THE NEW TREATY

Hokitika Guardian, 31 December 1929, Page 7

THE NEW TREATY

OF BRITAIN AND RUSSIA. (British Official Wireless). RUGBY, Dee. 27. The text is issued of Notes that have been exchanged on December 20th between the newly-appointed Russian Ambassador in London, AL Sokolnikoff, and Rt. Don. A. Henderson (British Foreign Secretary) regarding the matter of propaganda. M. Sokolnikoff, in his note, referred to Clause 7 of the Protocol, signed on October 3rd last by the Soviet Ambassador in Paris on behalf of the Soviet Government, and by Mr Henderson on behalf of the British Government whereon both of the Governments engaged themselves to confirm the pledge regarding propaganda maintained in Article 1(5 of the general treaty signed on August Bth, 1924 between the Union of Soviet Socialist Repu’ lies and Great Britain. M. Sokoln’koff repeats the terms of that article, which were as follows: “Ihe contracting parties solemly 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 organisation under their direct or indirect control, including organisations in receipt of financial assistance from them, from any act, overt or covert, liable m any way whatsoever to endanger the tranquility 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. It was further agreed, the Soviet Minister adds, that effect should be given to this clause of the aforesaid protocol not later than the day on which the respective Ambassadors present their credentials. M. Sokolnikoff proceeds: “Having this day presented to Hisi Royal Highness the Prince of Wales the letters accrediting me as the Ambassador of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to His Majesty the King, I have the honour, by direction of the People’s Commissary for Foreign Affairs, and on behalf of the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to confirm the undertaking contained in the Article quoted above, and to inform you that the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics regard that undertaking as having full force and effect as between themselves and His Majesty’s • Government of Great Britain and the Government of India. I am instructed to add that the Government of the Union olf Soviet Socialist Republics will be happy to receive in accordance with Clause 7of the Protocol of October 3rd .a corresponding declaration from His Majesty’s Government in Great Britain and the Government of India.”

Rt. Hon. Mr Henderson, in acknowledging the receipt of the Note, says, that, in accordance with the understanding between His Majesty’s Government and the Government of the Union of Socialist Republics, as recorded in the Proctocol of October 3, His Majesty’s Ambassador in Moscow has been instructed to inform the Soviet Government that His Majesty’s Government and the Government of India, for their part, also regard the undertaking contained in Article 1(5 of the Treaty signed on Bth August, 1924, as having full force and effect as between themselves and the Soviet Government. In the Note communicated to the British Foreign' Secretary ,the Soviet Ambassador says that the Soviet Government, in giving the undertaking contained in Article 16 of the Treaty of 1924, and confirmed by the foregoing Notes, have considered that undertaking as extending also to the Dominion of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, the Dominin of New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, the Irish Free State, and New foundland. Consequently as soon as the Government of any Dominion shall\ have regulated their relations with the Soviet Government in such manner as the circumstances of the particular case may require the Soviet Government will be ready to repeat, on the basis of reciprocity, the undertaking above referred to in a separate exchange of notes with such Dominions.

Mr Henderson states in reply, that the attitude of the Soviet Government as indicated in the verbal note, is being communicated to His Majesty’s Governments in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the Irish Free State, and Newfoundland. At the instance of all of these Governments the Foreign Secretary declares that each of them will regard the undertaking contained in Article 16 of the Treaty of 1924 as having been in full force and effect as between themselves and the Soviet Government.

Notes similar to the first two were also exchanged with the Soviet.