RUSSIAN POLICY.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 January 1920, Page 5

RUSSIAN POLICY.

SPLIT IN BRITISH CABINET. JSEMD3R AND CHURCHILL CLASH. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. ! Received Jan. 27, 1.30 p.m. London, Jan. 23. Tha Paris correspondent of the Westminster Gazette states that it is not a secret that there is a split in the British Cabinet over Russia. Mr. Lloyd George is still trying to make peace with the Bolsheviks. He before! it is more dangerous to fight the Bolshevik military than to allow Bolshevism to develop and probably die. The correspondent states that without the smallest reserve Mr. Lloyd George it implacably opposed to intervention of any description. It is equally clear that Mr. Winston Churchill (Secretary for War) believes that unless we crush Bolshevism, Bolshevism will crush us. Mr. Churchill, when in Paris, did not attempt to disguise this opinion. He, Field-Mar-ital Sir Henry Wilson, Lord Beatty, and Mr. Walter Long (First Lord of the AdBtalty) hurried to France in order to put a spoke in Mr. Lloyd George's wheel when tiie lifting of the blockade was anaouoeed. The correspondent has reason to beMeva that Mr. Lloyd George is dugusted with the. so-oalled loyal Russians, who received British arms and then traded them. The sale of munitions to the Bolsheviks is one of the greatest scandals of the whole Russian business. Meanwhile the Poles have made an unfortunate st«p in advancing on Russia. The strongest unofficial representations were made to dissuade them, because they are jeopardising {he whole work of Mr. CQrady and Utvinoff, who are in negotiation.

The eoneipondent belietes Mr. Lloyd GtOffi Is annoyed at the Polish move, which raises the question of whether, in tbo mat of serious trouble, the Allies •botlld support Poland. The correspondent understands that precautionary measures, inrolving certain Allied naval and military operations in Poland and tfc» Bladt Sea and elsewhere, have alrttdy beefi taken. There are obviously til th> elements here of a tremendous eMfltgntion. The correspondent concludes: "The Ruselan question seems to be again in the melting pot. The situation is such that we must choose between Mr. Lloyd George's and Mr. Churchill's policies."— AIU.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

London, Jan. 23. Although there fo no evidence that Mr. Churchill contemplate? resignation intetd' it is stated in political circles ti»t he and Mr. Lloyd George have compWi. their differences, the British W#t*gly, which has been supposed to be 1« «lom touch With Mr. Llovd George, sayst "We are so sure that Messrs. Lloyd George and Churchill are at variance on an elemental, vital,and fundamental issue, that we wish to see Mr. CflflftMll out of the Cabinet or at least out of the War Office. He has driving force, but he must not drive us over the preeimce."

WE BOLSHEVIK PROBLEM. A CLEAR POLICY ESSENTIAL. " London, Jan. 23. General Maurice, in the Daily New, tws that a clear policy for dealing with Bolshevism is essential. At present »e have Mr. Lloyd George's, Mr. Chmehiirs, and the French policies. The time will not mix. He dread of the Bolshevik irruption into Western Europe- lei M. Clemeneeau taadimt the policy of the barbed wire few*, put the fence was pushed too far and Poland and other republics took the opportunity to peg out new claims. This most be stopped. The Bolsheviks within two months can overwhelm Poland, and, if this happens, the position will be appallingly serious. While the territory of Soviet Russia is exposed to invasion Nationalist feeling #sl bt Intense, but this will decline if Basel* be given clothing and machinery. The great mass of the Russians want peace.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.