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Hokitika Guardian, 22 November 1927, Page 2

One interesting feature of the controversy over the possibilities of war and peace, now in progress at Home, is the prominence given to the relations between Russia and Britain. Much of tin l criticism directed against Mr Baldwin and his colleagues in regard lo their foreign policy is, of course, purely partisan, and Russia -seems to lie a useful pawn to play in the gallic of party politics. It. is a Conservative newspaper, however, which, in attacking the Government, declares that “it cannot be denied that Britain is nearer a collision with Russia to-day than ,slii' was lour years ago.” and converts this into a charge against Mr Baldwin. But. asks an exchange, is not this Russia’s own fault? That even a British Labour Government was eom]ielled to take measures to defeat- the insidious machinations of the Bolsheviks, that Britain broke off commercial and political relations with Russia simply because the Bolsheviks would not desist from their revolutionary propaganda in Britain itself, and that the Soviet system, being based upon an active policy of class warfare. is incompatible with the security and pea-fc of the world—those things arc matters of common knowledge, and any attempt to ignore them or to estimate the purpose and meaning of British policy towards Russia, without taking them into account is disingenuous and dishonest to the last anil worst degree. ATr Baldwin has defended himself. also, in very plain language, and his statements on the matter will be accepted at their face value. His Cabinet generally, including Sir Austen Chamberlain in charge ol foreign affairs, is obviously striving for peace. There certainly can be no desire for war on tlic part of Britain, and the maintenance of foreign relations on a peace footing can be well understood, is the sole desire of the British Cabinet at this juncture.