which it would agree to the Government's policy towards Russia, Mr Lunn said he had heard nothing of the Commonwealth's attitude. In general the dominions had been kept fully informed of everything done and none had dissented.