TRADE WITH RUSSIA

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 130, 2 May 1940, Page 9

TRADE WITH RUSSIA

BRITISH NEGOTIATIONS. CLOSE ATTENTION. NO DECISION YET. (United Pre6s Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received May 2, 10.50 a.m. RUGBY, May 1. In the light of information provided by the Soviet Ambassador (M. Maisky) when he called at the Foreign Office a few days ago to convey the reply of his Government on trade questions, His Majesty’s Government are giving most careful consideration to whether a British and Russian trade agreement can be arrived at which will take into account the present war situation.

The suggestion that any final decision has been reached is immature and lias no authority. The latest Soviet communication is being studied in more than one department. When the Foreign Minister (Lord Halifax) saw M. Maisky on April 19 he informed him that the British Government had considered the Soviet suggestion for the resumption of the trade talks, and it was prepared to discuss in exploratory manner whether a basis existed lor a trade agreement, and he invited him to obtain from the Soviet concrete ,

suggestions which took account of the conditions upon which the British Government had to insist in all war trade agreements, namely, guarantees in tho matter of supplies reaching the enemy. In Parliament on April 10 the

Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Mr It., A. Butler) stated that, should trade negotiations be resumed with the Soviet, it would be made clear that Britain still condemned Russia's aggression against Finland.