A FORMAL NOTE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19844, 19 May 1927, Page 7

A FORMAL NOTE

PROTEST FROM MOSCOW Soviet Government’s Views on the Arcos Raid RELATIONS ENDANGERED TRADE AGREEMENT VIOLATED [By Telegraph—Per Press Assn.—Copyright.] Received May 18, 8 p.m. (A.P.A.-Sun) MOSCOW. May 17. A Soviet note despatched to London endorses the protest made by M. Rosengalz. It recalls that during the negotiations for the resumption of AngloSoviet economic relations, the Soviet especially stressed a demand for the immunity of its Trade Agreement, which the British have now violated in the grossest and most insulting manner. The Note expresses the opinion that the rail on Arcos, which is a British trading company of high standing and which accurately fulfilled its obligations, is unprecedented and could only be actuated by the motive of causing detriment to Soviet interests, connected with Arcos, by compromising the latter and creating an atmosphere of hostility anil want of confidence, while at the same time interrupting the business of the trade delegation by occuping their premises. The acts committed there flagrantly violate the Agreement of 1921. After arguing that M. Kinchuks cypher correspondence was entitled to immunity, the Note complains that officials of the Trade Delegation cypher department were subjected to violence and were even beaten when fulfilling their duty while M. Kinchuk’s wife, who holds a diplomatic passport, was /••tained with violence and was searched. “Serious and Hostile Act’’ “The raid is a most serious and hostile act.” says the Note, tl jeopardising further the preservation of relations between the interested States. It can be proved that the Trade Delegation's activities gave no justification for the raid, from the fact that no complaint was received from the British Government regarding this activity. The search was robbed of any formal significence owing to the refusal of the police to permit the Delegation’s representatives to ■< ■ in attendance. “The British Government is aware of the Soviet Government’s Note referring to the police raid carried out under analagous circumstances in China. To provide the search with even elementary guarantees was more necessary in view of the ominous role once played in Soviet-British relations by a forged document, against oft repeated accusations against the Soviet of violation of the rules of international relations. The Soviet Government has unquestionable proof of the British Government’s violation of the SovietBritish Agreement of 1921. and the most offensive handling of persons enjoying diplomatic immunity, while the fßQui rements of international law were totally ignored. Clear Reply Demanded "The British are evidently striving to bring the Anglo-Soviet tension to a culminating point by this unprecedented and unrestrained campaign of hate, which culminated in the raid, and this compels the Soviet earnestly and frankly to ask the British Government whether it desires the preservation and development of Anglo-Soviet trade relations or whether it intends in the future to hamper them. The Soviet Government catagorically declares the conduct of trade relations only possible on strict observance by the British Government of the Trade Agreement, and guaranteeing the economic organs of the Soviet the possibility of quiet and normal work. The Soviet feels its right to demand a clear and unequivocal reply, from which it mav draw due conclusions. It reserves the right to .demand from the British Government satisfaction for the violations of the Treaty obligations, for insults suffered and material losses caused by the action of the police.

THE INFORMATION GAINED MOSCOW ’ S REVOLUTIONARY PLANS. "MARKED MEN.” Received May 18, 10 p.m. (Sun Cable). LONDON, May 18. The Daily Mail’s political correspondent says that confronted by Moscow’s plans for the gradual overthrow of the Empire, Cabinet is faced with a most important problem in deciding what use will be made of the information gained in the Arcos raid. Moscow’s agents throughout the world, says the paper, must be suffering the most acute anxiety regarding the extent to which they have become marked men.