Foreign News: Russia Rebuffed

Monday, Dec. 01, 1924

    • COMMONWEALTH

    (British Commonwealth of Nations)

    Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Austen Chamberlain has a short way with the Bolsheviki. He sent a terse, self-explanatory little note to M. Rakovsky, Soviet Charge d'Affaires at London:

    "Foreign Office, Nov. 21, 1923.

    "Sir: His Majesty's Government have had under review the treaties negotiated by their predecessors with the Government of the U. S. S. R. and signed on Aug. 8 last [TIME, Aug. 18.]

    "I have the honor to inform you that, after due deliberation, His Majesty's Government find themselves unable to recommend the treaties in question to the consideration of Parliament or to submit them to the King for his Majesty's ratification.

    (Signed) "AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN"

    A second note concerned a letter alleged to have been sent to British Communists by Grigori Zinoviev, head of the Communist Internationale at Moscow. Rakovsky declared it a forgery; but in this note Mr. Chamberlain stated that "information in the possession of his Majesty's Government leaves no doubt whatsoever in their mind of the authenticity of Zinoviev's letter and his Majesty's Government are therefore not prepared to discuss the matter." He goes on to inveigh against the systematic dissemination of "revolutionary propaganda."

    A third note declined to take cognizance of a demand from the Moscow Government for an apology for having allowed the Zinoviev letter to be published without reference to Moscow. The note said there is "no intention of departing from the decision communicated to you by Mr. MacDonald and recorded in this office, that the note in question was one which his Majesty's Government cannot consent to receive."

    There was no hint that recognition of Russia would be withdrawn; but opinion was divided as to whether the Bolshevik Government would break off negotiations or not. Meantime, recognition of Sovietland by Britain continues to be a lame and empty joke.