5 JUNE 1926, Page 3

The four Unionist members of Parliament who visited Russia have

issued a statement through the Central Ncws. They describe Soviet Russia as a society in which an individualistic peasantry exchanges goods with a Socialis- tic industrial population. They think that the Soviet Government is quite stable, though it holds its position by violence. The one sign of instability which they note is the growing estrangement between the Government and the Third International. Their statement of facts seems to us to be just and able, but the recommendation it contains is the important thing. The four members suggest that a loan might be made in the shape of investing money in some large railway or electrical enterprise. They advocate a settlement with Russia and complete diplomatic intercourse. We intensely dislike Soviet methods—so obviously do the four members— but we want all the trade we can get, and it is absurd not to trade with a man because you do not like him personally.