The New York herald., 1921-03-17
BRITISH SIGN PACT
FOR SOVIET TRADE
Question Of Title to Exports of
Gold or Goods Must First
Be Tested.
PROPAGANDA FORBIDDEN
Agents Authorized to Reside
in Respective Countries
Like Consuls.
PROPAGANDA FORBIDDEN

Special Gable 10 TIE NEW YouK TEn.Lp.
Copyright, 1921. bv THE New YoRK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
London, March I6.
x trade agreement between Great
Britain and the Government OF the
Russian Socialist Federal Soviet Re
public vas signed here to-day. but
two important doubtful elements con-
nected with a resumption OF trade
between the two countries still ex-
list. Lloyd George must submit the
agreement to the House OF Commons,
and British courts must determine
whether gold or goods coming into
England from Russia In payment for
British goods are subject to seizure
by persons holding accounts against
the present or against former Russian
Governments.
I.eonid Krasstne. Bolshevist envoy
who negotiated the agreement on behalf
Of the Soviet Government in Moscow.
although openly showing great satisfac-
tion. called attention to these difficult
ties. The agreement provides:
IF. as a result OF any action b. the
courts Of the United Kingdom in dealing
with the attachment or the arrest of any
gold. funds, securities. property or COM
inodities not being identifiablc as the ex-
elusive property OF British subject and
which have been consigned TO the United
Kingdom by the Russian Soviet Govern
ment or Its representatives, Judgment
l.. ALI
such gold funds, securities. property or
commodities are held to be validly at
tached on account of obligations incurred
by the Russian Soviet Government or by
any previous Russian Government be-
fore the signatures are affixed to this
agreement. the Russian Soviet Govern
ment shall have the right to terminate
this agreement forthwith"
". Krassine said that steps would be
taken Immediately TO bring test case
before the British courts. and that until
this case Was determined there was lit
tie or no chance OF any trading between
Great Britain and Russia. II Is more a
political victory that the Bolshevist
trade envoy celebrates. for as one MEM
Der Of his mission declared, This will
kill the kronstadt revolt N anything Is
needed 10 kill It."
NJ. Krassine and his colleagues arc
including In their celebration references
both to the preamble to the trade pact
and TO the agreement referring TO a full
treaty 10 be negotiated between the two
Governments. The British Foreign
Offices attitude suggests these hopes
are premature. There Will be no move
toward negotiating complete treaty
between Great Britain and Russia until
the trade agreement Is tried out. and Il
cannot be tried out Tor many months,
or AZ least until after the courts have
decided the test case.
The courts already have q precedent
In one class OF possible cases In the
awarding TO previous British purchasers
consignment OF plywood which the
Soviet Government seized before deliv-
cry and later tried TO sell TO another
British firm.
The agreement provides that Il be-
comes effective when the signatures are
affixed to II. which was done to-day. but
as Lloyd George had promised he would
submit any such agreement to the Com
mons II will be put before the House
as a fast dccompn II Is predicted.
however that the agreement will he the
subject OF bitter attack In Commons,
but constitutional authorities say the
only way the House can now overthrow
the agreement will be by overthrowinY
the Lloyd George Government. Beinr
simply q trade agreement and not a
treaty Il is not subject 10 ratification by
Commons.
The trade agreement liz hailed by pro-
Soviet and damned by antl-Soviet Rus
slams here as an acknowledgment OF
the Soviet de facto Government The
Government OF the Russian Socialist
Federal Soviet Republic, hereinafter re-
ferred to as the Russian Soviet Govern
ment," is the way the preamble names
the Russian party 70 the agreement.
The preamble. after setting forth the
political conditions. binds either OF tho
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