RUSSIA AND BRITAIN.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 August 1924, Page 3

RUSSIA AND BRITAIN.

[“Tm? Times" Skrvick.] THE HESSIAN AGREEMENT. STATEMENT BY FEDERAL I'l! EMI I'M?. (Received this day al 10.2 n a.in.) MELBOERNK, Aii-iist 2:1. In tli<> House of Representatives. Mr Bruce (Premier). spt-Jilsinir "ii tin 1 troaty recently arrived nl between Britain ntnl tin* Soviet, soiil : I lie action which wns tnlceii hy the British GoveriiniOnt, "ns initiated i iiihi* 1 in l the present Oovernnieiit cnnie into power find the Dominions were mil consulted. Tecliiiionlly. this notion was not in accordance with the estalilisheil practice of consultation with the Dominions upon nil (|iiestioiis ol foreign policy. The Government of Australia felt that Australian interests were not affected hy the treaty, and there did not appear to he any possibility of Australia being involved In obligations resulting from tin- treaty. The Commonwealth took no action of protest against the British (iovernment’s attitude, particularly, as subsequent actions showed, there was no intention of making this action a precedent. With regard to the general treaty entered into the procedure wns entirely in accordance with the resolutions of the Imperial Confeieme. The Commonwealth Government had at nil times a full knowledge of the object and was kept fully informed of all developments. The Commonwealth Government felt rt could take no action with regard to any commercial treaty Britain might contcni| late entering into, any more than Australia would tolerate any interference hy Britain in any commercial treaty wo desired to enter into. The possibility of one part of the Umpire being effected by the action of another part was not a justification for the interference in the arrangements of the self-governing parts.