BRITAIN AND RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 June 1923, Page 5

BRITAIN AND RUSSIA.

THE SOVIET’S NOTE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. London, June 12. The Russian reply to Britain’s Note does not insist on the convention regarding fishing. It admits that an exchange of Notes will be sufficient. The Soviet agrees to pay sums fixed by Britain as compensation in connection with Mr. Davison and Mrs. Harding, and also is willing to accept mutual undertakings on the question of propaganda, but thinks it necessary to clearly define that no assistance in the future should be given by British Governments or Protectorates to any monarchic or other hostile designs against the Soviet Republic and its Allies. The Soviet Government, from infor mat ion at its disposal, hat no doubt that, if the same criteria a* has been used by the British Government in judging* the activities of Russian representatives at Kabul and Teheran were applied to the activities of the corresponding British agents, who were implicated in the organisation and risings in Turkestan and the Caucasus, the British Government would not have insisted on its one-sided demand. The necessity for a conscientious and exact settlement of these questions is undeniable, and if, as a result of the negotiations or verification, it should be found necessary to recall one or other official, the Soviet would not hesitate to do so In order to maintain and develop friendly relations. The Soviet cannot accept the suggestion that compensation for all the trade agreement, and it insistently proposes that the question of loyal cooperation in future should not be made dependent on past accounts which have remained unsettled, not. through any fault of the Russian Government. It is understood that the British Government, in acknowledging the Russian Note, will express satisfaction at die contents. There is now little danger of the trading agreement being terminated.