SOVIET OBJECTIVE DEFINED.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 15 December 1925, Page 9

SOVIET OBJECTIVE DEFINED.

Official Statement Issued. WILL FOLLOW OTHER NATIONS. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright Auktiuljuii stiu 1.. Association. LONDON, December 13. M. Tchitcherin, interviewed by the ‘'Observer,” declared that the Soviet, repeatedly but fruitlessly approached the British Foreign Office, with a view tb Anglo-Russian negotiations. “Britain has now dropped the question of debts, making the Soviet’s attitude to the League of Nations the acid test of our worthiness of recognition.”

Personally, M. Tchitcherin failed to see how entry into the League could promote a settlement of Russia’s differences with the Powers, who refused to recognise her. Xtussia has renounced all ideas of conquest, and maintains an army and navy merely for purposes of defence. She was prepared to abolish both, and scrap war industries if other nations completely disarmed. She was also prepared for partial disarmament.

RE-ENTRY INTO EUROPEAN POLITICS. " CONDITIONS IMPOSED BY FRANCE. - By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received December 14, 5.5 p.m.) ' PARIS, December i2. .’Political importance is attached to the fact that M. Briand gave a luncheon to M. Tchitcherin and M. Rakovsky, at which M. Herriot and President Demontie, who were previously associated with the Franco-Soviet negotiations, were present. . After lunch, M. Briand and M. Tchitcherin’.had a private conversation. Lt is believed the-latter displayed a flesire for the creation 6f an Entente, sealed by ■an agreement, which would be followed by a similar one with Pritain and other Western Powers. A further interview is probable at the middle of the week. “Le Journal” says vital points on the French side are an honest settlement of the Russian debt to France, the re-entry' of Russia into European politics, and a formal Soviet repudiation of the activities of the Third Internationale. “ FRIENDSHIP WITH RUSSIAN PEOPLE." GERMANY DEMANDS FREE HAND. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. " Tha Times.” (Received December 14, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 13.

The Berlin correspondent of “Tho dimes’’ says that the Reichstag ratified the,.Soviet-German. trade treaty, but this decision was due more to a desire to remove the Bolshevist-created impression that as a result of the Locarno Pact, Germany was embarking oh a western policy, rather than to any real approval of the Treaty, which is generally condemned as wholly o lib-sided, plaeifig’ restrictions on Gerniails in Russia, ..from which Russians in Germany are free, and not bridging the gap between the judicial systems of the two countries. But even the Nationalists agree that these defects ought not to be allowed to obscure the' Treaty’s political significance. v “Our opposition to Bolshevism remains as istfong as ever,” said one Nationalist speaker, “but We are convinced, especially in view of the Locarno Agreemeht, that Germany must maintain a free hand in regard to friendship with the Russian people.”