LAWS ABOLISHED.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16820, 27 May 1919, Page 4

LAWS ABOLISHED.

I CONFISCATION OF BANKS. EX-AMBASSAPOR ! S STATEMENT. New light was thrown upon the obscurity of reoent Russian history by fell- George Buchanan late British Ambassador at Petrograd, when he gave evidence at the Law Courts, London, a few weeks ago. The Eastern Carrying Insurance Company, of ; Petrogr a d,; claimed £50,000 upon a reinsurance agreement from the National Benefit, Life, and Property Assurance Company, Limited. Qf London, and. the claim was resisted on the ground that owing to the condition of .Russia, the contract has been made impossible of fulfilment. .Sir George Buchanan said that during the time EejiensKyl was-in"-office there was always a perpetual struggle between the Soviet and the Government. Mr Leslie Scott K,C.:. When did the Bolsheviks first begin to reonisition' moneys from the hanks? —I think the Prst dpcree was about land, on 10th November.- The confiscation of bank funds took place on 25th December. The abolition of the Law Courts was on 7th and the repudiation of .the Russian Tioht on 16th January. Was the administration of justice fuoh as is known in civilised countri«=? —Certainly not. All In we were nbolislu ed, and they simply gave judgment according to their own inclinations. Even the Bar was abolished. (Laughter.*) Mr Leslie Scott: I think that will convince my friend* that civilisation had ceased. Asked how soon sifter the establishment of the Bolshevik regime civilised order ceased, to exist,. Sir George* said that there was a"bsj>luto chaos in inenterprise, because you never kr""w what was going to hapnen. Has the Bol=hevik regime ever freen ve-nsmised.by the British.Government? —N» never, What happened to the financial position in Russia as a result of the Bolshevik regime?—lt simply and absolutely became bankrupt. They printed millions of rouble notes, hut even they recognised that the position was one of bankruptcy, because the notes would not purchase many things. , ; Mr Leslie Scott said he saw it stated that they printed 94 millions worth daily. Sir George remarked that the factories in Russia were handed over to committees of who paid themselves high wages, and when tho capital was expended they had no choice between joining tho Red Army or going back to their country- homes, Mr Leslie Scott said the basis of the contract was that the English company should deal with a company carrying on business under conditions of civilised business life. Mr Justice Bailhache reserved judgment. .".-'■ ■.':