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Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 7 December 1927, Page 3

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CHAMBERLAIN RECEIVES LITVINOFF MEETING AT GENEVA. QUESTION OF BED PROPAGANDA Geneva, Dee. 5. Sir Austen Chamberlain and Litvinoff met and parted with the result expected when Litvinoff beforehand in judiciously announced that if Sir Austen Chamberlain raised the question of Red propaganda he would have to point out the difference between the Soviet and the Communist Lniernational, over which the Soviet nad no control. Litvinoff had divined correctly, and it is understood that the interview ended rather ai'xuptly when the Russian sought to absolve the Soviet from blame. Still League circles regard it as something of an event that the two were Drought together. Gossip overnight gave credit for this in the first place to M. Briand, then to Dr. Stresexnann, but the story now most current is that the way was paved by two British correspondents. It is said that after a talk with Sir Austen Chamberlain they roused Litvinoff from bed after midnight and induced him to make an approach by letter, which Sir Austen Chamberlain laid down as an essential condition precedent to a meeting. Litvinoff was summoned just in time to defer his departure by the morning train for Berlin.

“NOTHING INTERESTING.” A crowd of photographers, journalists and detectives besieged the Hotel Beau Riv'age, where Litvinoff arrived at 2.30 and emerged an hour later. In reply to inquiries as to what was the result, he laconically observed: “Nothing interesting.” The pair had agreed to issue a communique, according to which the meeting was the occasion of a frank exchange of views on Russo-British relations, and it was not possible to find a basis of understanding. Litvinoff leaves to-morrow after a resultless visit, except that he announces that he obtained from M. Briand an assurance that the Rakovsky affair has ended, that discussions would be renewed on questions of debts, credits and a Franco-Russian non-agression pact. In addition Litvinoff made representations to M. Briand and the Polish delegation in reference to the Polish-Lithuanian situation, in connection with which it is suggested that the Council of the League may appoint a commission of five from Britain. France. Germany, Italy and Japan to investigate the problem. JOURNALIST ARRANGES INTERVIEW. London, Dee. 5. Mr George Slocombe, the “Daily Herald’s” correspondent in a message from Geneva, says: “As a result of information I possessed, I was able to make, entirely on my own responsibility, certain suggestions to Litvinoff, which resulted in a midnight telephone call from the Soviet delegation to a British official, asking in the name of Litvinoff if Sir Austen Chamberlain would receive him. An answer was promised early in the morning and received at 9 o’clock, fixing 2.30 in the afternoon.” The Australian Press Association correspondent says it is understood Litvinoff informed Sir Austen Chamberlain that ho might expect to hear further from Moscow when the conversation was reported to his. colleagues.—(A. and N.Z.) DOES NOT CONCERN HIM. LITVINOFF AND SUBVERSIVE PROPAGANDA. (Received 6, 1.40 p.m.) Geneva, Dec. 5 Litvinoff, en route to see Sir Austen Chamberlain, said he would only discuss Anglo-Soviet and PolishLithuanian relations. If Sir Austen Chamberlain raised the question of subversive propaganda in Britain he would point out that it was a matter which did not concern him but the Communist Internationale., for which the Soviet Government which he represented. was not responsible.— (Sydney “Sun” cable). THE SOVIET PROPOSALS. NO NOTICE GIVEN. [British Official Wireless.! Rugby. Dec. 5. Questions were asked in the House of Commons regarding the disarmament proposals made by Litvinoff at the preparatory commission on disarmament at Geneva. Mr G. Locker-Lampson, Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, stated that no notice of the terms of the Russian proposals was given before the opening meeting of the preparatory commission and the British delegation consequently left this country without instructions on the subject. The work of the preparatory commission was limited to the security committee therefore no discussion took place on the Russian proposals and the question of sending instructions about them to the British delegates did not arise. UNIVERSAL DISARMAMENT IMPRACTICABLE. London, Dec. 5. Tn the House of Commons, the Hom Stanley Baldwin, answering a question, said the League’s preparatory committee on disarmament apparently did not regard the Russian proposals for universal disarmament as a practical or helpful contribution to the problem. Accordingly there would he no advantage in the House of Commons discussing them.—(A. andl N.Z.)