Watching the Soviet

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 992, 7 June 1930, Page 9

Watching the Soviet

RELATION TO GREAT BRITAIN Is Friendship Rash? GESTURE QUERIED IN PARLIAMENT GREAT BRITAIN'S relations with the Soviet Government were discussed in the House of Commons, where, in reply to a suggestion that recognition of Russia, while the country was in open revolt, was rash, Mr. Arthur Henderson, Foreign Secretary, said until specific eases of the spread of Soviet propaganda could be proved against the Government there, no breach in trade relations was admissible.

British Official Wireless Reed. Noon. RUGBY, Friday. Before the'~House of Commons ad journed today for the Whitsun holiday, Commander Oliver Locker-Lamp-son (Con.) raised the question of Britain’s relations with Russia. Sir Austen Chamberlain, former Conservative Foreign Secretary, said it was rash of the first Labour Govern ment of 1924 to sign a new convention giving further recognition to the Soviet Government while they were ia open revolt. It was still rasher to sign the recent second convention with its formal recognition of the Soviet and the de jure Government of Russia, when the latter had not altered its attitude, and to resume diplomatic relations on an agreement which the Foreign Secretary at the time he signed it, must have known was differently interpreted in one way by himself and in another by the Soviet Government. Sir Austen Chamberlain pointed out thal. the Foreign Secretary had given an undertaking that Soviet propaganda would not be tolerated in any form or at any time, but that propaganda had never ceased for a day. SOVIET BOAST It was as active today as ever. The Foreign Secretary had allowed his solemn word to be treated with contempt by a Government with whom he had established honourable relations. ,and who had promised to refrain from this propaganda. The Soviet authorities boasted an action which Mr. Arthur Henderson had said he would not tolerate. The time had come when Mr. Henderson ought to say whether he was going to keep the pledge he gave the House. Was he going to insist on a cessation of this propaganda at Home, in India and elsewhere? Mr. Henderson, Foreign Secretary, replying, said the whole Liberal Party, or practically the whole of it, committed itself just as definitely as til Labour Party at the General Election to the essential importance of changing the policy of the late Conservative Government regarding recognition of Russia.

The Conservative Party was opposed to recognition and the Labour Party was in favour of it, and one would better begin by appreciating that

i there was a big gulf between the two parties. Did anyone try to persuade himself that if one outlawed a country like Russia it had no effect upon European or world peace? He did not think anyone would dare challenge that. TRADE IMPROVING Supposing the Labour Government had broken off relations with Russia; there was no guarantee it would have altered the position respecting propaganda in the slightest. It might have stopped the flow of orders that were beginning to come in, and which were likely to come in in increasing degree in the next few months. He was not going to try to persuade the House that propaganda was not going on, but he had to bring the propaganda home to the Soviet Government before he could take action. If this or any other Government, at this stage and with our present economic position, broke off relations with Russia on the question of propaganda without being satisfied that the Russian Government was responsible for inspiring or financing it, they would not be worthy of their position. So far as he was concerned he would not be any party to the Government taking such a step. While the Government had a responsibility and must consider Russia in its relation to world peace and British trade, it must be the judge in the first instance of what had occurred BIDING HIS TIME The Government had, moreover, set up machinery in connection with this matter, and having set up machinery, it would at the right time take appropriate action. One would have thought the mere fact that the Government had indicated Its dissatisfaction with the present position and set up that machinery would have given satisfaction to members of the House. The result they all desired was to bring about a cessation of propaganda and satisfy themselves if it continued that the Government, with whom they were in friendly relations, was not responsible. He asked the House to continue its confidence in the Government, which was determined the machinery it had set up should test all the information available.