TRADE PACT WITH RUSSIA

Southland Times, Issue 23947, 13 October 1939, Page 7

TRADE PACT WITH RUSSIA

AGREEMENT SIGNED BY BRITAIN EXCHANGING RUBBER AND TIN FOR TIMBER (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) LONDON, October 11. The Minister of Supply (Dr E. L. Burgin) has signed an Anglo-Soviet trade agreement providing for the exchange of Russian timber for rubber and tin. It is expected to have important political as well as trade reactions. However, as it stands the agreement is a purely commercial transaction of which the object is to ensure the shipment of timber from Russia before the freezing of the ports at the end of October.

The withholding of export licences at the beginning of the war caused a hold-up in British tin and rubber exports. The agreement ensures the release of the goods which Russia needs against the release by Russia of goods consigned to Britain. The negotiations have been proceeding for a fortnight. It is hoped that the agreement is only the first of a series of transactions. The official announcement refers to discussions with the Soviet trade delegation in London. The Russian signatory is the trade commissar to London (M. Filin). The agreement makes provision for timber coming from Murmansk and other White Sea ports, mostly soft wood and pit props. The whole question of adapting Anglo-Soviet trade relations to conditions of war is now under consideration and some of the preliminary difficulties are under discussion with the Soviet.

GERMAN MIGRATION PLANNED POPULATION FOR EASTERN TERRITORIES LONDON, October 11. The British United Press states that it is reliably'reported from Berlin that Germany is secretly negotiating the greatest migration in the history of South-Eastern Europe, involving the transfer of 750,000 Germans from Rumania, 600,000 from Yugoslavia and 480,000 from Hungary to Germany's eastern territories, including Poland. The Moscow correspondent of the Copenhagen newspaper The Politiken, ■ridicules the report that the German minority in the Volga Basin is returning to the Reich. He points out that it would mean turning loose 500,000 ardent Bolshevists in Germany. Moreover, Stalin is unlikely to part with industrious and loyal subjects. NAZI POLICE CHIEF VISITS ITALY LONDON, October 11. The Rome correspondent of the British United Press says that the Chief of the Gestapo (Nazi secret police), Herr Heinrich Himmler, has arrived at Milan for a conference with: Signor Arturo Bocchini, head of the Italian police. The object is reported to be to deal with the exodus of Germans from the former German areas now incorporated in Italy. TURKEY HOPES TO SIGN THREE PACTS ANKARA, October 11. The Premier of Turkey at a secret session of his supporters announced that he hoped to conclude pacts with Russia, Britain and France soon. UNMISTAKABLE SIGNS OF GERMAN ANXIETY DISTURBING EFFECT OF WILD RUMOURS (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, October 11. Reports from Germany indicate that after yesterday’s'spate of wild rumours in Berlin it is now realized that hopes of an early peace must now be set aside. These unmistakable signs of anxiety, war weariness and bewilderment in Germany, cause but little surprise here, for it is recognized that the recent events in Eastern Europe must have had a deeply-disturbing effect. The newspapers remark that this effect has been deepened by slow appreciation in Germany of the fact that the plans of Herr Hitler, in whose infallibility Germans have been taught to believe, have at last aroused the opposition of the civilized world. MINISTRY CRITICIZED IN HQVSE ADMINISTRATION ACCUSED OF “BUNGLING” (Received October 12, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, October 12. In the House of Commons, the Ministry of Information received heavy criticism when numerous speakers attacked its methods and accused the administration of “bungling.” Sir Edward Grigg (Conservative), replying, admitted that the Ministry lacked “the kind of man and the kind of system” to get quick action. The Government was engaged in drastic revision of the machinery, said Sir Samuel Hoare, Lord Privy Seal. The Ministry’s duty would be to supply information to neutral countries and the Dominions of Great Britain—publicity rather than propaganda. “The last thing we want to do,” he said, “is to embark on any plans such as those in the totalitarian States for propaganda. It will be publicity and by that I mean straight news.” REDRESS OF POLISH AND CZECH WRONGS LONDON, October 11. The Free Church Council passed a resolution welcoming the Government’s assurances that the German proposals would receive detailed consideration and urging a reply in which would be defined conditions of peace. This should be made as clear as possible, says the council, and should include the redress of the Polish and Czech wrongs and also of German grievances.

NORTHERN IRELAND’S PART IN WAR EFFORT

(Received October 11, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 11.

Northern Ireland’s emergency Budget presented in the House of Commons today provides for a contribution 0f£2,000,000 to the United Kingdom Exchequer during the first year of the war.