RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20419, 22 November 1929, Page 13

RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA.

ANXIETY IN BRITAIN.

DISRUPTIVE PROPAGANDA. CESSATION NOT GUARANTEED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright, (Received November 21, 7.35 p.m.) ' LONDON, Nov. 20. Tho Soviet organ, Pravada, comments upon the debate in the House of Commons on the propaganda pledge. It says: " The Soviet is utterly unable to undertake the responsibility for the Communist parties of the world or to guarantee Britain immunity from colonial uprisings against tho Britsh yoke."

Other Russian newspapers express the opinion that the resumption of diplomatic relations between Britain and the Soviet is merely a movo in a game of chess, perhaps a f.'reliminary to breaking off relations again. The Pravada's disclaimer has increased suspicion in Parliamentary circles in Britain that the discussions between the British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Arthur Henderson, and the Soviet's representative, M. Dovgalevsky, were not conclusive, as the Government's,first pledges promised they would be. There is anxiety, cvein in official circles, as to whether—once Ambassadors have been exchanged—the Soviet will bo able seriously to check the Third (Communist) International's disruptive activities in the Dominions. Well-informed people assert that there is amplo evidence of this. Perhaps New Zealand will be the least affected.

The following is an extract from the Agreement between Mr. Henderson and Mr. Dovgalevsky: —" Immediately on the actual exchange of Ambassadors, and not later than the same day as that on which the respective Ambassadors present their credentials, both Governments will reciprocally confirm the pledge _ with regard to propaganda contained in Article 16 of tne Treaty signed on August 8, 1924, between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. " Simultaneously with the approval by both Governments of the procedure laid down in paragraphs 1-7, His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom will take the decision to resume normal diplomatic relations with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, including the exchange of Ambassadors."

Article 16 of the 1924 treaty says:— " The contracting parties solemnly affirm their desire and intention to live in peace and amity with each other, scrupulously to respect the undoubted right of a State to order its own life within its own jurisdiction in its own way, to refrain and to restrain all persons and organisations under their direct or indirect control, including organisations in receipt of any financial assistance from them, from any act overt or covert liable in any way whatsoever to endanger the tranquillity or prosperity of any part of the territory of the British Empire or the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or intended to embitter the relations of the British Empire or the Union with their neighbours or any other countries."