SOVIET AMAZED

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

SOVIET AMAZED

AT AMERICAN NOTE RUSSOCHINESE DISPUTE "NO INTERFERENCE" (United Press Association—By Eleotrio Tolograph—Copyright) MOSCOW, 4th December. The Soviet reply to the United Slates' Note was handed to M. llerbette, French Ambassador, by Litvinov. It points out that, the United Stales applied to the Soviet when tin: latter was directly negotiating with Mukden. Such action was uiijuslifiablo pressure on these uugotiatioiiß, henco could not. lie regarded as a friendly act. The UussoChineso dispute must be settled by direct negotiations with which interference was not permissible. The Soviet was amazed that the United States, which by its own desire iiad no official relations with Russia, should offer advico and counsel. "POLICY OP PEACE" LONDON, 4th December. The reply of the Soviet claims that it had pursued a policy of peace from the first day of its existence, and intends to continue independency of the Paris Pact. The Nanking Government during recent years had carried on a provocative policy culminating in the seizure of the eastern railway. The Soviet believes similar action towards the United States, Britain, or France would bo considered sufficient cause for their operating reservations made when signing the Pact renouncing war. The Soviet then declared it did not recognise those reservations and did not intend to use them. SURPRISE AT WASHINGTON (Received sth December, 9.15 a.m.) WASHINGTON, sth December. Considerable surprise is expressed by the State Department at Moscow's reply to Mr Stimson's Note regarding Russo-Chinese relations. The answers from other Kellogg Pact signatories to Mr Stimson's request that they co-ope-rate have rather complicated than clarified the situation. A summary of the latest responses is as follows: —Mexico agreed to address Nanking and Moscow along lines similar to American communication; Holland undertook to communicate with China but not with the Soviet, with which she has no diplomatic relations; Cuba promised to co-operate. (Received sth December, 11.40 a.m.) WASHINGTON, 4th December.

Taking notice of the Russian memorandum to the United States as reported in the press, Mr Stimson, Secretary of State, said to-day that the message the American Government sent to China and Russia was "Not from unfriendly motives, but because this Government regards the Pact of Paris as a covenant which has profoundly modified the attitude of the world toward peace."