RUSSIAN MIX-UP.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1920, Page 2

RUSSIAN MIX-UP.

lAUBTRALIAN & N.Z CABLE ASSOCIATION) OUTSIDE ODESSA. PARIS, Feb. 22. A slight explosion occurred on board the French steamer Turnout d’Urville as she was leaving Odessa. Two hundred Russian soldiers were aboard and many leaped overboard, fearing the ship would sink. They tried to swim ashore. Forty were drowned.

GERMANY AND RUSSIA, BERLIN, Feb. 21. Kopp, the Soviet representative, in an interview with “Vorwaerts” enipha--sised that Russia wanted German machinery, coal, drugs, technical organisers, and would give raw materials in exchange for the goods. Kopp forecasted the immediate migration of German skilled labour to Russia. THE POLES AND PEACE. WARSAW, Feb. 20. I’lie reply of the Polish Government to Russia’s peace offer will be ready in a few days and will be submitted to tile London Peace Conference. The reply will insist on the illegility of the partitions of Poland, and propose a scheme lor carrying the Polisli eastern frontier to the Dvina and Dniester, but tile Poles admit the subsequent right of the populaions thus included to self-deter-mation, if they repudiate Polish nationality. ACTING UNDER THE ALLIES PRAGUE, Feb. 20. The Foreign Minister states the Czecbo-Slovaks will not make a separate peace with Russia, but will only act in accord with’the Allies. ELECTRIC POWER IN RUSSIA. LONDON, Feb 22. The “Daily Express” Copenhagen correspondent has received from Lenin n statement of the Soviet internal policy. In this Lenin declares the Soviet Government awaits a resumption of trade and allround peace, in order to put into operation great electrification schemes with which he hopes to rejuvingte Russia. Scientists and experts have been working out schemes which will make electricity the basis of Russian industry.

PEACE WITH RUSSIA URGED. BRITISH MISSION’S ADVICE. LONDON. Feb: 22. General Gough and the other leading members of the British Missions j.o North Russia and North Western Russia- have sent a memorial to Mr Lloyd George, urging the recognition by the Powers of the Soviet Government. They declare that any past crimes should not be a- bar to present recognition. They do not believe that the Koltchak or Deniken Governments have shown they are superior to the Bolsheviks in humanity, while, as regards energy, union and resource, they have shown themselves inferior.

They add that the resources of Russia cannot be available until the conclusion of a general peace. The proposal to trade with Russia’s co-operative societies alone will be ineffective, and unless Russia’s stores are opened to Germany both famine and Bolshevik outbreaks will he probable eastward of the Rhine. If Britain delays resuming relations with Russia, the- delay will instal Germany in a privileged position in Russia, and Russian policy will take on an anti-British character.

A BOLSHEVIK CAPTURE. (Received this day at 10.20 a.m.' LONDON Feb. 22. The Bolsheviks have seized Murmansk and all the shipping except a steamer on which a few British and Belgians escaped under re.