TRADE NEGOTIATIONS

Southland Times, Issue 22074, 22 July 1933, Page 5

TRADE NEGOTIATIONS

BRITAIN AND RUSSIA.

LORD NEWTON’S CRITICISM.

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.)

London, July 20.

In the House of Commons Mr Baldwin said he hoped the adjournment would be taken on July 28 until November 7. In the event of a trade agreement with Russia being signed during the recess an opportunity would be given the House for a discussion before ratification. In the House of Lords, Lord Newton said that throughout the existence of the Soviet it had conducted a deliberate swindle. The recent arrests of British subjects should have precluded a commercial treaty, instead of which Britain should have insisted on a heavy indemnity. If Signor Mussolini or Herr Hitler had done a hundredth part ot what the Soviet had done the Labour Party would have demanded the breaking of all intercourse. DEBTS OWED TO BRITAIN SOVIET RECOGNITION SOUGHT. (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Rugby, July 20. In the House of Lords members inquired regarding the basis of negotiations for an Anglo-Russian trade agreement. Several of their Lordships urged that before concluding such an agreement a condition precedent should be the recognition by the Soviet Government of public and private debts owed to Great Britain. Replying to a discussion Lord Londonderry said that on the general subject of British attitude towards Russian trade, he could not agree with those who said they should wipe out Russian from a trade purview and leave them to occupy their own position in the world. He could assure their Lordships that the negotiations would be carried out on an equitable basis under which trade could be developed in a satisfactory manner. No permanent commercial treaty would be made without a settlement of Russian debts.