The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-05-09
UJa*natu1n
/. .ssI;t Russia
'''s,y : England
Trade Agreement Break Is
Threatened Unless Soviet
Meets British Require
ments in 10 Days.
Controversy Is Prohibited

BY Associated Press.
Moscow. May S.-An emphatic note
from the British government handed
to Maxim Litvinoff, assistant foreign
minister. this afternoon. alleging
propaganda and other violation Of the
Anglo-Russian trade agreement and
demand assurances of unconditional
fnlfillment of specified requirements
within 10 days, is considered by Rus
sian officials tonight as definitely in
tended to bring about break in
Anglo-R Russian relations.
As the note is only now being dis.
tributed among tn higher officials of
the government, none of them would
predict the nature of the Russian
reply. but the general impression
seemed TO be that Marquis Curzon,
the British foreign secretary, was de.
sirous Of the break.
II a break in relations comes. the
Russian trade organization now locat.
ed in London, will probably be remov.
ed TO Berlin or one of the Scandi.
navian countries.
Protest Not Recognized.
Owing to the soviets' refusal TO
recognize the protests against the
trials of various church digniatires.
including Archbishop zepliak and the
executed vicar general. Monsignor
Butkavitch, the note says:
when IL is remembered that this
Is the only latest incident in the long
series OF studied affronts which have
been recovered in this memorandum,
il seems difficult 10 arrive at any
other conclusion than that the soviet
government either is convinced that
the British government will accept any
insult sooner than break with soviet
Russia. or that they desire themselves
10 bring the relations created by the
trade government to an end
The note, which is very lengthy, was
handed 10 the soviet government to-
day by Mr.. Hodgeson. Ono OF its most
striking passages reads:
Cannet Insult British.
1T Is time the soviet government
should he made aware that IL can not
with impunity behave toward British
subjects and British shipping in this
arbitrary and insulting manner"
At the outset. the document de
clares that the tone and character Of
the recent notes received from the
soviet government have imposed up.
on his majesty's government the duty.
perhaps already too long delayed, OF
considering carefully and seriatim. in
relation TO this large number OF in.
eidents. whether II is desirable. or in.
deed possible. that the relations Of the
two governments should remain any
longer upon so anomalous and indeed
Unprecedented footing and whether his
majesty's government can. with due
self-respeet. continue to ignore the
repealed challenges which the soviet
government has thought fit with ap-
parent deliberation To throw down."
No Chance Of Controversy.
The note states that the British
government has no intention Of en-.
barking upon a controversy with the
soviet concerning the accuracy OF its
charges. which It asserts rest upon
unimpeachable authority"
II sets out in great detail violations
OF the understanding concerning anti.
British propaganda in Persia. AZ.
ghanistan and India. outrages
against British subjects. including the
Staying of c. f. Dawson: the treat.
ment Of British trawlers. and similar
cases in which reiterated demands for
compensation has been persistently
refused
The note then refers TO the prosecu.
tion of religious dignitaries in regard
TO which 1t says;
His maJesty's government has re
Trained from expressing an opinion
upon the nature of validity OF the
charges brought against these eccle-
siasties. conceding that IL is a matter
on which they are not called upon to
pronounce" But, 1t adds. no attempt
has been made in Russia itself to
deny that the prosecutions and exc.
cutions are part of deliberate cam.
paign. the definite object Of which is
to destroy all religion In the country
and enthrone the image OF Goddess.
ness in its place" The note refers TO
two notes signed by "Weinstein" in
reply 20 Mr.. Hodgesons protests
against the execution Of Monsignor
Butehkatvitch which the British
agent returned because they were
couched in offensive language. and
which the present note stigmatizes as
suneNampled In the case of govern
ment's affecting to be on friendly
terms.
Ten.Day Ultimatum.
Declaring that the exchange OF cor
respondence. conducted by one party
on such terms. places the continuance
OF those relations in grave jeopardy,
the note states that the government
would much regret an abrupt termi.
nation OF the existing relations. but
that IL IL not possible to acquiesce In
the continuance OF the treatment
summarized In this document. which
is declared 10 he incompatible alike
with national dignity and mutual Ne.
speet
In case the soviet does not forward
reply 20 the British government
within 10 days. complying with the
specified demands. the note concludes
his ma ajesty's government. on their
part. will, In view of the manifest
infringement Of the trade agreement
by the soviet government. consider
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