BRITISH ELECTIONS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16570, 28 October 1924, Page 11

BRITISH ELECTIONS.

THE ZJNOYIEEF LETTER

MINISTERIAL DOUBTS AND

/1)1 FEE REECES,

(Elec. Tel. Copyright--Uiiiled Press Assn lAusJralian and N.Z. Cable Association

(Received Oelober 2S, 2 p.m.) LONDON, October 27

Thirteen Ministers at present- express their ignorance of Zinoviell’s teller.

The Daily News points out that the Labor party’s manifesto suggests the Foreign Office, not Mr. MacDonald, was responsible for the decision as to ilie authenticity of and publication of Ziuovieff ; s letter. Many of Mr. MacDonald’s friends, rightly or wrongly, assort Mr. MacDonald is not vol convinced of the authenticity, D is significant that Mr. Thomas, after a telephone discussion with Air. MacDonald, publicly expressed doubts, and elsewhere hinted that Air. MacDonald had drafted a reply instructing ilie despatch when authenticity was proved. The Foreign Office becoming convinced, he sent; the note.

Mr. MacManns, speaking at Manchester, said lie was in Russia when the note was written. “Why should Ziuovieff write me in London when living next door in Moscow. Personally he met Ziuovieff before and after September .15.’’

THE PREMIER'S BELIEF. DOCUMENTS ARE AUTHENTIC. (Sydney Sun Cables.; (Received October 28, 1 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 27. Air. MacDonald, in a speech, said he believes the Ziuovieff documents are authentic. Rakowsky to-day transmitted to the Foreign Office the Soviet reply with reference to the statements that IDo Ziuovieff letter, was known to Air. MacDonald and Mr. Henderson nearly three weeks prior to its publication. Air. Henderson to-day declared no such document had been received by the. Home Office or Scotland Yard, or by Mr. Henderson personally from any quarter. Ilis first information of the existence of the document was through the columns of llm newspaper on October 25. MacDGiXALD DECLARES' RED PLOT A M'AR'EiR NEST. (Reuter’s Telegram.! , (Received Oct. zti, a p.m..) LONDON, Out. 27. Mr MacDonald, speaking at Cardiff, said : “Ilie deed ion started with a mare's nest, tlfe Workers’ Weekly cause, and is likely 'to finish with a marc's nest, the.great Russia*! Red plot. The assertion that when the. Govern mien t refused an inquiry into' the Workers’ Weekly ease, it had information of Communist' activity in Britain .far more serious than tho House, of Commons and country were allowed to know, is a malicious- untruth. Tlki facts are Ural lho Govci'iimiriit was defeated on Gelober 8. 'l'llis Red pint Idler did mil find its wav (o the Foreign Office- until Ovtdier 10. It was not put into the Department till October 14, and was rent to meat Manchreter on October 15. 1 received if, on the 16th. I minuted thalt ti’io greatest care must he’ taken in discovering whether it was auit.lieri’tic-; if so it must be published immediately. In the meantime, while ct-lsar investigations were proceeding to discover ills authenticity, a. draft letter to Rakovsky was prepared, so that when and if authenticity was cstalblis'had no tinrd should be lost in protesting to the Soviet Govenimleiit. My minute, was received by the department on October 17. A Inal draft was sent to me on October 21 at ADeravon for objotvations. I was absent in my son’s constituency, and did not receive it until October 23. 1 altered the draft. mi October 24, and' sent it back in altered form, ©xpsetirtnj it to 'bo returned to me with the (proofs of authenticity, belt it wa.s'published that, night. (Cries cf Shame).' I make no eomiplaints about, the Foreign Office, and everyone of my colleagues kjimks that I will not tolerate this propaganda.”