No Short-Cut Open

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 731, 2 August 1929, Page 9

No Short-Cut Open

GREAT BRITAIN AND SOVIET Resumption of Relations DEBTS, ETC. MUST FIRST BE SETTLED A HITCH has occurred in the negotiations between Britain and the Soviet regarding the proposed resumption of diplomatic relations. The British Note to Russia proposed first of all a solution of outstanding problems, such as debts, so the Soviet envoy has gone back to Paris in order that his Government may again examine the question. British Official Wireless

Reed. 11.10 a.m. RUGBY, Thursday. A communique issued by the Foreign Office states that the conversations 'which began in London on July 29 between Mr. Arthur Henderson, the Foreign Secretary, and M. Dovgalevsky, the Soviet representative in Paris, on the subject of the resumption of diplomatic relations between Great Britain and Russia, will not be continued for the present. M. Dovgalevsky returned to Paris this morning. The communique explains that in his original invitation, Mr. Henderson made it clear that it was the desire of the British Government to resume regular relations with the Government of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics, and that a responsible representative of the latter would be welcomed, with a view to discussion of the most expeditious procedure for the settlement of outstanding questions, including debts and propaganda. Though the reply of the Soviet Government to this invitation was somewhat ambiguous, it was presumed that in offering to send M. Dovgalevky to London, the Soviet Government had authorised him to discuss the procedure for settling outstanding questions, on the lines proposed by Mr. Henderson. In their first interview, Mr. Henderson explained to M. Dovgalsvsky the lines on which the British Government wishes to proceed, that he was anxious to avail himself of the present Parliamentary recess in order to set up the necessary machinery for dealing with such outstanding questions as debts, claims, trade, etc. He felt sure that with goodwill on both sides, sufficient progress might be made to enable him, on the reassembling of Parliament in October, to report what had been achieved, that the principles on which a settlement could be worked Out had been defined, and to request authority, even if complete settlements of all outstanding questions had not been reached, for an exchange of fully-accredited ambassadors between the two countries. The communique adds that the British Government adheres to its desire to resume normal relations with the Soviet Government to send a representhat the Soviet Government will consider the new proposals of the British Government at its next session. OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS To the communique is appended the text of the original invitation to the Soviet Government o send a representative to London. The invitation was in the following terms: ‘‘His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom has carefully considered the existing state of relations

between this country and the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics, and is prepared to re-establish the normal machinery of diplomatic relations between Great Britain and the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics, on the understanding that the reciprocal rights and duties which international law recognises as incumbent on States in their relations with one another subsist betwen this country and the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics. “To this end, his Majesty’s Government invites the Government of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics to send a responsible representative to London, in order to discuss with the Foreign Secretary direct the most expeditious procedure for reaching, as rapidly as possible, a friendly and

mutually satisfactory settlement of the outstanding questions between the two countries, including those relating to propaganda and debts.’’ SOVIET ENVOY’S REPLY In the Note handed to Mr. Henderson yesterday, M. Dovgalevsky said: “The Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics has done everything on its side to facilitate a rapprochement between the Union and Britain, and the resumption of normal diplomatic relations between the two countries. The fact, however, that the British Secret ary for Foreign Affairs has stated to M. Dovgalevsky, the Soviet Ambassador to France, that it is impossible for the British Government to re-establish normal relations between the two countries before a solution of the questions outstanding between them shows that the British Government does not desire or is unable to bring about a resumption of these relations. If such were not the case, the British Government would not have proposed as a preliminary condition for the re-establishment of normal relations the solution of questions so complicated and contentious as the mutual claims and counterclaims. This new circumstance, which was not foreshadowed by the Note from the British Government addressed to (he People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs of July 17, requires fresh examination of the question. For that reason, the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs finds itself compelled to ask for fresh instructions from Praesidium of Control of the Executive Committee of the Union, which will consider the new proposals of the British Government, at its next Parliamentary session.