PROBLEM OF RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 July 1922, Page 5

PROBLEM OF RUSSIA.

OBSTACLES TO AGREEMENT. DUTY OF THE SOVIET. THREE ESSENTIAL POINTS, / By Telegraph.—Pres* Azin. —Copyr’ght. Received July 27, 55 p.m. London, July 26. In the House of Commons, Mr. Lloyd George detailed the work of the Hague Conference. He said there were three essential conditions to an agreement with Ruusia regarding property: First. Russia’s acknowledgment of the right to restoration or compensation : secondly, compensation must be real; thirdly, effective machinery must be established to carry out the obligations. The Property Commission had to close the door on Russia’s first proposal. The Russians’ later offer, although it was not firm, marked a great advance towards acceptance ■ of her obligations. Mr. J. R. Clynes (Labor Party’s leader) pointed out that Sir P. Lloyd-Graeme (who represented Britain at the conference) had not referred to the compensation due to Russia for her enormous war losses. As long as Britain did not automatically recogrfse Russia, it was idle to suggest she | could enter the money market in the or- ! din ary way. Mr. Lloyd George, replying to the de- ■ bate, advocated European conferences con- I tinning until the ultimate aim of peace was I attained. He could not accept the view ' that European conditions were becoming worse. Compared as a whole with Europe j three years ago, things were improving, and | the well which the war had exhausted was { gradually replenishing. It was suggested ; we were partly responsible as an ally for ; the condition of Russia. We did not drag • Russia and she did not drag us into the war. but Russia made the first declaration of war and fired the first shot. The Al- I lies did their best to repair the deficiencies i of Russian organisation, and Britain ac- : cepted her every request for assistance. • Things could not improve in Russia until shl fell into line with the civilised world. i The Premier stated it was idle to mislead Russia on that score, and the greatest achievement at The Hague was the education of Russia as to the realities of the situation. Russia could not expect to borrow money until she provided security and accepted liability for war-time loans. If the Soviet accepted liability, providing real compensation for dispossessed propertyowners. then it would be time for the diplomatic recognition of Russia. Mr. Godfrey Collins urged that Britain ought to advance Russia £2.000,000 or *3,000,000, through the League of Nations, ; or stamping out cholera and typhus. This rould do much towards the re-establish-nent of trading. The ruiUotine ended the debate.—Aus.S.Z. Cable Assn.