HOUSE OF LORDS DEBATES ANGLOSOVIET RELATIONS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18936, 5 December 1929, Page 9

HOUSE OF LORDS DEBATES ANGLOSOVIET RELATIONS

LORD BIRKENHEAD OPPOSES RESUMPTION. (United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received December 5. 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, December 4. The resumption of diplomatic relations with Russia was the subject of a debate in the House of Lords, initiated by Lord Birkenhead, who called attention to the recent Soviet revolutionary propaganda and invited a statement of the policy of the Government and moved a resolution that the resumption of relations at present was undesirable. Lord Thomson replying said that the policy of the Government was to resume normal diplomatic relations with Russia with the least possible delay and at the same time to safeguard British interests, not only in this country, but also throughout the world. The Government hoped to contribute to the maintenance of world peace and to expand British trade. It was the Government's view that relations with the Soviet Government should never have been broken off. The policy of refusing relations because they could not accept the promises of the Soviet Government was a policy of despair. It would mean that the present state of affairs would continue indefinitely. Ambassadors had not yet been exchanged and the pledge regarding propaganda had not yet been given. The Government had not renounced, and would not renounce, their right to take any measure they might think necessary to check foreign subversive propaganda from whatever source it might emanate. Lord Brentford asked whether in the face of that declaration, if propaganda continued, either in Britain or the Empire, instigated by the Russian Government their envoy would be sent out again ? Lord Thomson replied: If it is instigated by the Russian Government most certainly. Lord Birkenhead: Including the Third International? Lord Thomson: Yes. Continuing Lord Thomson said that he did not want to leave the impression that propaganda would cease as if by magic. It could not in the nature of things, with a body like the TJiird International. Regarding the argument that relations should not be resumed with a country where atrocities and executions had taken place, he said that the Government did not condone the atrocities and regretted the executions, but they believed that the resumption of relations with Russia would tend to diminish the system of executions and atrocities, which still pevailed there. “We believe that it is in the best interest of our country to resume relations. We believe that it is absolutely indispensable for the general peace of the world, and that is the reason why the Government are undertaking their present policy.” Lord Reading, Liberal, approved the Government’s policy as sound and wise and in the interests of real security and universal peace. He would have preferred to see an agreement definitely setting down the terms of relations that were to exist before the exchange of Ambassadors, but he hoped that when conditions were laid down they would be as definite and precise as possible. The Archbishop of Canterbury drew attention to the attitude of the Soviet Government towards Christianity and all forms of religion, but he had received information that there was now a cessation of the more flagrant violations of the elementary principles of justice. He believed that there would be a greater chance of securing some alleviation of the difficult position of religious people in Russia, if representations could be made through ordin-’ ary diplomatic means to the Soviet Government.