BRITAIN AND RUSSIA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 30 May 1927, Page 5

BRITAIN AND RUSSIA.

BRITISH HOME POLICY. INTERFERENCE INTOLERABLE. Press Association-Electric Telegraph-Copyright. LONDON, Saturday. Mr Baldwin, addressing women Unionists in the Albert Hail, said “The Chinese, if they can tree themselves from the Moscow incubus, will not find us difficult to deal with. The moment a voice arises able to speak for China the end of the trouble will be within sight. We. are sympathetic towards China because she has suffered from the interference of a powerful oligarchy which, in the name of freedom, is attempting to enslave millions of Russians. “We have decided to end that interference in Britain, because it is intolerable, because their agents are throughout the world. Their propaganda which represents British policy as aimed at war is based on forgery. 1 emphatically state that. the rupture does not imply war in any way, but merely no further political dealings’ with Moscow. Anglo-Russian trade will enjoy the same facilities as in the case of other countries. ”—A.P. A. and “Sun.”

RUPTURE CONDEMNED. LONDON, Saturday. A scathing attack on the Russian break was made by Mr Lloyd George said: “There is only one thing now left. You cannot send home their Ambassador. He’s gone. You cannot recall our Ambassador. He’s coming. The wires are cut between us. We have shot our last bolt, except the thunderbolt of war. What folly! What madness! A little more patience would have saved us* a diplomatic rupture with one of the greatest peoples in the world; it is not a thing to throw caps in the air about. Rather It is a thing to bend the knees about. It is the most serious decision Britain has taken since August, 1914, yet Cabinet was not called together to decide whether the step should be taken. “The rupture with 150 millions of the most formidable people on earth was precipitately decided upon. Only those who knew what Russia did in the war,- without arms or ammunition, going into action against tlie greatest artillery in the world, dying at the command of. the Tsar, realise what a formidable people the Russians are.” The speaker was proceeding to illustrate the resultant trade loss, when a voice came: “Does trade co'me before honour?” Mr Lloyd George: “No, but was not honour involved in 1923-25-26? Was not honour also involved in 1927, when Lord Balfour, one of the most honourable men in the country, said that, although the Trade Agreement was broken, it was not in the interests of peace of the world that there should bo a rupture with Russia.” (Applause).

SOVIET REPLY. » MOSCOW, Saturday. M. L'itvinoff lias handed a Note to the British Charge d’Affaires stating that the British decision had not surprised members of tlie Soviet, who were aware that a rupture was being prepared by the Conservative Government. The Note emphatically denies all the charges of violating the Trade Agreement. The charges are declared to be based on false information and forged documents, with which the British Government freely operated throughout 'the period of Anglo-Soviet relations. The Soviet deems it unworthy to reply to the insinuations of espionage by the Trade Delegation, and declares 'that the British had no legal ground for the police raid on extraterritorial premises, nor for terminating the agreement without six months’ notice. The note declares it is evident to the whole world that the fundamental cause of the rupture is the defeat of the Conservative Government’s policy in China, and an attempt to mask the defeat by a diversion directed against the Soviet, while the direct reason is the Government’s desire to divert puolie opinion from the failure of the absurd. police raid on Arcos and save Sir William Joynson-Hicks from a scandalous position consequent on the raid.

The note concludes: ‘‘The Soviet desires friendly relation with the British Empire. The responsibility for the break rests with the British Government. It will inevitably upset the existing political, economic and international relations, but the Soviet is convinced that the time is near when the British people will find ways and means for the unhampered realisation of their aspirations for peace and normal relations with the Soviet.” —A.P.A. and “Sun.”

LABOUR ENTERTAINS RUSSIANS. LONDON, Saturday. • Within an hour of receiving ten days’ notice to quit the country, M. Rosengoltz, with his assistant, M. Bogolinoff, and M. Khinchuk, head of the Trade Delegation, were comfortably lunching in the House of Commons as guests of Labour M.P. ’s, who had been in Russia, .and other Labour leaders. “Some, of us who have been friends with Russia thought it would be nice to have a meal and wish the departing Russian good luck,” said Mr George Lansbury, M.P. “It was quite informal and private. We discussed how soon the Russians would be back, as the British present had a feeling that the break was only temporary, and the two great nations must come together again shortly.” M. Rosengoltz' spoke briefly.- lie still held the opinion that they were being turned out for no adequate reason. Those present included Messrs J. Maxton, A. Purcell, John Bromley,

Bon. T'illott, Walter Citrine, anil Robert Williams. CONTRACTS TO BE FULFILLED. LONDON, Saturday. NT. Kliinchuk announces • that although the delegations’ ■work in placing contracts has terminated, the work of the Russo-British Grain Export Company and similar organisations will continue, provided obstacles are not put in the way. All Arc-os contracts will be fulfilled anil met, and for this purpose sufficient staff will remain. The delegation trusts that British firms will fulfil Soviet contracts. A notice posted at Chesham House announces that the Consulate-General is closed. The Youshar’s departure has been postponed till May 31, owing to the selection and loading of cargo taking longer than anticipated.—A.P.A. and “'Sun.” Russians sailing. LONDON, Saturday. Forty Russians, mostly members of the Trade Delegation, sail to-night on the Soviet steamer Youshar, which is berthed at Limehouse and guarded by police. Already many packing cases from Soviet House have been stowed aboard.

RUSSIAN BAD FAITH. LONDON, Saturday. “Extremists daubed with trades unionist paint exploited in the interest of their own political careers are advancing pet fails and trying to establish a rival p arliamentary constitution,” says Mr Churchill in a letter to Brigad-ier-General Spears, Conservative candidate. for Bosworth. “Twenty million days’ wages were lost through strikes in the seven years ending 1906, eightyseven million days’ wages were lost in the next seven years, but three hundred and twenty-two million . days’ wages were lost in the seven years ending 1926. This is the bitter fruit the extremist has brought to ■wage-earners. Britain is l falling behind others recovering from the war, due to the misuse of trades unions owing to Moscow increasingly influencing the extremists. We have shown a patience exceeding Job’s. Now after the Russians’ bad faith has been proved 'to be bottomless, the House of Commons, by an overwhelming majority, has uttered the short, simple word ‘Go.’ ” —A.P.A. and “Sun.”