“MAKING FRIENDS” WITH RUSSIA.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18431, 25 November 1929, Page 9

“MAKING FRIENDS” WITH RUSSIA.

Should Britain Consent? DISCUSSED AT CONSERVATIVE CONFERENCE. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, November 22. “It is known as the Whitehart Agreement, because it was negotiated at the Whitehart Inn, but it should be called the White Feather Treaty,” declared Sir Alfred Knox at the Conservative Association’s Conference, seconding Commander LockerLampson’s motion of a protest against the resumption of Anglo-Soviet relations, till the Russians ceased propaganda and paid their debts. There were heated scenes and cries of “Are you an Englishman?” when Commander Arthur Marsden said Russia owed him money, but it was not ) commonsense to say “do nothing till she paid her debts.” He was prepared to support the motion, if it only objected to recognition till guarantees to refrain from propaganda were provided. The motion was agreed to. Another resolution opposed the evacuation of Egypt, and the abandonment of Imperial preferences. LAUGHS AT SOVIET. EFFECTIVE RETALIATION PROPOSED. (United Presa Association—By Elactr;. Toloern-l.—f\.p vricht.» (Received November 24, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, November 24. M. Besedovsky laughs at the Soviet’s death sentence. “They know,” he says, “I will never return. I shall retaliate shortly by publishing my memoirs, in which I will give the names of Soviet spies all over the world. IRON HAND OF SOVIET. PUTTING DOWN THE TERRORISTS. (UnlfM Press Association—By jusotrls Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received November 24, 11 p.m.) MOSCOW, November 24. After a fortnight’s trial at Voronesh on charges of committing terrorists and incendiary acts, sixteen White Crusaders were sentenced to death anc twenty-three were imprisoned. RUNAWAY RUSSIAN WARNED. DEATH SENTENCE THREATENED. (United Press Association—By Bectrls Telegraph—Copyright.) MOSCOW, November 22. The Soviet has decreed that citizen; employed by Soviet institutions abroad, refusing to return when ordered, arr liable to capital punishment, and confiscation of their entire property. First “ Victim.” The Soviet has sentenced to death M. Besedovsky in absentia, on the grounds of treason and disobeying a command to return to Russia, thereby deserting to the capitalist camp. The sentence will be carried out within twenty-four hours of his return to Russia. Meanwhile, all his property has been confiscated. [A cablegram received from Paris last month said: A sinister light is thrown upon M. Stalin’s policy by a series of articles which M. Besedovsky is contributing to “Le Matin.” M. Stalin, in October, summoned M. Besedovsky to Moscow, and told him the report he submitted on FrancoRussian relations, with special reference to credits, was not worth a kopeck; that Russia did not want to pay her debts, and could not pay them, without totally transforming “the mind of the class which animates us.” M. Stalin told M. Besedovsky that whatever Russia was losing in interest on credits, this permitted her to safeguard her revolutionary independence. “We are seeking to gain time,” added M. Stalin, “until the moment comes for inevitable conflict with the rest of Europe. The revolutionary push will then be powerful enough for us to come to its aid.”]