5 MARCH 1927, Page 2

The Soviet reply to the British Note is an astute

and -elaborate piece of -argumentation: it throws out a smoke screen, and behind this comes to an end without ever touching the real issue. It says that certain speeches and articles of which the British Government complain were the utterances of unofficial persons, and that in . all the guarantees. given. by the Soviet to Great. Britain • no promise. was ever made that freedom of -speech within Russia should be. restricted. -From ironic defence the reply proceeds to counter-attack, and points out that Lord' Birkenhead and Mr. Churchill have abused Russia as heartily as Russians are said to have abused Great Britain.

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