LABOUR AND RUSSIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20324, 3 August 1929, Page 13

LABOUR AND RUSSIA.

QUESTION OF RELATIONS.

CONVERSATIONS IN LONDON.

AGREEMENT NOT REACHED

British Wireless. RUORY Aut?. 1 A communmne issued by the Foreign Office states that Uio conversations which wen licfiin in London on July 29 between Mr. Arthur Hend"r=on, Secretary of S'nte for Foreign Affairs, and M. Dovrralevskv. tJio Soviet's representative in Paris, on the subject of a resumption of diplomatic relations between Rritain and Russia are not to bo continued at present. M. Dovgalevsky returned to Paris this morning.

The crimmunmip explained that in the original invitation from Mr Harder son lie made it clea- that it was the desire of the British Government to resume regular relations with the Soviet. He said a responsible representative of Russia would be welcomed with a view to holding a discussion on the most expeditious procedure for a settlement of outstanding Questions, including debts and propaganda. Ambiguous Seply to Invitation.

The reply of the Soviet to that invitation was somewhat ambiguous, but it was presumed that in offering to send M. Dovgalevsky to London the Soviet had authorised him to discuss procedure on the lines proposed by Mr Hender-

In the first interview with the Russian representative, Mr. Henderson explained the lines on which the British Government wished to proceed. He said he was anxious to avail himself of tho pre sent Parliamentary recess in order to set up the necessary "machinery for dealing with such outstanding questions as debt claims, trade, etc.

Mr. Henderson said ho felt sure that, with goodwill on both sides, sufficient progress might be made to enable him, on the reassembling of Parliament in October, to report what had been

achieved and to state that the principles on which a settlement could be worked out had been defined; and to request authority—even if complete settlements on all outstanding questions had not been reached—for an exchange of fully accredited Ambassadors between the two countries. Russia to Consider Proposals. The communique says the British Government adheres to its desire to resume normal relations with the Soviet and takes note that the Soviet will consider the new proposals of the British Government next session.

To the communique is appended the text of the original invitation to the Soviet to send a representative to London. It was as follows:

"Tho British Government has carefully considered the existing state of the relations between this country and Russia and is prepared to re-establish the normal machinery of diplomatic relations on the understanding that the reciprocal lights and duties which international lawrecognises as incumbent on States in their relations with one another, shall subsist between Britain and the Soviet. "To this end the British Government invites the Soviet to send a responsible representati'o to London to discuss with the Foreign Secretary direct the most expeditious procedure for reaching as rapidly as possible a friendly and mutually satisfactory settlement of outstanding questions." Envoy Seeking Fresh Instructions.

In a Note handed to Mr. Henderson yesterday M. Dovgalevsky said: —"The Soviet has done everything on its side 1o facilitate an approachment between Russia and Britain and a resumption of normal diplomatic relations. "However the British Foreign Secretary has stated to M. Dovgalevsky that it is impossible for the British Government to re-establish normal relations between the two countries before the solution of the questions outstanding between them. That shows that the British Government does not desire, or is not able to bring about, a resumption of those relations.

"H such were not the case the British Government would not have proposed as a preliminary condition for the re-estab-lishment of normal relations a solution of questions so complicated and contentious as mutual claims and counter-claims. "This new circumstance—which was not foreshadowed by the Note from the British Government addressed to the Commissar of Foreign Affairs on July 17—requires a fresh examination of the question. For that reason the Commissar of Foreign Affairs finds himself compelled to ask for fresh instructions from the Praesidium of Control, the executive committee of the Soviet, which will consider the new proposals of the British Government at its next Parliamentary session."