MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 March 1918, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

THE BOLSHEVIK ENVOYS. REFUSED ADMISSION TO EMBASSY. STATEMENT BY HOME SECRETARY. LITVINOFF INDIGNANT. Received March 1, R. 30 p.m. London, Feb. 2S. When M. Litvinoff and his staff arrived at the so-called Russian Embassy office in Victoria street they found the doors barred and all name plates removed. The landlord's agent opened the door but prevented M. Litvinoff from entering, lie offered to refund the rent for the unexpired portion of the tenancy but Litvinoff refused to accept this The agent informed M. Litvinoff that the furniture must be removed. In the House of Commons Sir George Cave (Home Secretary), replying to questions, said that M. Litvinoff could not be allowed to circulate revolutionary literature in munition works, M. Litvinoff denies the assertions made by Sir Geo. Cave in the House of Commons that he used the aliases of Finkelstecn and Buchanan, and says that he has protested in the strongest manner to the Government, especially against a Cabinet Minister spreading falsi* information. np declares that the Russian people will regard Sir Geo. CavVs action as a gross insult, which may lead to grave consequences. M. Rominoff was not allowed to cash a cheque for £SOOO and returns to Petrograd forthwith, France refusing hin: admittance. 6 A PROPAGANDIST, NOT AN AMBASSATXIR. Sir Geo. C'ave declared tlr.t we would continue diplomatic relations with Russia. M. Litvinoff came not as an ambassador but to engage in revolutionary propaganda.. Tf he had been ambassador he could not have remained ten minutes. He issued manifestoes of such a nature that many had been seized. He had also conversed with British soldiers, but would not be allowed to do so again. He had now given his promise not to engage in propaganda work. If the promise was broken he would not bo allowed any further indulgence. M. TCameneff's position was the same. He came as the Bolshevik envoy to France, but the French Government would not allow him to land and the only course, therefore, was to send him back to Russia. The Government had refused to allow M. Kameneff to address meetings and bad decided to ask for an order in council preventing aliens from addressing meetings or indulging in propaganda work. ThesP foreign envoys came to recommend Bolshevism, which had brought Russia to her present condition. , Sir Gen. Cave ridiculed the' idea that the British workmen would listen to such doctrines but the Home Office was bound to take steps in order to prevent the propaganda causing unrest among the Russians in the British army, in the East End of London, or engaged in munition work. GENERAL MAUDE'S SERVICE. A HANDSOME TRIBUTE. Reuter Service Received March 1, 8.30 p.m. London, Feb. 2S. In the House of Commons, the Speaker read a message from his Majesty paying a tribute to General Maude's services in Mesopotamia and recommending the House of Commons, as a recognition thereof, to grant Lady Maude £2o,00l). This was loudly applauded and the vote will be moved on Monday, LABOR'S WAR AIMS. TO BE SENT TO ENEMY SOCIALISTS. QUESTION OF GERMAN SOCIALISTS. Time 3 Service. Received March 1, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 28. The Allied Labor war aims memorandum will shortly be forwarded to enemy Socialists. They will pass through neu> tral channels under Branting'a pilotage. He is organising a committee of neutral Socialists to participate in a demonstration. If the congress is convened for Stockholm or Switzerland if. will not assemble before two or threa months. Allies Laborites refuse to meet the German Majority Socialists unless passports are granted for the Minority Socialists. TRANSFER OF MUNITIONERS. RATES OX WAR RISKS. Received March 1, 7.50 p.m. London, Feb. '2B. In the House of Commons. Mr. F. GKelleway (Secretaiy for Munitions) said that a modification of'the munitions programme involved the partial closing of certain munition, works, but he hoped to transfer the displaced workers to other suitable work. The Board of Trade has abolished the flat, rate on war risks, and is now charging premiums graded according to the actual risks of a particular voyage. This will probably materially reduce the rates lon short voyages between eastern ail distant ports, but is unlikely to allecfi the rates between England and Australia. 1 GOVERNMENT CONFERENCE WITH ' ENGINEERS. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received March 1. fl.fl p.m. London, Feb. '" v The Press Bureau states that Messrs Lloyd George. G. X. Barnes, Sir A. C. Geddes, and Mr. Rolberts are conferring with the delegates of the Amalgamated Fngineers' Society.