UNCEASING PROPAGANDA

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12181, 4 July 1925, Page 6

UNCEASING PROPAGANDA

Bj Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. Rfafor'ft Te?«sram. July 3, 8.55 p.m.) LONDON, July 2. Lord Birkenhead, Secretary of State for India, when speaking at Loughborough, on June 27th, said: “The time will undoubtedly come when we shall have to ask ourselves whether we are helpless in the face of a country diplomatically represented in our midst, but by restless, subterranean activity throughout the world seeking the destruction of the British Empire.” This evoked an outburst from M. Tchitcherin, the Soviet Foreign Minister. Interviewed in Moscow, he said: “Lord Birkenhead apparently is aiming at breaking off diplomatic relations with Russia. The next step can only be war.” He added: “The pretext for severing relations is the outbreak in China, which really is due to the revolt of the Chinese against the political and economic oppression of the Great Powers. The creation of a new centralised democracy in China, freed from foreign domination, is the best solution of the Chines© problem. Russia, while sympathising with China in her struggle, has carefully avoided anything that could be interpreted as interference. There is no question of Russia assuming the role of protector in China.” H© repudiated the suggestion that the Soviet Government was aiming at the destruction of the BritisJjg Empire.

RUSSIA DECLARED RESPONSIBLE FOR CHINESE REVOLT WILL BRITAIN SEVER RELATIONS? “NEXT STEP CAN ONLY BE WAR,” SAYS SOVIET MINISTER “The next step can only be war,” declared the Soviet Foreign Minister when informed of Lord Birkenhead’s statement, implying that Britain might break off diplomatic relations with Russia. Mr Chamberlain told the House of Commons that the disturbances in China were fomented by the Soviet Government.

On the contrary, the Soviet was willing to come to an agreement with any State, in order to promote world peace. Mr Austen Chamberlain, the British Foreign Minister, questioned in tfreHouse of Commons in regard to Lord Birkenhead’s reference to Bolshevist intrigues, said the speech was made with a full sense of the obligations of Cabinet y responsibility. The Government w'as watching the situation, and would from time to time, take the steps necessary to protect British interest*. Further pressed, he referred to his answer to Captain Fairfax, and said he had then deliberately refrained from mentioning the particular nation, hut if the questioner insisted he would say he meant the Soviet influence in China. On June 24th, Mr Chamberlain told Captain J. G. Fairfax, in the House of Commons, that he had evidence that the disturbances in China were fomented by the agents of another Government. Close attention was being given to the situation thus created. Australian and NZ. Cable Association The “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent learns from a reliable source that large deposits have recently been placed in Eastern banks at the disposal of M. Ka.rakhan, the Soviet Ambassador in China, his consuls in the provinces, and lesser officials, for the purpose of fomenting anti-foreign risings. One deposit amounted to £1,500,000.