THE SOVIET

Southland Times, Issue 18971, 19 June 1923, Page 5

THE SOVIET

BRITAIN AND RUSSIA. SOVIET ANXIOUS FOR SETTLEMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, June 17. (Received June 18, 8.10 p.m.) The Daily Telegraph states that the Soviet. Government intends to approach the British Government with a suggestion that now all outstanding questions are satisfactorily settled, the moment is opportune for a general settlement between the two countries, especially on the question of full recognition of the present regime in Russia. IMPERIAL GEMS. BOLSHEVISTS SEEK A MARKET. POSSESSIONS OF MURDERED IMPERIAL FAMILY. LONDON, June 17. (Received June 18, 7.45 p.m.) The Daily Telegraph’s Berlin correspondent states that Krestinski, the Bolshevist Ambassador in Berlin, has a safe in his embassy in the Unter Den Landen containing thirty pounds weight of diamonds of large size and of the finest water, which have been brought from Russia since the beginning of the year by diplomatic couriers. He is charged with the task of selling the diamonds, which are now being classified and valued. Some of the jewels are of extraordinary size and undoubtedly belonged to the murdered Imperial family. An American is in treaty for the gems, but the very heavy United States import duty is a bar, though Bolshevik agents are organising a scheme to smuggle some of the gems into the United States by way of Canada. There are ten times as many jewels still remaining in Moscow, where a special guard watches the diamonds in the Kremlin, as the treasure forms an easily transportable reserve which would be available in the event of Bolshevik leaders having to fly hurriedly. This enormous concentration of diamonds alarms professional dealers, who say it would take a market ten years to absorb such a quantity of big gems. Leading dealers, therefore, are trying to organise a world boycott against the Bolsheviks’ diamond dealers. NEGOTIATIONS WITH JAPAN. (Reuter’s Telegrams.) TQKIO, June 17. Hie Soviet has appointed M. Joffe plenipotentiary for the preliminary pourparlers with Japan.