TRADE WITH RUSSIA

Southland Times, Issue 18845, 10 June 1920, Page 5

TRADE WITH RUSSIA

The Krassin Negotiations CONDUCTED WITH ALLIED APPROVAL The Premier’s Reply to Criticism (By Telegraph.—-Press Assn. —Copyright.! (Reuter’s Telegrams.) LONDON, June 7. (Received June 9, 9.45 p.m.) , In the House <>f Commons, Colonel Gretton, in moving the adjournment, asked the meaning of the negotiations with Russia. He *aid the Russian Government had a tainted record of violence and murders. Russia had not anything with which to trade to Britain. He ridiculed the stories of Russian granaries bursting with grain. Moreover, the sum of £65,000,000 which it was suggested Russia held for payment for imports was largely stolen gold belonging to one or other of the Allies. Sir Samuel Hoare condemned the attacks upon the Premier. He declared that the latter had two fundamental interests at heart, the need for goods and the need for peace. Nevertheless there would be an impression here and in France that if we accepted Russian gold we would be acting as receivers of stolen goods. Mr Lloyd George, in replying, said the decision to trade with Russia was taken in Paris with M. Clomenceau in the chair. All the Allies were represented on that occasion. They came to the unanimous decision that it was desirable to open trade relations. He declared that the Allies acted in this matter upon evidence from anti-Bolsheviks who had been driven out of Russia, but wore associated with the cooperative movement. Subsequently the San Remo Conference adopted a resolution declaring readiness to discuss with Krassin the best methods of resumption of trade. Upon this decision negotiations were now proceeding with Krassin with the assent of all the Allies. Regarding the available stocks in Russia, the Premier stated that the Poles confessed that there were considerable quantities of wheat for export in the Ukraine and Siberia. Mr Lloyd George said he had no doubt that there were essential commodities in Russia. He ridiculed the argument that we could not trade with Russia because we disapproved of its Government, or on account of the atrocities. It was a new doctrine that people must approve of the habits and customs of another people before they could trade with it. To urge such a view now was gross folly. They had to consider the whole situation. It appalled him to think of what high happen unless they succeeded in restoring the world The al ternative policy was to say that they would kill Bolshevism because it was an evil thing. That meant, putting their strength and manhood into it. It would mean the los.of hundreds of thousands of men and the addition of thousands, of millions to the National Debt. He asked. “Arc you prepared to do that?’’ i THE RUSSIAN CAMPAIGNS. POLISH COUNTER OFFENSIVE, (Reuter's Telegrams.) LONDON, June S. A Warsaw comm unique states r Between the Dvina and Borisoff our counter-offen-sive is developing satisfactorily. The Bolsheviks are retreating in disorder, leaving a considerable number of prisoners and material. Desertions from the Bolsheviks are increasing. Bolshevik attacks on the bridgeheads at Kietf wore severely repulsed. THE BOLSHEVIKS ROUTED. RESISTANCE BROKEN ON UPPER BERESINA. LONDON', .June S. (Received June 9, 5.15 p.m.J A Polish communique reports that the Bolshevik retreat between the Dwina and the Bercsina has now become a rout. The Poles have broken the enemy’s resistance on the upper Bercsina. FINLAND AND SWEDEN. STRAINED RELATIONS. COPENHAGEN. June S. (Received June 9, 10.40 p.m.) There arc very .-trained relations between Finland and Sweden, owing to the despatch of Finnish troops to the A.dand Islands to arrest two Swedes accused of treason in agitating for self-determination by plebiscite, THE GERMAN ELECTIONS. COALITION’S CHANCES POOR. BERLIN, June g. Prospects of the maintenance of the coalition are small unless a reconciliation is effected between the Socialist wings, which Vorwaerts recommends. The Lokal-anzciger say? that the only success achieved by the Government in the elections lay in the fact that' order was not disturbed except in one municipality in Pomerania. where the Independents burned the ballot papers. THE LATEST RETURNS. COALITION MAJORITY POSSIBLE. BERLIN, June 8. (Received June 9. 10.40 p.m ) The late.-t election figures show that there is a prospect, of the Government coalition commanding a wonting majority against the extremists of both sides. The Social Democrats hold 58 .-eats. [he Majority Socialists 86, and the Centre Party 64. whereas the National (’onsemuives have 41 and the Independent Socialists til. RESIGNATION OF THE GOVERNMENT. BERLIN, June S. (Received June 9, 9.45 p.m.i The Cabinet has resigned, but will conduct business unci! the election- arc completed.