12 MAY 1923, Page 2

The Labour Party is extraordinarily perturbed at the Memorandum. We

cannot really understand why it should be. Surely the good British seamen who fish in Russian waters, or rather just outside them, are worthy of protection against unprovoked -barbarity. The objections of the British Communists arc, of course, natural. They have issued a manifesto :-

"Situation exceedingly serious. Commence agitation at once amongst Labour organizations for the formation of councils of action. Slogans : Stand by the trade agreement. Immediate and unconditional recognition of Soviet Russia. Summoning of an immediate peace conferenee-with Russia to settle points of difference. Down with the war on the workers' republic."