SOVIET GIVES ITS PLEDGE

Taranaki Daily News, 30 December 1929, Page 9

SOVIET GIVES ITS PLEDGE

PROPAGANDA ABANDONED

RESUMPTION OF RELATIONS

NATIONS EXCHANGE NOTES

British Wireless. Rugby, Dec. 27. Tho text is issued of notes exchanged on December 20 between the newly-ap-pointed Russian Ambassador in Loudon, M. Sokolnikoll, and Mr. A. Henderson, British Foreign Secretary, regarding propaganda. Sokolnikoll in his note refers to clause 7 of tho protocol signed on October 3 last by the Soviet Ambassador in Paris on behalf of the Soviet Government and by Mr. Henderson on behalf of the British Government, wherein both Governments engaged themselves to confirm the pledge regarding propaganda, -which maintained article 16 of the general treaty signed on August 8, 1924, between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Great Britain.

He repeats the terms of that article, which were: Tho contracting parties solemnly affirm their desire a.f.l intention to live in peace and amity with each other; scrupulously to respect the undoubted right of a State to order its own life within its own jurisdiction in its own way; to refrain and to restrain all persons and organisations under their direct or indirect control, -including organisations in receipt of financial assistance from them, from any act, overt or covert, liable in any way whatsoever to endanger tho tranquility or prosperity of any part of tho territory of the British Empire or of tho Union of Soviet Republics, or' intended to embitter the relations of the British Empire or the Union with their neighbours or any other countries.”

It was further agreed, he adds, that effect should bo given to this clause of the aforesaid protocol not later than the day on which the respective Ambassadors presented their credentials. • UNDERTAKING CONFIRMED. Skolnikoff proceeds: “Having this day presented to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales letters accrediting me as Ambassador of tho Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to his Majesty the King, I have tho honour, by direction of the People’s Commissary for Foreign Affairs and on behalf of the Government of tho Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, to confirm the undertaking contained in tho articles quoted above, and to inform you that the Government of tho Union of Socialist Republics regard that undertaking as having full force and effect as between themselves and His Maesty’s Government of Great Britain and tho Government of India. “I am instructed to add that the Government of tho Union of Soviet Socialist Republics will be happy to receive, in accordance with clause 7 of the protocol of tho 3rd. a corresponding declaration from his Majesty's Government in Great Britain and the Government of India.”

Mr. Henderson in acknowledging the receipt of the note says: “In accordance with the understanding between his Majesty's Government and the Government of tho Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics, as recorded in the protocol of October 3, His Majesty’s Ambassador in Moscow has been instructed to inform tho Soviet Government that his Majesty’s Government and the Goverumnt of India for their part also regard the undertaking contained in Article 16 of tho treaty signed on August 8, 1921, as having full force and effect as between themselves and the Soviet Government.’’

In a note communicated to the British Foreign Secretary tho Soviet Ambassador says tho Soviet Government, in giving tho undertaking contained in article 10 of tho treaty of 1924 and confirmed by tho foregoing notes, considered that undertaking as extending also to tho Dominions of Canada, tho Commonwealth of Australia, New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, the Irish Free State and Newfoundland. Consequently, as soon as the Government of any Dominion shall ha'“> regulated its relations with the Soviet Government in such a manner as the circumstances of the particular case may require, tho Soviet Government will bo ready to repeat on the basis of reciprocity tho undertaking above referred to in tho separate exchanges of notes with such Dominion. Mr. Henderson states in reply that the. attitude of the Soviet Government, as indicated in tho verbal no' , is being communicated to tho Governments in Canada, Australia, Now Zealand, South Africa, the Irish Free State and New Eoundland. At the instance of all these Governments he declared that each of them will regard the undertaking contained in article 16 of tho treaty of 1024 as having full force and effect as between themselves and the Soviet Government. Notos similar to the first two were also exchanged in Moscow. LUCID SOVIET PROPAGANDA. LEAFLETS IN RUSSIAN AT BREST.

Roc. 5.5 p.m. London, Dee. 28. Despite tho precautions of the authorities, the Soviet warships Fariskaya and Konununa succeeded in distributing propaganda among tho dockyard "mateys” at Brest, reports the Paris correspondent of The Timos. The workmen, howover. did not receive the full enlightenment the Bolshevists intended, ns the leaflets were printed in Russian.