RUSSIA’S AIM IN EAST.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 November 1921, Page 12

RUSSIA’S AIM IN EAST.

A SOVIET FEDERATION. ANTi-BRITISH PROPAGANDA. London, Sept. 27. The propaganda of the Russian Soviet Government in the 'East Is under the supervision of Stalin, head of the “Nationalities Department,” who comes immediately after Lenin and Trotzky in 'the Soviet hierarchy. Stalin really dominates the Russian foreign z policy, the basic principle of which, is the federation of autonomous national Soviet Governments extending beyond the former Russian Empire into Afghanistan, Persia, Bokhara, Armenia, and Anatolia. The British Foreign Office expresses the opinion that the reply of the Russian Soviet Government to Lord Curzpn does not attempt to answer the very grave charges which are based on definite evidence. The Soviet Government apparently merely contents itself with stating that certain individuals were not involved. This is unimportant in view of the well-known fact that owing to their mutual distrust the heads of the Soviet Government departments are always changing. Under the trade agreement recently arrived at between Sir Robert Horne and M. Krassin the emissary of the Russian Soviet Government, it was agreed that the Soviet Government should cease its propagandist activities in India, Afghanistan and the Near East. Information having been received that this undertaking was not being carried out, Lord Curzon, British Foreign Minister, sent a sharp note to Moscow demanding an explanation. In reply, M. Berzin, a member of the Russian Government, while convinced that Lord Curzon’s accusations were baseless, was making fresh inquiries in order 1/ refute them in detail. M. Berzin asserted that Lord Curzon and the Foreign Office were victims of false reports spread by the Russian White Guards and the French, and concluded that the Russian Government was more than ever anrious for friendly relations with the British Government. Russia, he added, had proved her good intentions by ceasing all activity in the East likely to offend Britain since the AngloRussian trade agreement was concluded.