AGREEMENT SIGNED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17237, 17 April 1930, Page 14

AGREEMENT SIGNED

BRITAIN AND RUSSIA TRADING FACILITIES DOMINIONS MAY JOIN. (British Official Wireless.) lieceiveiJ -' p.m. IiUGHV, April 10. Mr. Arthur Henderson and M. I Sokolnikott, the Russian Ambassador,' tms iiifcnioon signed in tne Cabinet i room or Hie foreign Office a temporary commercial agreement between the l.'ussian and British Governments. i: was agreed that the parties accord most lavored nation treatment to subjects, citizens,.and juridicial persons aim national produce and manufactured of each ot tier, Following are exceptions: i firstly, special provisions relating to trade contained in treaties concluded by the Soviet Union with Slates which in August 1914 formed an inte- i gral part of the former Russian Em- j [lire, and with Continental border 1 States in Asia; secondly, rights accorded to any third country forming part of the customs union with the Soviet Union; and, thirdly, privileges accorded by the Soviet Union to border States with respect to local trade between inhabitants on frontier zones. The' British Government agrees, in view of the State monopoly of foreign trade in Russia, to accord to the Soviet Government the right to estab- > lish in Great Britain a trade delega-j lion consisting of a trade representative and his two deputies, forming part of the Soviet Kniliassy. These three persons are to be accorded all diplomatic privileges and immunities, and similar immunity shall attach to] the offices occupied by the trade delegation and used exclusively for its commercial functions, which shall be to facilitate and encourage the development Of trade between the two countries, and to represent the interests of tin' Soviet Union in all that pertains to trade. The delegation shall be responsible for all transactions concluded by the trade representative and persons authorised by him, but not for acts of State economic organisations, except when such responsibility has been (dearly accepted by the trade representative. The i.auies of trade representative and persons employed to represent, him shall be periodically published in the Board of Trade journal. Any question arising from the commercial transactions entered into in this conn-' try by the trade delegation shall be settled by British courts. i

I'ROV'ISTONS FOB KXTKNSfON. National treatment is accorded in the agreement to the vessels, cargoes, and passengers of ouch country, and most favored nation treatment as regards coasting trade, subject to a reservation of i he right of cabotage as regards trade lie: ween two ports on the same coast. Excluded from these provisions are fishing rights, immigrants, emigrants, and pilgrims, and ships, cargoes, and passengers registered in British self-governing Dominions. The provisions of the agreement may, by mutual agreement, be extended to British self-governing Dominions by a simple exchange' of Notes. They may also lie extended on condition of reciprocity to any id' the British colonics, possessions, protectorates, and mandated territories if the Soviet Government is so notified by the British Ambassador at. "Moscow.

In this event Soviet trading organisations may send thither agents acceptable to the Government concerned to tarry out commercial transactions. Such agents shall have no diplomatic or Consular privileges or immunities. It is provided that if a Russian product i> accorded most favored nation treatment in British Dominions and other overseas territories which have nevertheless not adhered to the agreement, the Soviet Union will accord reciprocity, reserving itself the right to denounce this provision in respect of an v Dominion or I ndia.

The agreement shall remain in force i iil t he cut i.v into force of a commercial treaty, subject to the right of either party to denounce it, or any arrangements entered into between the Soviet Government and the British Dominions or overseas territories, at sav one month \s notice.

In an annexed protocol it is stated that the contracting parties are animated by an intention to eliminate from their economic relation all form of discrimination, and will adopt no legislative or administrative action such as would place the trade of the other party in a position of inferiority 10 that of any other foreign country. In accordance with the above principle, trade between Britain and Russia shall be eligible to consideration on the same basis as trade between Britain and other foreign countries, in connection with any legislative or administrative measures taken by the British Government for the granting of credits to facilitate such trade.

The signature of the agreement was accompanied by a declaration by Mr. Henderson that the Union of South Africa and the Irish Free Stale were excluded from the provisions relating to tin' Dominions.