BRITISH ELECTIONS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXI, Issue 9847, 28 October 1924, Page 4

BRITISH ELECTIONS

LABOR DENIALS

SOVIET’S DECLARATION CONFIRMED.

Cnited Press Association—Copy r m t (Received Oct. 27, 11 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 26. A. remarkable communique, issued by the Labor party headquarters categorically describes as untrue’ firstlw, that the letter attributed to Zinovieff had been discussed by Cabinet, secondly, that it was intercepted in the ’ post, photographed amt then delivered to the Communists in the ordinary way; thirdly, that Labor candidates were instructed not to talk the Russian treaty. The Communique states tnat obviously contradictory statements by the Foreign Office and Rakov,sky cannot finally !,:* settled until after the election "ami Mr MacDonald’s return. It adds that the whole circumstances surrounding the Zinovieff letter me regarded with the gravest suspicion in Labor quarters and comments on the fact that copies of the letter were- ,n possession of the T-ondon daily papers and Conservative headquarters before they were issued by the Foreign office" to the press. The communique says: “While the question of the authenticity of the document remains open, there can he no doubt whatsoever about the vigorous Note to Kahovsky, which entirely disapproves the allegation that tho Government is under the heel of the Communists.” Jt concludes, Vibe Note gives a guarantee that the Anglo-Russinn agreements will be enforced bv the leaders and papers n be frank with the public and stale j 1 they came to be in jxissession m teh alleged document.” Bhe Soviet -> declaration that the letter is a forgery is officially confirmed.-—-Reuter.

WHAT DAILY HERALD SAYS BOMBSHELL A DAMP SQUIB. (Received Oct. -27, 9.80 p.m.) 'LONDON, Oct. 27. The explosion of the Russian bombshell continues.- to reverberate throughout the entire electoral field, though Moscow’s allegation that the Zinovieff letter is a forgery and demanding an apology ircm Britain, makes the Daily Herald claim that the bombshell has now became a damp squib. In any case Mr MacDonald’s personal position is a most difficult situation and lends intense interest to the--speech Mr MacDonald promises to-day at Cardiff, in which he will discuss the whole matter. . The Daily Herald’s political correspondent says the copy was sent to the press without Mr MacDonald and Mr Ponsonby being consulted, hutother newspapers state that Mr MacDonald drafted the reply himself. The Daily Herald adds: “The Zinovieff letter is connected with a “White” organisation in Russia and Foreign Office experts accepted it without adequate critical examination.

“A FORGERY” WHAT RAHOVOSKY SAYS. LONDON, Get. 27. Rakovsky, interviewed by the Daily Express, jsaid: “I am sending another Note to the Foreign Office which will convince the British Government that the Zinovieff letter was a forgery. I cannot hide- the fact that the situation created through this intrigue is extremely grave and it is now our turn to receive satisfaction. It is impossible that the good relations of iwo great countries can depend upon the caprice or a forger." Most of the Labor leaders, speaking on Sunday, declined to discus? A the letter in detail, expressing

view that it is a fake. !' Mr Snowden, speaking at Cleckheaton, was inclined to regard the letter as a palpable forgery and said that anyone wonld be extremely foolish if they accepted the letter at its face value, but the Labor Gorernj menfc would stand no nonsense from Russia.—A. and N.Z.C'.A. | LONDON, Oct. 27. ; There was no development in the Zinovieff affair to-day. Mr Mae- ■ Donald, from his constituency, maintained -communication with the For-

eign Office on the subject and is expected to deal fully with, the matter at Cardiff to-morrow. Other members of Cabinet refused to discuss the subject.—A. and N.Z. C.A.

SNOWDEN ON RUSSIA

NO LOAN WITHOUT GUARANTEE

(Received Oct. 27, 10.5 p.md LONDON, Oct. 27. Mr Snowden, commenting on the Zinovieff affair, said that if the Russian treaty was not kept- it would he

null and void. While he was Chancellor there would be no foreign loan guaranteed except upon a security which would make default practically impossible. The - Daily Chronicle, comment mg on the manner in which individual members of Cabinet were now doubting the authenticity of the letter says : Apparently Labor tac-tis is to go on letting their speakers until polling day makes the suggestion that the damning letter is a forgery. But it- must he remembered that Mr MacDonald is a public authority for the genuineness of the letter. His colleagues cannot think Mr MacDonald so unfit for his duties as their speech suggest.” The Daily Express’ political correspondent says the consequences ov Zinovieff’s letter will be momentuoiis If the document is genuine Mr Mc - Donald has killed the Russian treaty: if it is a forgery, Mr MacDonald lias killed himself as a. Socialist leader for his bewildered and infuriated followers will neve r forgive him for launching an attack on Russia based on a forgery on the eve of an election.

Mr Lloyd George addresses a great meeting at Camberwell Baths to-day. assisting Mr Macnamara who is fighting his ninth election there since 1900. There are fourteen thousand applications for seats. The Morning Post’s Rome correspondent says that all shades of papers except the Communist give prominence to the Zinovieff letter as a most amazing proof of the Soviet s bad faith.—A. and N.Z.C.A.