BRITAIN AND RUSSIA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17144, 28 December 1929, Page 6

BRITAIN AND RUSSIA

EXCHANGE OF NOTES THE PROPAGANDA QUESTION A SOVIET UNDERTAKING (Urilisl. Official Wireless.) Roc. 1 p.m. RUGBY, Dec. 27. The text is issued of the Notes exchanged on December 20 between Ihe liowly-appoinle l Russian Ambassador in Loudon, M. Sokolnikoff, and Mr. A. Henderson, the British Foreign Secretary, regarding propaganda. M. Sokoln/.koff in his Note refers to clause 7 of the protocol signed on October 3 last by the Soviet Ambassador in Paris on behalf of the Soviet Government and by Mr. Henderson on behalf of the British Government, wherein both governments engaged themselves to confirm the pledge regarding propaganda contained in Article 10 of the general treaty signed on August 8, 11121, between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Great Britain. lie repeats the terms of that article, which were as follows: “The contracting patties solemnly affirm their desire and intention to live in peace and amity with, each other, scrupulously to respect the undoubted right of g 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 financial assistance from them —from any act, overt or covert, liable in any way whatsoever to endanger the tranquility or prosperity of any part, of the territory,(if 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 neighbors or any other countries.”

It was further agreed, he adds, that effect would be given to this clause of the aforesaid protocol not. later than the day on which the respective ,ambassadors presented their credentials. M. Sokolnikoff proceeds: “Having this day presented to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales letters accrediting nui as Ambassador of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic to His Majesty the King, 1 have the honor, iiv direction of the People’s Commissary for Foreign Affairs, and on bebehalf of the Government of the Union of Soviet -Socialist Republics, to confirm the article quoted above and to inform you that the Government of the Union of .Soviet Socialist Republics regards that undertaking as having fit'll force and effect as between itself and His Majesty’s Government, of Great Britain, and the Government of .India. 1 am instructed to add that tin) Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics will be happy to receive in accordance with clause 7 of the protocol of October. 3, a corresponding declaration from His Majesty’s Government in Great Britain and the Government of India.” THE BRITISH REPLY

Mr. HeiideisOn, acknowledging the receipt of the .Note, says that in accordance with the understanding between His Majesty’s Government and tlie Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as recorded in the protocol of October 3, His M a .i est . v ’ s Ambassador in MoscowJias been instructed to inform the Soviet Government that liis Majesty’s Government and th(> Government of India for their part also regard the undertaking contained in Article Hi of the treaty signed mi August 8, 1924, as having full force and effect as between tlieinsejves and the Soviet Government. Jn a Note communicated to the British Foreign Secretary, the Soviet Ambassador says that the Soviet Government in giving the undertaking contained in Article H’> of the treaty of 1924 and eonfirjhed by the foregoing Notes, has considered that undertaking as ’extending also to the Dominion of Canada, the Goinmonp'balth of Australia, the Dominion of New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, the Irish Free State, and Newfoundland; consequently, as soon as the governineht Of any Dominion shall have,regulated its relations with the Soviet Government in such a manner an the circumstances of the particular case may require the Soviet Government will be ready to repeat on the basis of reciprocity the undertaking above referred to in a separate exchange of notes with such Dominion. Mr. Henderson states; in reply, that the attitude of the Soviet Government as indicated in the former Note is being communicated to His Majesty’s governments in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the Irish Free State, and Newfoundland at the instance of all these governments. lie declared that each of them will regard the undertaking contained in Article 16 of- the treaty of 1924 as having full force and effect as between itself and the Soviet Government. Notes similar to the first two were also exchanged in Moscow.