Talking to Russia The opening of conversations between Sir John
Simon and M. Litvinoff is satisfactory so far as it goes. How far it has gone and will yet go, is not yet clear. There is some suggestion that the Cabinet is demanding the unconditional release of the Moscow prisoners before it takes any -action regarding the embargo. That, it may be hoped, is not the case, for no serious negotiations could be begun on such a basis. Obviously the whole question of prisoners, embargo and counter-embargo hangs -together, and it should be perfectly simple to find a formula of agreement which will clear those particular obstacles to a new -trade agreement out of the way. The Russians are often- unreasonable enough in their diplomacy as well as in their executive actions, but that provides more 'ground, not less, for a common-sense attitude on the part of our own Government. Even if Mr. Baldwin's claim that we have gained more than we have lost by the embargo were true within the narrow limits .of trade relations today, it is- folly to close our eyes to the fact that Russia is one of the great potential markets of the world. There is no reason why trade possibilities there should be gratuitously presented to other competitive nations at the expense of our own manufacturers.
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