RUSSIAN LETTER.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18217, 30 October 1924, Page 9

RUSSIAN LETTER.

FOREIGN OFFICE STAFF.

INDIGNATION AGAINST MR

MACDONALD

(»T CABLB—FHS3B ASSOCIATION—COPY*ZO«I) UCSTEALUX A.ND K.I. CABLE ABSCUAiUiIi.;

(Received October 29th, 7.40 p.m.)

LONDON, October 2S

Newspapers state that members of the Foreign Office staff are indignant at MrMacDonaldfor blaming them. The ''Evening Standard" say* the Foreign Office, contradicting Mr Ma, Oonald. asserts that the Zinovieff letter reached London on October Sth, and was known to Mr MacDonahl on October 9ih, which was the day the dissolution nag decided upon. It is inconceivable that Mr Mac Donald only received the letter on October loth.

Lord Curzon, at Derby, said Mr MacDonald's action was the shabbiest, in trying to throw the blame on officials. It was a dirty trick to turn on his own subordinates.

"AN AMAZING SPEECH."

"THE TIMES" ATTACKS MR

MACDONALD.

(AUSTRALIAN- ASD IC.Z. CABLI ASSOCIAWOH.)

LONDON, October 23,

"The Times" says that Mr Mac Donald broke his silence by an auiaz ing speech.

"lid has directly charged the Foreign Office with taking action without his authority. The Foreign Office' cannot despatch or publish a Note without its chief's authority. Therefore, Mr MaeDonald is responsible. "Ono thing is perfectly cloar. Mr MaeDonald committed an action which is unpardonable according to accepted standards of British public life. lie has tried to shield himself in a difficult situation by insinuating that permanent officials acted without his authority as Foreign Secretary. He has disavowed, by insinuation and innuendo, an important despatch sent to a foreign Power in his name.

"Never in modern times has a Minister of the Crown descended so low as to expose the Civil Service, which is not empowered publicly to defend itself from attacks for acts which the Minister alone is constitutionally responsible."

"AUTHOR" DENIES LETTER.

(eeuter's telegrams.)

MOSCOW, October 28,

M. Zinovieff, in a statement to the Press, declares that his alleged letter to the British Communist Party is a forgery. He was undergoing a cure at Kislovodsk on September 15th, when tho letter was supposed to have been written, and was unable to sign any official letters.

The alleged instructions to tho military section of tho British Communist Party were nonsense. Such a section does not exist. The party has far more important things to consider than creating a British Kcd Army, especially the task of bringing the views of the Communist International before the maßses of British workers. M. Zinovieff undertakes to abide by the decision of tho British Trado Union Commission in regard to the authenticity or otherwise of the letter. Ho declares that it was fabricated in Poland.

PROPAGANDA AMONG MOSLEMS

("THE TIMES.")

LONDON, October 28

The Cairo correspondent of "The Times" says that Bolshevist propaganda in Egypt has taken a new form. Leaflets, apparently printed in Scandinavia, advocating the establishment of a Moslem Soviet Republic for Egypt and tho Sudan, are extensively circulating throughout tho country.

It is believed these leaflets were first introduced by pilgrims returning from Mecca, as most of these had to pass through Jeddah, where the Soviet Government is maintaining a Consul, whose position is particularly favourable for the dissemination of Bolshevist doctrines throughout the Moslem world.