NEUTRALITY ISSUE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 144, 21 June 1939, Page 7

NEUTRALITY ISSUE

BRITISH AMBASSADOR AT MOSCOW Anglo-Soviet Pact Negotiations TEST OF RUSSIAN GOOD FAITH (By Telegraph Press Association —Copyright) Received June 20, 9.5 p.m. LONDON, June 20. The Daily Telegraph says that the Government has issued fresh instructions to the British Ambassador at Moscow, Sir William Seeds, including wider latitude with the object of speeding up the negotiations for the conclusion of an Anglo-Soviet Pact, especially in view of the Far East situation. The new instructions are regarded as a test of the Soviet’s good faith. No conversations took place in Moscow yesterday and diplomaticsources stated that, the lull might last for several days.

PRESENT DIFFERENCES

NOT CONFINED TO BALTIC STATES (British Official Wirck.-,-.) Received June 20, 8.10 p.m. RUGBY, June 19. The Anglo-Soviet discussions at Moscow are still proceeding, according to a statement by the Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain, in the House of Commons. Last Thursday afternoon the French and British Ambassadors, accompanied by the Counsellor at the British Foreign Office, Mr. William Strang, were received by the Soviet Foreign Minister, M. Molotov, to whom the British Ambassador, Sir William Seeds, had explained the latest Anglo-French proposals. A further meeting had taken place on Friday, when M. Molotov had communicated to the French and British representatives the Soviet Government’s observations on these proposals. Mr. Chamberlain indicated in a supplementary answer that the outstanding differences wire not confined to the question of the position of the Baltic States. He was also asked if the instruction! to Sir William Seeds were wide enough to obviate reference buck to London, and replied: “I think that must be determined by how the discussions proceed. It may be that further fresh points may he raised requiring reference back, but I am not aware of any.”