BRITAIN AND RUSSIA

Southland Times, Issue 18842, 7 June 1920, Page 5

BRITAIN AND RUSSIA

THE KRASSIN MISSION MR LIOYD GEORGE’S STATEMENT (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Reuter’s Telegrams.) LONDON, June 4. In the House of Commons, replying to Mr Gretton regarding his conversation with M. Krassin, Mr Lloyd George recalled that the Supreme Council at San Remo, on April 26, decided that Allied representatives should meet Krassin and other Russian trade delegates, except Litvinoff, in London. Krassin. besides heading a delegation representing the Russian co-operative organisations, was also a Soviet Government Minister and therefore acted in the name and by the authority of the Soviet Government. Mr Lloyd George said he thought Krassin was not originally" a German agent. He was associated with a German electrical firm, but was a Russian, The Government wanted to settle certain questions before undertasing negotiations— for example, the release of all British prisoners m Russia, as an essential preliminary to the renewal of trade relations.

Mr Lloyd George added that, the Government wanted guarantees that British interests in the Last would not he attacked while negotiations were proceeding. After these c|uesr.ion> were cleared up negotiations in regard to trade would be conducted b}- the representatives of all Governments. Representatives of the 1-reach and Italian Governments were in London prepared to proceed with negotiations. Replying to Mr rainier, the Premier said he was not aware that there was great perturbation in France. It was a fact that certain French newspapers were trying to foment trouble between two friendly Allied countries, whose friendliness was essential to the world. This did not prove French perturbation.

THE KRASSiN MISSION. FRANCE IN ACCORD WITH BRITAIN. VANCOUVER, June 5. • Received June ti. o.S p.m.' M. Painleve. who is rn route r>n a special mission (o China, in an interview said that France was entirely in acconi with Britain in opening trade relations with Russia, provided adequate tinaneial and political guarantees were {riven. 1' ranee previously suffered by the Bvlsneviks repudiation of Russia’s foreign debt. RUSSIAN GOLD FOR SWEDEN. FRENCH AMBASSADOR’S WARNING. STOCKHOLM, June 4. A train-load of bar gold, valued at 17,000,000 kroner, was sent from Pctrograd to Reval for the payment of Swedish tradesmen. The French Ambassador warned the Government that, Russia s creditors might claim it. It is questionable whether a definite demand for the sequestration is legally tenable. as the gold, delivered under dictation, belongs to the Russian co-opera-tive societies. GENERAL BOLSHEVIK OFFENSIVE. SUCCESSES UNIMPORTANT. (Reuter’s Telegrams, t LONDON, June 4. (Received June 0. 11.30 p.m.} A general Bolshevik offensive has begun between the Pnpet ana the Dnieper. r ihe advanced Polish posts were driven in, but hitherto the Bolshevik success lias been unimportant. Red arracks northward of the Pnpet, were repulsed. POLES CLAIM SUCCESES. LONDON, June 3. (Received June 0, Ho p.m.i Rc.por'.-s from Warsaw state that the Polish armies are advancing victoriously between the Dvina and the upper Boresina, taking many prisoners. They repulsed Bolshevik attacks on the fortified position at Brnefc a. inflating great loss and forcing the enemy to refim in c infusion. Ihe Poles captured two armoured trains which hail been boml acting Kvzcpol in the Ukraine. BOLSHEVIK LOSSES HEAVY. ARREST OF BRUSSILOFF REPORTED. PARI. - ', June 5. (Received June 0. 5.5 p.m.i Newspapers state that Brus-doll has been arrested by the Bolsheviks owing to the lie avy losses sustained in the recent fighting. BOLSHEVIKS IN PERSIA. REPORTED ENTRY INTO TEHERAN. CONSTANTINOPLE June 4. The Persian Legation understands that the Bolsheviks have entered Teheran. THE STATEMENT DISCREDITED. LONDON, June 4. Official circles discredit the statement that the Bolsheviks have entered Tehc.nn. PERSIA SEEKS AID OF LEAGUE OF NATIONS. (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn, it Reuters.' l.( 'N!)ON, June 5. (Received June 5, i 1.55 p.m.) It is officially stated that at th? request at the Persian Government the Council of the League of Nations has been convoked to meet in London on June 11 to disc urn the situation created owing to the action of the Soviet forces in Persia. Firoris has been appointed a special representative of Persia to attend the Council. GERMANY’S AIRSHIPS. WORKERS OPPOSE SURRENDER. PARL-i, June 5. (Received June ti, 11.go p.m.) I.e Journal says that workers at Zeppelin factories in Germany arc opposing the surrender of the large airships at Bodensee anrl Nonhstem on the ground that their loss will seriously prejudice the future interests of aviation in Germany. ZIONISTS ARRESTED AT MOSCOW. (Reuter’s Telegrams, t MOSCOW’, June 4. (Received June 0, 11.30 p.m.) Seventy-five Zionist delegates attending a congress were arrested, creating consternation in Zionist circles. THE FRENCH AT MAYENCE. GERMAN CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION. (Reuter's Telegrams.) BERNE, June 4. The German Government intends to demand 925,000,000 marks from France for damage during the French occupation of the Mayence district

LENIN AND INDIA. CORRESPONDENCE WITH HINDU REVOLUTIONARIES. PARIS, June 5. (Received June 6, 11.25 p.m.) The Echo de Paris publishes correspondence between Lenin and Hindu revolutionaries, The latter express profound admiration for the Russian Soviets, who, they say, have heard the cry of 350,000,000 of Hindus labouring under the Imperial yoke. Lenin, in a reply, says that Russia is carefully watching the re-wakcuing of India. TURKISH NATIONALISTS, PUT PRICE ON GRAND VIZIER’S HEAD CONSTANTINOPLE, June 4. (Received June 6, 5.5 p.m.) A Nationalist proclamation, issued at Angora, offers £45,000 for the assassination of the Grand Vizier as the country’s enemy Nationalist raiders at night time crossed the Dardanelles and blew up a munition dump at Bulair and then escaped to the Asiatic shore. PERSECUTION OF HUNGARIAN WORKERS. INTERNATIONAL TRADE UNION . BOYCOTT. LONDON, June 4. The National Transport Workers’ Federation Conference at Southampton discussed die decision of the International Federation of Trades Unions to boycott Hungary from June 20 by stopping :dl traffic and communication. A speaker declared that trade unionists in Hungary had suffered unparalleled oppression and persecution. The cruelties surpassed those practised under Czarism. The conference referred the matter to the Parliamentary Committee and the Triple Alliance. PEACE TREAT/ SIGNED. (Reuter's Telegrams.) LONDON, June 4. The Hungarian Peace Treaty has been signed. The ceremony lasted ten minutes. THE GERMAN ELECTIONS. FORECASTS OF RESULT. SWING TO CONSERVATIVE WING EXPECTED. LONDON, June 4. Well-informed authorities anticipate that the German elections will show a marked that the Conservatives, Pan-Germans, Miliswing towards the Right. It is estimated tarists, and the People’s Party will gam thirty to thirty-five seats, that the Majority .socialists will lose heavily, possibly seventy, and the Militarists and Democrats will lose a third. The Independent Socialists will gain perhaps fifty. It is feared that whatever the result the Socialists and Communists will raise trouble. DUTCH WATCHING THE EX-KAISER. AMSTERDAM, June 4. The Dutch police are watching every corner of the Doom estate, ex-Katser’s new residence. Detectives are assembled in an adjacent village. A commander of constabulary accompanies the ex-Kaiser when motor-driving. The reasons for the precautions are not disclosed, but are attributed to fears of a revolt following the German elections on June 6. REVIEW OF OPERATIONS. EVENTS IN VARIOUS THEATRES. FRENCH IN SYRIA. (Reuter’s Telegrams.) LONDON, June 4. (Received June 0, 11.15 p.m.) The War Office in its weekly review of operations, states that in Siberia the Japanese are conuuctmg a converging movement ti om Castries Bay and down the Amur river i against, the Russians entrenched north of | Lake KB;. Seaplanes based on the lake are i reconnoitring the Russian position, j In raimiig acc.wty on the I upper tu;m; ates has largely cased as a re- ! suit of the raiders’ losses, but raiders on I May 24 wrecked a goods train south of I Uuiul. causing 13 casualties.

In Syria. French columns operating in the Tyre region against the iletwalis, who recently massacred 70 Christians, swept the country ;is fur as the southern boundary of French territory. By an oversight a village m the British zone was batnbardod and occupied. The French commander has undertaken that this shall not recur. Westward of the sources of the Jordan French columns met with considcraole opposition and had not reached their objectives by May 20. Large numbers of refugees have fled into the British zone and refuse to return.