RUSSIA'S ANSWER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18630, 11 February 1924, Page 7

RUSSIA'S ANSWER.

CONFERENCE ACCEPTED. TO MEET IN LONDON. CLAIMS TO BE SETTLED. By Telegraph—Preßs Association—Copyright. (Received 4.30 p.m.) A. *nd N.Z. LONDON, Feb. 9. The Russian Note" to Britain is couched in diplomatic language. It expresses the readiness of the Soviet Government to replace treaties which have been denounced or have lost juridical force in consequence of events during or after the war. The Soviet Government, therefore, will send plenipotentiaries to London, whose tasks will also include the settlement of mutual outstanding claims and obligations as well as the determination of means to restore Russia's credit in Britain. The Soviet Government emphasises that mutual confidence and non-interference in internal affairs remain indispensable conditions for the development of friendly Anarlo-Russian relations. The Note intimates the appointment of M. Rakovsky, Trade Commissioner in London, as Charge d'Affaires pending tho appointment of an Ambassador. Discussing the consequences of British recognition of Russia when the question was still under consideration, a correspondent in the Manchester Guardian wrote:"Some interesting things would follow. . The Russian Republic has always declared that it would negotiate about its national debt onlv in a full peace conference, leading to full recognition. The war I debt is rather apart, but there is the big ! pre-war debt of £P00.000,000 almost en- | tirely owed to France. During the i negotiations over the trade agreement the I Russians hinted pretty broadly that they would recognise this Tsarist debt at the peace conference, but they hinted not less broadly that they had counter-claims that would pretty well wipe it out. The ! counter-claims are on account of the suc- ' cessive counter-revolutionary invasions of I Russia under Denikin, Koltchak, Wrangel. j and others, which were financed and armed by France and England. "There would he another interesting consequence, which may disturb the ! timorous, that, must follow from full re- ; cognition of Russia bv a Labour Governi ment or any other. Not only should we I rrn-e a Russian Ambassador installed in j the Russian Embassy (at present. I j believe, still occupied by the Russian : enemies of the Rpoublic), but we should I have a crowd of Russian consuls, whose j activities might be feared as propa- | gandists. and Russians would be freely 'admitted' into this country. I do not j think that Russian propaganda, whether j through consuls or lesser folk, can be rei garded as a dancer, for the average j Labour man. from leader to rank and file. | regards Russians as a sort of unintelligible political lunatics. Certainlv those RusI sians I have met show on their side an i amazing lack of understanding of the most j elementary facts of British politics."

ITALO-RUSSIAN TREATY. RELATIONS RESTORED. Reuter. ROME. Feb. 7. The Russian Treaty has been signed. The treaty definitely re-establishes political relations. The Italian Government will appoint an Ambassador at Moscow immediately.