The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25th, 1924. THE RUSSIAN TREATY.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 September 1924, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25th, 1924. THE RUSSIAN TREATY.

In addition to the settlement of tie boundary question arising out of the Irish treaty, the I.abor Government has m n fartieulai ly diiiicivt task to discharge to secure the rntifkation of the Russian treaty by the House of Commons. There lias Teen a united < horns i f d : -:i)'proval by the two sections in Parliament opposed to the Government. The Conservative pronoum ement has been definite, while on behalf of the Liberals, Air Asquith, Ah Lloyd George and Lord Grey have all been outspoken in flieir opposition. It may bo expected, therefore, that the Government will have a lively and difficult task before it when endeavouring to satisfy the critics of the Commons. There is the very open suggestion all along that the Labour Government holds t office only by the grace, of the Opposition in order to deal with complex foreign issues, and that when these are adjusted or revised, and the way made straight to pesume normal diplomatic* negotiations -Labor will have to go. This may or may not he fine, but, if it is, ill rn fur Pfl fietpernj Blotters j»ro

(oneenied. Labor lias not made a had showing and the ell'ect on the voters when next an appeal i.s made to the people might no! lie ill keeping "ith the designed plan. ’lhe trying out of il.sLnr has heeii .something of a surj: ise all roun 1, and Labor is certainly the gainer by the exl criein e ii. more ways than one. As to the Russian treaty the 1 revisions of the document are not i tear enough fi r the expression of an opinion at this distame, tail the demeanour if the delegates from Russia who negotiate.! the treaty was not vetv prr possessing. At the outset it will he icmenibercl, Mr MacDonald was out-spoken enough, hut the negotiations were p ret nr ted. and just when it a] pea red doubtful a de isioii would pc remind the Prime Minister made a dramatic movement in tin- early merning, and a (onclii.sion was rraeln d suddenly. The chief hello c.f eenteiltian is the repudiate! British debt, "hi: h ncording to ene slatemetu. is now to he repaid by Riesia out of the loan raised in England, half of the amount of the loan to he deviled to debt repayment. Britain will thus lend money to tile Soviet, to hi* used in half to relay herself the eld outstanding debts! ’I hat seems t o l»e a ‘very ec.nliding arrangement. However. Imimd up with the eelt'eiuoiit with Russia, is the K.a.inj t.ion -if trade with Russia. ’lbis prnhnhly lias more hearing on the whole matter than the debt i|iiestioii. I hi' Soviet has everything to gain by friendly crraiigeiiieiits with Britain, lint despite (he probable advantages, iheje is a notable aloofness on the pail of Russia. In the closing mometiis of the negotiations. Mr Mae Donall certainly hired the -it not ion. and to the minds cl bis erilii.s the bargain m:»d" is mi satii'a t'irv. It is <!i(!i<-t■ 11 I i •■■<v at

ibis jointure what would lie the offer ol i'll appeal In tin- iniinlrv on th Russian quest ion. There "ill I lie miltlei , to be taken into n count nl-ai The Government re -igniscs ihc pi • ,jb ilities and has commenced i iam aigi cf defcirc by stumping the conutry ii the hope of arousing puhli • oj iuiou ii its favor, in < ase of an ap| cal to th: people. On the whole the Gove: nmen is likely t'n make some gain in llu matter rather than go had;, hut ilu opposition "ill be strong and inllicn lial and the iiltimale change in partic might not he ier,v great.