As for the negotiations with SoYiet Russia which are now
proceeding in LOndon, Mr. MacDonald has made another good start. The delegates were received at the Foreign . Office on Monday, when Mr. MacDonald spoke With an evident sense of responsibility as the represeritatiVe of the whole nation. He did not mince 'words, though he was urbane as usual. He pointed out that unless people knew that contractual agree- :Meas.: be " honoured to the • last . letter " . they would— risk nothing. Upon that all credit must depend." _Ile Went *on to say: that • though we recog- nized the right of the Soviet to set up any form oT internal government Which it pleased, we regarded it as essential that Russia should refrain from counteriancing,directly or indirectly, in this country such propaganda as might be legitimate " When internally inspired," but was illegiti- mate -when controlled, and even financed froni abroad. " It is my ditty," he added,."-to make it plain that the people in this country will require more on this head than formal undertakings." Lastly, Mr. MacDonald appealed 689 for franknels. " If we begin by trying to deceive each other; .weshallIgii..On to deceive the, peoples we represent, and end by 1 'deceiving ourselves." He felt that if the Conference failed it would • probably be impoSsible for this or any other , British Government to repeat the attempt. •
