BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 October 1924, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS.

LATEST CABLE NEWS

[JRKUTERB Telegrams.] A “TIMES” CASTIGATION'. LONDON, Oct. 20

The “Times’ in a leader commenting (in the British note in regard to Zinoviolf's letter, ea.stigate.s Mr, MacDonald lor his belated discovery, and asks how is it tlitil. .Mr MacDonald's discovery is made oil the eve of the election. J'or months past, both before and since the signing of the Soviet 'I reaties, Bolshevist leaders have been loudly and contemptuously proclaiming their designs for the overthrow ol the British Empire; hut Mr MacDonald professed not to believe them. Vet he must have known the true facts. Why, thereloie, did he gamble with the power and prestige of the British nation by concluding these shameful treaties with men openly, defiantly and continually declaring their intention of overthrowing the whole British system. If he did not know with whom he was dealing and has only just discovered the real and true nature of the Bolshevist aims, then his whole action in <oncluding the Soviet treaties and throwing the country into an election wherein these treaties are the chief issue, shows an astonishing lack of the sense of responsibility as a Minister of the British Crown and as a guaidiau of British Empire interests. It is hardly creditable that the nation would rc-witrust the conduct of its great Imperial affairs to a leader who. on lii.s own confessions, allowed himself to be cajoled and outwitted by the worst enemies of our country.

SIbMXCE 08. IGXOBANCE. LONDON, October 20,

The documents issued by the Foreign Office continue to be the absorbing topic of interest. The historical treaty demands that the first point to be cleared up should be whether the letter signed by Zinovieff is genuine or a forgery.

The “Observer” points out that the only clear official statements yesterday came from the Soviet and Communist side. Ou the other side there was either silence or a. pretended ignorance, leaving the public in a state of confusion.

Mr MacDonald, questioned at Swansea. refused to discuss the matter. Other prominent Labourites either condemned the Zinovieff document as a fake or emphasised the Foreign Office s firmness in dealing with it. It is understood a cable has been sent to Zinovieff regarding the authenticity of the document, hut no reply has yet been received, fn the meantime, Bukovsky has replied to the Foreign Office in the terms cabled. Interviewed by the “Observer", Bukovsky said: “f sent the British Note to -Moscow on Friday night and explained that it was unnecessary for me to have an answer from .Moscow holiro answering Kit* Foreign Office note because the Moscow Cfovernment lias nothing to do with the Communist Internationale and because I am absolutely convinced the document is a forgery. 1 am a Communist myself and know this is not a Communist document.” I-caving the question of forgery and assuming the Zinovieff document to lie genuine, as everyone must, until evidence is produced to the contrary a number of intriguing questions arise. For instance, why was the Govenimeut’s condemnation not issued earlier and secondly, what will lie its effect on the election.

Bogarding the first point there is a direct conflict of opinion. The Ziuovielf document is dated loth Kept., and the Foreign Office states that it was received much later, hut refuses to give a date for fear of betraying its source. Very reliable evidence indicates the document* was immediately transmitted to Mr MacDonald and other Cabinet mchibers. who, in duo course, comimiiiiealod its purport to the army and navy chiefs in order to put them on their gnu it* The suggestion of - the Labourites, regarding subsequent events, is that the Government, on learning of the Zinovieff letter was about to he published for the purpose of influencing the electors, decided to issue the* document itself with a condemnatory note to Moscow. Otherwise, the Government would have regarded its precautionary measures sufficient. Their opponents, however, say the Government only issued it because it feared to he forestalled li.v the opposition press.

Regarding tlio elections, the “Observer” says it is absurd to suppose this episode, however explosive tlio newspaper sonatina is, will much inlluenee them. Liberal and Conservative propaganda lias alicady exhausted their resources of anti-Bolshevik denunciation.

The general opinion still is that the Conservatives and the Labourites will K uin and the Liberal members be relentlessly reduced.

Fl-iUTMKIt COAIAIKNT. (Received this day at 9.2;1 n.m.) LON BOX. October 27. The explosion of the Russian bombshell continues to reverberate throughout the entire electoral field, though Moscow's allegation that the /.inovielf letter is a forgery, demanding apology from Britain makes the “Daily iferald" claim that the bombshell has nowbecome a damp squib. In any case, Mr MacDonald’s personal position is most difficult. The situation lends intense interest to the speech Mr MacDonald promises to-day at C'ardifl, in which ho will discuss the whole matter. The ‘‘Daily Herald’s” political correspondent states the British note to Rakovsky and the copy sent to press was done without Mr MacDonald and Mr l’onsonhy being consulted, but other newspapers state Air Mai Donald drafted the reply himself. The -‘Daily Herald” adds the /inovielf letter was concocted by the White organisation in Russia and Foreign Office experts accepted it without adequate critical exunii nation. Rakovsky interviewed by the “Daily Express” said: “I am sending another note to the Foreign Office, which will convince the British Government that the Zinovieff letter is a forgery. I cannot hide the fact that the situation created through this intrigue is extremely grave. It is now our turn to receive satisfaction. It is impossible that the good relations of two great countries can depend uj>ou the caprice of a forger.” Most of the Labour leaders speaking on Sunday declined to discuss the letter in detail expressing the view- that it was a fake. Air Snowden speaking at Cleckhcaton was inclined to regard the letter as a palpable forgery and said anyone had been extremely foolish if they accepted the letter at

its face value, hut the Labour Government would stand no nonsense from Russia. ZINOYTEFF’S BENIA L. LONDON, Oct. 27. Zinovieff sent messages to the Trades’ Union Congress declaring the letter alleged to he signed by him is a gross falsification. There was not and could not ho such letter. He denounces it as clearly an election manocuvro and invites the Trades’ Union Congress to appoint a commission to visit Russia to investigate its authen--I C,Notwithstanding the Communist denials, the Foreign Office is entirely satisfied with the genuineness of the Zinovieff letter. Rakovski sent a letter to the r oreign Office protesting that hi* Embassy

was nbt notified prior to the publication, and declaring the letter was. ol>viously a forgery which should have been clear to the Foreign Office officials. Conservative headquarters to-da( state that they are convinced the Xiuoviolf correspondence will rally many waverers to tile Conservative 1 side. Liberal headquarters are of the opinion there is a grave peril of reaction after such an exposure, and only Liberalism can save the nation. LONDON, October 27.

Mr Philip Snowden, commenting on (lie Zinovielf affair, said it the Russian Treaty had not been kept it had been null and void while lie was Chancellor. There would bo no portion of the loan guaranteed except upon security which would make default practically impossible.

The "Daily Chronicle,” commenting o,n the manner in which individual members of the Cabinet were now doubting the authenticity of the letter, says: “Apparently the Labour tactics are to go on letting their speakers, until polling day, make the suggestion that the damning letter is a forgery; but it must lie remembered that Mr MacDonald is the public’s authority for the genuineness of the letter. His colleagues cannot think Mr MacDonald so unfit for his duties as the speeches suggest.”

The “Daily Express” political correspondent says the consequences of Zinovielf’s letter will be momentous. If the document is genuine Mr MacDonald has killed the Russian Treaty. If if is a forgery Mr MacDonald has killed himself as a Socialist leader, for his bewildered and infuriated followers will never lorgive him for iaiinliciiig an attack on Russia based on a forgery on the eve of the election. Mr Lloyd George addressed a great ’meeting at Camberwell to-day. lie is assisting Mr MaeXamara who is fighting his ninth election there since 1 GOO. There were fourteen thousand applications for seats. The “Morning Post’s” Rome correspondent. says Llial all shades of papers, except Communist, give prominence to the Zinovieff letter, as the most amazing iiroof of the Soviet’s bad faith.

KOYIET REPLY. MOSCOW. Oct. 27

The Soviet’s l-eniv to the British note characterises the alleged Zinovielf letter as an impudent forgery, aiming at the destruction of the Anglo-Soviet Treaty, and ruin of friendly AngloSoviet relations, which were happily beginning to improve. Tn view of the use of forgery in nllicial documents the Soviet Government insists on all adequate apology, and punishment ol both private a nil official persons. It concluded by fully appreciating the serious consequences the forgery might have on both countries. I lie Soviet mgently decided tn oiler to a mngiiiscd impartial arbitration court,, tn establish the fact that the letter is a forgery. The note opens by adhering to the repeated declarations regarding iinii-lTspniisibility of the Soviet Government for acts of Communist International and at present abstains from touching iirion tin* lorin and tone of the Foreign Office note. DAILY HERALD’S VIEW. LONDON, Oetrb.r 27. The “Daily Herald” insists that XiuoviefVs letter is an obvious forgery. The “Herald's’’ Parliamentary uinospoiidcnt points out that the I*urcign Office experts were similarly deceived in l!)2l, resulting in Lord C'urzoii’s famous note to Russia, which was afterwards disioveicd to be Intituled on forged documents supplied by German private detectives. A correspondent suggests the Xinovielf letter is probably the work of Russian counter revolutionaries. obtained in Russia bv the British Secret Service. FRENCH FEELING. PARIS, October 27. In view of the expected French recognition of tile Soviet the press is devoting great space tn the Zinovieff incident suggesting it .should give 31. ilcrrinlt a pause. LABOt'R DISTURBED. LONDON. October 27. Reports from many areas throughout the country suggest that Labourites who abhor revolution, and supported the Government's attitude towards Russia. on economic grounds, are profoundly disturbed over the Zinovieff revelations. LLOYD GEORGE’S CRITICISM. LONDON, Oct. 27. Mr Llo.vd George, in a speech at Camberwell, in support of Mr MacNamara said the Moscow mystery cast a sinister light on the Government's refusal to allow an inquiry into the Campbell ease. The Foreign Office of which Mr MacDonald was the be d. said the Zinovi.ll' document was gen-

nine, but all Air .MacDonald's ministers said it was a forgery, lie did not knew why they said that before they had made enquiries, ft looked to aim as though the document had been with-held from members of the Cabinet. Ife would have accepted the Soviet denial, hut for the fact that when he was Premier, the Soviet denied a

similar transaction when he had positive proof. This was when Ivnmeno.l denied he was piopagating revolution in England. at a moment when l.e (Lloyd George) had his telegram to .Moscow, stating ho had disposed o the Uussian jewels and was giving ‘be “Daily Herald" seventy-five thousvt'l sterling. Therefore be could not aeee.it Moscow’s denial as be would I f v» accepted a denial by any other counSILNSATrON fN ITALY. ,EOAIE. October 27. The publication of Zinovicff’s letter caused a sensation in Italy. Officials ~(..o,lxl the Communist agitation in Britain as coinciding with the increased activity in Ttaly and edsewv hero in Europc, as symptoms of .Moscow's organised renewed attack on civilisation. Italian Bolsheviks recently received 'urge funds, enabling a renewal of 'propaganda whi h was dropped aftei A!itvsolini attained power.