RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA

Hokitika Guardian, 8 October 1929, Page 5

RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA

DRAFT OF PROTOCOL

OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS TO BE

SETTLED

(British Official Wireless)

RUGBY, October 4

The text is published uf the protocol relative to the procedure for the settlement of questions outstanding between the British Government and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Mr Arthur Henderson, British Foreign Secretary, and M. Valerian Dovgalevsky, Ambassador of tlie Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to the French Republic, having on instructions from their respective Governments entered into an exchange of views on questions connected with the above-mentioned subject, have reached the following agreement:— “ The following questions shall be settled by negotiation between the two Governments:—

(1) Definition of the attitude of both Governments towards the treaties of 1924. (2) A commercial treaty and allied questions. ’(3) Inter-Governmental and private debt claims arising out of intervention, and otherwise, and financial questions connected with such claims and counter-claims. (4) Fisheries. (5) The application of previous

treaties and obligations. “ Negotiations between his Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, wish a view to settlement of the above-mentioned questions, shall take place immediately on the resumption of full diplomatic relations, including the exchange of Ambassadors. '

“ Hie aforesaid negotiations shall be conducted on belialr of the Government of die Union of Soviet Socialist Republics by tiie Soviet Ambassador in London, and on behalf of his Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom by his Majesty’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. The plenipotentiaries of the two Governments shall, if necessary, be assisted by a joint committee, the members of which shall be appointed in equal number by each Government from among their nationals, whether officials or persons not specially acquainted with the matters under discussion. These experts shall report to each of the plenipotentiaries on the results reached in their joint examination of the respective questions, and on the solution thereof which they suggest.

" All agreements resulting from the ■negotiations between the plenipotentiaries shall take the form of a treaty or treaties between the two Governments.

V Immediately on the actual exchange of Ambassadors, and not later than the same day as that on which the respective Ambassadors present their credentials, both Governments will reciprocally confirm the pledge regarding propaganda ’contained in Article XVI. of the treaty signed on August 8, 1924, between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. “Simultaneously with the approval of both Governments of the procedure above laid down, the British Government will take a decision to resume normal diplomatic relations with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, including the exchange of Ambassadors. “ The steps to be taken, as set out in the preceding paragraphs, including the decision concerning the re-establish-ment of diplomatic relations, will be brought for approval before Parliament, each of the two Governments will take the usual steps for the appointment of their respective Ambassadors.”

The agreement was signed by Mr Henderson and M. Dovgalevsky in London on October 3.

Article XVI., relating to propaganda, is as follows:—“The contracting parties solemnly affirm their desire and intention to live in peace and amity with each other, scrupulously to respect the undoubted right of a State to order its own life within its own jurisdiction in its own way, to refrain and to restrain all persons and organisations under their direct or indirect control, including organisations in receipt of any financial assistancs from them, from any act overt or covert liable in any way whatsoever to endanger the tranquillity or prosperity of any part of the territory of the British Empire or the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or intended to embitter the relations of the British Empire or the Union with their neighbours or any other countries.”