PAID BY THE SOVIET.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16823, 23 August 1920, Page 6

PAID BY THE SOVIET.

ALLEGATION AGAINST PAPER. IMESSAGES 1 WHICH PASSED. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. LONDON, August 19. The messages relating to the Daily Herald were circulated by the Admiralty, which states they intercepted the code form and successfully decoded the dispatches. Mr. Lansbury (the editor of the Daily Herald) states it is untrue that the Daily Herald received Chinese bonds, directly or indirectly. The paper has frequently been threatened with a complete stoppage owing to the shortage of paper, and in the Circumstances, suggesting a trade boycott, it was natural to discuss the subject in Russia, which possesses tremendous supplies. He hoped to buy paper in Russia when industry was reorganised, and ho loft a memorandum iu Moscow stating definitely that any transactions now or in the future must be such as could he put on the Daily Herald’s books, and be open to the light of day. The Daily Herald, in a detailed reply to the Admiralty compilation, declares that no money or newsprint was ever received from the Bolsheviks, or any other Government. The Herald publishes a list of its news-print contracts for the past nine months, also the names of the shareholders and debentureholders, and suggests that the decoding in places is either erroneous or per■versive. MESSAGE IN DETAIL. The paper complains editorially that the Admiralty, while supplying other newspapers, did not supply the Daily Herald with a copy of the messages, thus handicapping it, and suggests that the Government ,deliberately waited until Parliament rose before circulating the messages, its object being to prejudice Labour’s “Council of Action’’ and assist the pro-war party. Mr. Lansbury says the Bolsheviks never offered him a money subsidy. On the authority of “a reliable correspondent” the newspapers publish a .series of wireless messages which passed letween Tchircherin, the Bolshevik Foreign Minister at Moscow, and Litvinolf, formerly the Bolshevik representative in London until expelled. Litvinoff. when the messages passed, was the Bolshevik representative at Stockholm. The majority of the messages passed when Mr. Lansbury was travelling in Russia in January, February and March, 1920. The messages were intercepted by stations in several European countries. The first message, from Tchitcherin to Litvinoff, on February 11, says: “Lansbury is particularly anxious to obtain help in obtaining paper. Lansbury speaks of a sum which he will repay in time. His losses amounted to £IOOO weekly, and are increasing,” Tho second l message, from Tchitcherin to Litvinoff, on February 23, states: “Lansbury does not wish to depend upon us financially, but wishes commercial relations. Therefore he wishes to pay a small commission for the credit we are opening for him for purchasing paper. Chinese bonds will be sent to Reval.” Tho third message, from Tchitcherin to Litvinoff, on February 29, says:— “Lansbury will consult you regarding details of his publication in England. Point out who will give him orders, and regulate the number of copies.” The message ends by asking; “How much money must be sent to pay for Lansbury’s orders? Wo will continue to pay for the paper until the whole five hundred tons is paid for. He (Lansbury) will pay a small sum as commission.” Tho fourth message from Tchitcherin to I bvinoff, on February 29, asks: “Ho, much money do you consider wo ought to give tho Herald? Lansbury .seems particularly anxious to obtain paper. Would it be cheaper to buy paper for him in Sweden instead of making him a present of money?” Tiie fifth message, from Litvinoff to Tchitcherin, on March 30, relates to proceedings of a Bolshevik delegation which sought to discuss a resumption of trade relations.. Lityinoff says he inspired a message to the Daily Herald, adding that a firm tone with the Allies is essential from the beginning. Tho foregoing messages are those passing during Lansbury’s stay in Russia. Those that follow passed later. It is pointed out that Francis Meynell, a mombor of the Daily Herald staff, obtained a passport to Denmark and ; Scandinavia on May 15, and visited Litvinoff at Copenhagen early in July. The sixth message, from Litvinoff to Tchitcherin, on July 7, states: “If we do not support the Daily Herald’, which is now passing through a fresh crisis, we will have to turn ‘right trade union.’ In Russian questions it acts as if it were our organ. After Lansbury’s journey it has gone considerably to the left, and advocates direct action. He needs fifty thousand francs fo? six months, and then hopes to be on firm ground. I consider the work of the Daily Herald especially important for us. I advise that this help be afforded from foreign affairs funds, and be payable in several instalments. The journal has .hot obtained paper in Stockholm, but has (recently had) six thousand francs from us. I beg an early favourable answer, especially because there is no hope of establishing a purely Communist paper.” The seventh message, from Tchitcherin -to Litvinoff, on July 20, says; “If you have not enough ready money for a subsidy to the Herald, tell him that at any rate a subsidy will he paid by those who have authority to organise the financing of institutions abroad. Tho subsidy for tho preservation of control must be paid by degrees.” The concluding message, from Litvihoff to Teh'itoherin, on July 22, states: “I have given instructions that Chinese bonds which are there shall be handed •Over to the Herald.”

The Daily Express says that a few weeks ago Litvinoif sent a parcel of 620 Chinese bonds, worth £12,000, to a Russian bank in Londonj which passed them to another bank m London for sale. A purchaser was found, but the sale could not be completed because it was necessary to supply the (Treasury with the purchaser’s name.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.