THE MOSCOW ARRESTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21906, 18 March 1933, Page 11

THE MOSCOW ARRESTS

INDIGNATION IN BRITAIN ’ DAILY EXPRESS SUGGESTION BAN ON RUSSIAN TRADING (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, March 16. The Daily Express says: “ While Mr MacDonald is weaving his webs at Geneva the Soviet is treating British subjects as no other nation before has dared. It contemptuously and insolently disregards the decencies of international relations. Mr MacDonald must return from Europe, which is -jo concern of ours, and teach Russia by a ban on Russian trading that we will not submit to the maltreatment of our nationals.” REPRESENTATIONS 1 MADE MOSCOW, March 16. Sir Esmond Ovey conferred with M. Litvinoff for 90 minutes, and informed him that, in his Government’s view, there was no justification for the charges on which the arrests were made. It is understood that M. Litvinoff replied that the Soviet’s actions were based on the ground that each Government had the sovereign right to deal with people living in its territory. Sir Esmond Ovey did not demand the immediate release of the imprisoned Britons, but implied that their release necessarily meant straightening AngloSoviet relations. He agreed with the Soviet’s right to deal with foreign nationals residing in Russia, but he declared that they should be permitted to live in perfect safety, with a guarantee of protection of their rights.