BRITAIN AND SOVIET.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 August 1924, Page 2

BRITAIN AND SOVIET.

There i> reason to believe, writes a political observer in the “Daily Telegraph." that Mr Ramsay MacDonald has reached a point at which he asks himself. “What are the real intentions of the Soviet Government ill regard to the Angle-Soviet Conference?”

In the minds of those who are in daily contact with the business of the conference there is now no doubt left that the Soviet delegation is doing all in its power to drag out the negotiations without bringing them to a

final rupture. The reasons for this are not quite clear, and certainly are not to he explained l»v the sole fact that the delegation consists of people of minor importance, who. for eveiy step they take, must ask fresh instruction sfroui Moscow. Fol Innately some light, is available from the midst of the delegation itself. In spite of tho the fact that its members ate subjo< ted to a strict supervision on the part uf the representatives of the C'lieKa and of the Political! Bureau who are among them, and that they are .surrounded by a vigilant bodyguard, recruited principally from British o.xpolico strikers, from time to time it is possible to obtain information at first hand. It is therefore known that unt.il now the rulers in Moscow have been in two minds about the wisdom ef giving Mr MacDonald the satisfaction of a diplomatic success at the Conference. They now seem less eager to come to an agreement with a Labour Government than they were when Lor dCurzon was at the Foreign ('

Perhaps they do not believe that Mr Mai Donald's Government will last long, and prefer to wait for his successors. It is also said that they want to prolong the eonl'ereme until the Communist Congress has renewed their mandate. The Soviet Press is said to have for its object the preparation ot a favourable opinion among the dele-

pan-' of the coniine congress. However that may lie. Mr MacDonald is understfiod to he .serioiisl yannowd with the Soviet, altitude, and if lie can only overcome the resistance of seine of his own follower*, who arc infatuated with the Bolsheviks. a demand liavinp the character of an ultimatum to the Soviet delepation. to work or po. may come in the not too distant future.