Soviet’s Policy

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 96, 26 April 1933, Page 7

Soviet’s Policy

STABILITY OF TRADE STATUS OF FOREIGNERS [By Telegraph—Press A*- 'ation—Copyright.! MOSCOW, April 23. M. Litvinoff, Foreign Commissar, in a statement regarding the Soviet’s external trade policy, says it is based on tho same firm foundation as formerly. It includes the absence of political upheavals between, trading countries as a condition of the stability of trade relations and the subjection of foreigners to the jurisdiction of the countries in which they are resident. The Soviet never utilised its monopoly of foreign trade for political ends. His statement concludes:

“Neither trade development nor stability is possible if the slightest friction or political clash between Governments may at any time dislocate trade, or if Governments assume the right to liberate their citizens or commercial enterprises from engagements contracted in commercial agreements or treaties. Such measures hardly ap pear as a due preparation for the World Economic Conference, one of the [ problems of which is to regulate and normalise foreign trade on a world scale. ” IN OGPU HANDS BRITISH PRISONER’S EATE. LONDON, April 23. Messrs, Monkhouse aud Cushny visited Mrs. Thornton, wife of the British engineer, who was sentenced to three years' imprisonment in Russia, who afterwards said she felt more optimistic and was more than ever convinced of her husband’s innocence. NO WORD OF RELEASE MOSCOW, April 23. There is no news of the petition on behalf of Thornton and MacDonald, but tho Foreign Office to-day authorised British Embassy officials to visit them in the Sokolniku Prison on Monday. Under Tsars this reputedly was one of the worst prisons in Russia. It was rebuilt under the Soviet and is now r one of the show places—as a model prison with gardens and workshops. WELL TREATED. THE PRISONERS VISITED. Received April 25, 8.15 p.m. MOSCOW, April 24. Mr. Strang visited Messrs. Thornton and MacDonald, who are sharing a welllit cell in the hospital quarters of the Nokolniki prison. Both are in excellentli health, especially Thornton. Tho men are obviously receiving preferential treatment. The chief of the Moscow prisons explained that the Britishers would probably be given engineering teaching tasks. The appeal was not mentioned. Tho Soviet law prevents another embassy visit for ton davs.