The Monmouth inquirer., 1923-05-17
BRITISH WARSHIP
OFF TO RUSSIA
The HarebeII Sent to Thurman
Waters to Protect Fishing
Fleet From Arrest.
ON 8 MILE LIMIT
Labor Head Urges 5oIsheviki to Re
frain From Force-one Asks Why
Government Doesn't Send a
Fleet to New York.

London.--Great Britain means to
use force to protect her fishing trawl-
ers off the Murmansk coast If attempts
are made by the Soviet Government
to modest them in future. Ronald Nc
Neill, Under Secretary for Foreign
Affairs, announced in the House the
dispatch of H. M. S. Harebell, an
armed patrol boat, to Thurman waters.
This aroused noisy protest from the
Labor benches.
There were cries of Another war;"
and George Lansbury, Labor member
for the Poplar district of London,
shouted: why don't you send the
fleet to New York? You're lot of
towards! You are afraid of Ameri-
cal" This interjection caused an up
roar
The Labor executive cabled to Mos
COW begging the Soviet Government
to refrain from any act that might
lead to force pending negotiations.
The Governments threat of force to
protect fishing trawlers outside the
three mile limit followed the capture
of another fishing boat, the Lord AS
tor. The Government demands the
release of the crew The Harebell is
armed with two four inch guns and
two three Founders. She will re-en-
force a patrol sloop which has been
there some time.
This move accentuates the feeling
here that the Government intends to
resist the Russian contention that the
Soviet has the right arbitrarily to es-
tablish twelve mile limit. Several
British trawlers have been captured
more than nine miles at sea.
Meanwhile there is much nervous
ness in the Russian trade delegation
here, which has been greatly aug
mented. While Krassine, its head,
has been in Russia six months, he
still has fiat in the Hyde Park sec
ton, where his wife and two children
live.
Charles r. Hunter, chairman Of the
executive committee of the Associa-
ton of British Creditors in Russia,
said that everything had been done
to make the trade agreement work
able. But we knew from the begin
ming" he added, that all the Soviet
Government had to sell abroad was
stolen goods and products that right
fully belonged to us; and when they
reached the end of the proceeds Of
their thefts there would be nothing
left to trade with. That time has all
but arrived, and we are definitely Of
opinion that British interests will be
better off without the trade agree
ment than with it"
Although Liberal opposition to the
Governments stand is developing and
labor is making an outcry, there is no
indication that the Government is
greatly concerned
London-The Soviet Government,
replying to the British protest against
the seizure Of the trawler James John
son, claims the right to fix her limit
of territorial waters at twelve miles
from shore, but offers to submit the
matter to arbitration, provided there
is no question of any infringement of
Russian sovereignty and indepen-
dence.
Ronald Mcneil after his first an
nouncement in the House put milder
construction on the news by stating
that the Harebell was sent to relieve
the gunboat Godetia, which had been
engaged In police duties in these
waters for the last two years and no
new instructions had been given modi-
flying the original general instructions
to protect British vessels outside the
three mile limit He wished clearly
to say the Government had done moth
ing that might lead to war.
Moscow While the British note
has not been printed here as yet, the
Izvestia in an editorial says the Brit
ish action has been long prepared and
that England considers Russia is now
very weak and thus desires to seize
her opportunity.
DE vALERA's TERMS scoRNED