TRADE WITH RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 June 1921, Page 8

TRADE WITH RUSSIA.

LEGAL BARRIER REMOVED. London, May 12. The question of the liability to attachment of goods exported by the Russian Soviet Government was settled by the Court of Appeal to-day, which reversed the judgment of Mr. Justice Roche restraining further dealings in timber confiscated from the original owners, namely, a Russian firm who were the plaintiffs, and exported by the Soviet through Krassin to a British firm, who were the defendants. Mr. Justice Roche granted the plaintiffs’ claim for an injunction against further dealings, and granted damages for conversion on the ground that the Soviet Government is unrecognised by the British Garernment.

The Appeal Court held that it had no jurisdiction to consider the justice or morality of the Bolshevik decree of confiscation, in view of Britain’s subsequent recognition of the Soviet Govcrnpient. It allowed the defendants’ appeal. The. decision, of the Appeal Court removes the legal barrier to Anglo-Russian trade, as nothing could be done to apply ■the Anglo-Russian agreement till Sir Alexander Roche’s decision was reversed. It remains to be seen what goods Russia can ’bfl’er. and how they can be obtained from a county whose production has gone to pieces.