SOVIET BACK-CHAT

Wairarapa Age, 26 February 1927, Page 5

SOVIET BACK-CHAT

MOSCOW OFFICIAL ORGAN ON BRITISH NOTE.

DENIAL OP-UNDERTAKINGS. SOME OOUN TLK-CHAKGES. (R'Cecived Friday, 8.45 p.m.) MOSCOW, February 25. The full text of the British Note is now published. The “Izvestia” editorially says: “The Note misses its mark. It contains no specific charges which could justify either the presentation of a threat of the abrogation of the trade agreement, or even the severance of ordinary diplomatic relations. “The main charges against the Soviet Government made during the past few months in the Conservative Press,

such as the alleged support by the Soviet Government of the miners’ strike, and the alleged infringement by the Soviet Union of British interests in China, are not reflected in the Note, which this time does not repeat the accusations contained in the Memorandum of the British Government last summer regarding charges against the politicians of the Soviet Union calling for a world revolution, and against Bukharin and Voroshilov of making

statements abusing Britain. The Soviet Government has never given an undertaking to anybody to prevent Russian citizens, whether private or members of the Government from voicing in speeches their firm belief in the inevitable world revolution. When such utterances are made on Soviet territory, it may be asked what doos the British Government say about Mr. Churchill’s speech in Rome, when ho openly called for the overthrow of the 'Soviet re-

The Izvestia,” citing extracts from the speeches of Lord Birkenhead and Mr. Churchill, proceeds:—“lt is the Soviet Union that can speak of systematic abuse by British politicians.” 1 ointing out what it calls the unfoundodness and intolerable tone of the Note, the paper says: “If the Note reflects a concession to the die-hards, this circumstance would explain its origin but would not justify the sense of its presentation.”—(A. and N.Z.)

SOVIET ALARMED. SEVERANCE OF RELATIONS ANTICIPATED. WITHDRAWAL OF BANK BALANCES. (Received Friday, 7 p.m.) LONDON, February 25. From diplomatic quarters in touch Soviet Embassy in London, the Daily Telegraph” diplomatic correspondent understands that feeling is acute at the vigorous tone of the British Note. It is, however, tempered by the thought that things might have gone even worse for the Soviet Government, fqt until the Note was received, the Soviet Embassy staff was not sure that an immediate severance of diplo niatic relations would not be the decision of the British Government. Mr. Hodgson, the British Charge . -Affaires at Moscow, who is at present in London, may not return tff his post until th-' repercussions of the Noto are visible. Soviet alarm is shown by the manner in which money standing to its credit, or to that of its London agents, has been withdrawn from London banks. These withdrawals are said, in financial circles, to amount to some two and a half millions.—(A. and N.Z.) BRITISH HOME SECRETARY ALERT. (Received Friday, 8.45 p.m.). LONDON, February 24. In the House of Commons, Sir W. Joynson Hicks (Home Secretary), in answer to a question, said he was keeping a close eye on the activities of certain Communist agitators in Britain who were paid by the Third International, and if necessary would seek further powers to deal with them.—(A. and N.Z.)'.